Aboriginal Ceremonies from the Top End

Traditional dancing is an essential part of life in traditional Aboriginal communities and there are regular local occasions where people decorate themselves for dances that may be ancient or in some cases quite new, telling the story of an event that took place in living memory.

The Kulyukulyu or Brolga dance from the Yanyuwa people of Borroloola. The body designs represent the brolga, an important bird in Aboriginal mythology

Funeral ceremonies in Arnhem Land are very important and take many days. Here, in Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, participants dance with traditional decorations and spears.

"Ngarrag" or "Mardayin" ceremony, as performed in Numbulwar, East Arnhem Land; this lengthy ceremony is in part open to everyone.

During the final rituals of the "Ngarrag" ceremony the two moiety groups dance in the sea, immersing themselves before returning to the ceremonial ground where the men continue dancing.