Dance sensation Djuki Mala earns standing ovation in Albany delighting locals with their Arnhem Land culture

Ranging from traditional Indigenous dance, complete with spears, to twerking in golden turbans, the dance sensation that is Djuki Mala erupted with energy at two sold-out shows at Albany Entertainment Centre last week. Direct from Arnhem Land, Djuki Mala took the world by storm in 2007 when a video of the group dancing to Zorba the Greek was uploaded to YouTube by Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy. Within 12 weeks, it had reached 500,000 hits worldwide. It has now racked up millions of views. Sitting in the theatre, moments before the show was due to start, it was clear the people of the Great Southern were hyped for the performance. Kicking off the afternoon with an audience rehearsal in applause and cheering, one Djuki Mala member explained the whole experience was about an energy exchange — the more noise we made, the better the group would perform. Without further ado, the stage lights dimmed and the show was in full swing. The theatre was bursting with their Yolngu culture as the four-strong ensemble performed a display of traditional dances featuring spears and tribal paint. The charming and playful dancers, Baykali Ganambarr, Yalyalwuy Gondarra, Tibian Wyles, and Watjarr Garmu guided the audience through a series of dance sets. These included Singin’ in the Rain, complete with coloured umbrellas; a touching tribute from Ganambarr to a former Djuki Mala member killed in a car accident; a mash-up featuring music by Missy Elliott and Technotronic; and of course, Zorba the Greek. The dance was initially developed by Lionel Dulmanawuy, Mr Djirrimbilpilwuy’s youngest son. It was created as a thank you to a Greek woman named Liliane, who was his sister’s carer. Since 2007, Djuki Mala have created several shows melding their reinterpretations of popular culture and dance with storytelling and drama. The group’s high-energy dances, Michael Jackson cameos and cheeky personas, all interlaced with hints of comedy, combined for a memorable night. I felt privileged to witness such a spectacle executed with so much passion. At the start of the show, Djuki Mala guaranteed they would make the audience smile and laugh. They well and truly kept their promise, earning a standing ovation.