The Song Room Web Site

With the support of Xstrata Queensland, The Song Room placed a local, highly skilled Indigenous Teaching Artist, Barbra Adjei, in the Charters Towers and Townsville schools to deliver a tailored creative movement workshop program, where approximately 50% of the students in the cluster of schools are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island descent.

Barbra is a creative dance specialist, having graduated from NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Association) Dance College in 2004. She has enjoyed extensive professional experiences including working with the Bangarra Dance Company Australian Regional and International Tours.

Performances

As well as performing at their end of year graduation ceremonies, students also performed at the World Theatre in Charters Towers on the 14th October and 2nd December 2009.

The Charters Towers showcase in October 2009 is an annual State schools event highlighting student achievements in the performing arts and provided students with an opportunity to display their learnings in dance and song for their peers and parents.

“Because of The Song Room program, at least 1/3 of all students participated in Showcase. This number is unusually high for involvement in school activity.  It has given our kids the ability to engage in an arts education that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to”.
Teacher, Central State School.

According to audiences, a highlight of the performance was the Michael Jackson tribute from Central State School where students performed their version of MJ’s Thriller accompanied by a live band as well as Heal The World lead by three student soloists backed by the school choir.

Students and parents also experienced a performance by Bernard Mangakahia.  Bernard’s performance “Mana – The Spirit of Polynesia” took the audience on a journey through Polynesian cultures including Native American Indian, New Zealand Maori, Hawaiian and Samoan, Bernard discovers with each the idea of family, challenges and pride.  The show embodies dance, music, multicultural themes, history, geography, the importance of learning about heritage and the power of self belief and respect.

Responses from Students, Teachers and Community

“Through positive engagement students have found something to be passionate towards, they actually look forward to coming to school and have positive feelings towards school.  They have developed a belief in themselves.  The Song Room program has had a huge impact on several students who struggle academically and have poor attendance.  These students found natural abilities in the arts and were given an opportunity to shine by being able to choreograph sections of dance routines.  The program has given our kids the ability to engage in an arts education that they otherwise wouldn’t have access to.”

“The students have learnt the cultural protocols of dance and what behaviour is expected of them – they are starting to respect it.  Since promoting the dance program, the Indigenous and non-Indigenous students are developing more positive relationships with each other and are integrating better.  They now support each other in the workshops and are attending each other’s performances”

“Through the program students have developed a sense of social responsibility.  .  The program has helped students with Confidence – being able to perform in front of an audience, Persistence – putting in the effort to learn the, sometimes complex, dance steps, Organisation – knowing when to go to rehearsals, workshops and what to take with them, Team Work – This has been demonstrated through students working in teams and working together to reach a goal such as choreographing part of a routine, Resilience – by understanding that dance is a discipline they have been able to combat negative feelings if they don’t get it right the first time”.

The Children from the Charters Towers Schools perform a mass Haka