Guypunura "Janet" Munyarryun (born c. 1960s) is an Aboriginal dancer, choreographer and tutor.[1][2] She was a founding member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre.[3]

Biography

Munyarryun was born in Yirrkala, a community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.[4] She grew up in the Garthalala homeland, and as a young girl she travelled with her family across country to establish the community of Dhalinybuy.[5] She is a Yolngu woman of the Wangnurri clan.

In 1984, she started working at National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College in Sydney,[6] and started cultural workshops to bring traditional dance practices to urban students.[7] She also helped establish the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT), contributing as a choreographer and tutor.[5][2]

In 1989, Bangarra Dance Theatre was formed after NAISDA director Carole Johnson left the organisation, and Munyarryun contributed as a founding member.[citation needed]

She had two children, Rarriwuy and Guruguru, to Paul Hick, an English-born dancer.[5] They separated when Rarriwuy was young.[8]

Rarriwuy remarked of her mother: "[she] was dancing at Bangarra when she was pregnant with me and she took me to all the rehearsals and performances after I was born".[9]

Munyarryun has continued as the cultural advisor for Bangarra, ensuring that their "performances adhere to the traditional stories and songs of her people".[10] She has also worked as an advisor to the Australian Ballet.[10]

In May 2012, Munyarryun performed with an Aboriginal dance troupe at Windsor Castle, England, for celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.[10] She also worked to establish the Bunggul Djama Arts Alliance, a community-driven initiative to foster Yolngu performance arts and mixed-media projects.[4]

In 2013, Munyarryun worked on and performed in the dance production The Morning Star.[11][12] The production travelled between Arnhem Land and Mirramu Creative Arts Centre near Lake George in Bungendore, NSW.[13]

Theatre

Awards

Personal life

She has a younger brother Djakapurra Munyarryun, a performance artist and dancer, and who was also a founding member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre.[12]

Her children are Rarriwuy Hick,[18] an actress and dancer, and Guruguru Hick, rap artist.[5]

References

  1. ^ Sykes, Jill (14 July 1989). "Arts News: Story on Aboriginal Islander Dance". The Sydney Morning Herald. John Fairfax Group Pty Ltd.
  2. ^ a b "Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre. (1976-1998) - People and organisations". Trove. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  3. ^ Verghis, Sharon (18 June 2011). "Bangarra's main man Stephen Page celebrates 20 year at helm". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  4. ^ a b "BJAA HOMELANDS". bungguldjama.com. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d "Media release: Deadliest Dancer of the Year". Bunggul Djama Arts Alliance. AAP Medianet. 28 September 2012.
  6. ^ Randall, Margaret Mona Mariaa (2014). Half – Living between two worlds (PDF). Melbourne, Australia: Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne.
  7. ^ Condie, Todd (30 May 2001). "Successful graduates tell their story" (PDF). Koori Mail. No. 252. p. 13. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  8. ^ Prendergast, Samantha (2 February 2015). "Home is home" (PDF). Frankie. No. 64. Morrison Media. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  9. ^ Smallhorn, Tamara (23 September 2010). "Promising pathway ahead for local | Altmedia". AltMedia. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Hallowell, Marjo, ed. (25–31 July 2012). "Dancers celebrate Queen's Jubilee". Arafura Times. No. 899. Regional and Remote Newspapers. p. 13. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  11. ^ Kingma, Jennifer (31 August 2012). "Reach for the star". The Canberra Times.
  12. ^ a b c Kingma, Jennifer (23 February 2013). "As the spirit moves them". The Canberra Times.
  13. ^ Musa, Helen (11 February 2013). "'Morning Star' set to rise". Canberra CityNews. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  14. ^ Fish: an unborn soul. FrontRow Video Distribution. 1998. OCLC 223886811 – via WorldCat.
  15. ^ Anderson, Doug (18 January 1999). "Masterpiece: Fish (Bangarra Dance Theatre)". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. ^ a b "DANCER OF THE YEAR - Deadly Vibe". Deadly Vibe. Vibe Australia. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  17. ^ "Deadly Awards celebrate Indigenous achievers". SBS World News. 26 September 2012.
  18. ^ Molloy, Shannon (27 August 2017). "Rarriwuy Hick on identity, her Cleverman role and 'escaping' to Arnhem Land roots". Stellar. News Limited. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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