Two world-leading contemporary dancers from West Africa and Indonesia will travel to Broome this month to share their expertise with Indigenous dancers from WA, NSW and New Zealand for the latest Indigenous Cultural Laboratory.

The laboratory, co-presented by intercultural performance company Marrugeku and choreographic research and development centre Critical Path, will continue Marrugeku's ongoing exploration of resonance and exchange between contemporary dance in West Africa and Western Australia. In particular, the laboratory will focus on the key creative challenges that face contemporary Indigenous dance today.

Curated by Marrugeku’s Co-Artistic Directors, Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain the laboratory will be jointly facilitated by Jecko Siompo (Indonesia) who is considered one of Indonesia’s leading contemporary dancers and choreographers having worked in international dance events throughout Asia, Europe and the USA and Andréya Ouamba (Senegal) an acclaimed Congo born dancer/choreographer who has traveled and performed with his company Compagnie 1er Temps throughout Africa, Europe and most recently in the USA.

These high caliber international choreographers will lead participants in exploration and discussion about the relationship between Indigenous cultural contexts and the making of contemporary dance.

The Broome based Indigenous Cultural Laboratory is the second in a series of three laboratories which draw upon the skills of world renown Indigenous contemporary dance artists, particularly those from West Africa and the Asia Pacific region. The first Lab, held in Sydney in 2009 saw Serge Aimé Coulibaly (Burkina Faso) and Maori performance artist Charles Koroneho (New Zealand) work with a group of 12 Australian and New Zealand dance artists. The third will take place in Auckland.

According to Marrugeku, “This international dialogue about creative questions is central to our work and is critical for the development of our company’s dance practice. The experience is also invaluable for the independent dance artists involved, enabling them to grow their skills to be able to develop innovative new work in their own culturally specific contexts.”

The Indigenous Cultural Laboratory has been made possible with the support of Critical Path, the Australia Council for the Arts, the Goethe Institute of Australia and Creative New Zealand.

The Lab will run over 10 days, 26 April – 4 May 2010, in Broome WA. A series of public forums will be held during the laboratory for the cultural and artistic community of Broome. The forum will explore notions of creating contemporary Indigenous performance and pathways towards sustainable public forms of culture.

For further information on the forums please contact info@marrugeku.com.au or Clytie Smith 0414315755.