Our AD, Bec, had the pleasure of spending a week on Bruny Island recently with Bruny Island District School in Alonnah. The week coincided with NAIDOC Week and so commenced with an introduction and welcome from Uncle Rodney Dillon, sharing stories about Mutton Birds, Whales, Bruny and taking care of the land.

Bec supported the students through tasking, improvisation, drawing and movement games to create their own dance inspired by the Bruny Island landscape, its inhabitants big and small, and their own impressions and responses to Uncle Rodney’s storytelling. Guided by Aboriginal education consultant, Hayley, the students participated in many other important discussions around the NAIDOC Week theme this year, For our Elders, and created videos to share along with their dance at the assembly celebrating the week.

‘I was particularly inspired by their willingness to listen and become more curious about movement and connecting through dance across the week. This school has a very nurturing environment and an extremely dedicated teaching team. The students spend lunch times building things, dancing, playing drums and running around wild in their blunny’s in the mud. This sense of freedom and abandonment was also obvious in our sessions together and their openness to partake in all of our activities and tasks. Bruny Island is very special, I feel super lucky to have spent time there with the community and school and see how acceptance, inclusivity and wellness is so beautifully weaved into the curriculum (including lunch time yoga!)

-Bec

We hope to return to Bruny again for another creative residency in the future! A huge thanks to the entire faculty for so much support and encouragement throughout our time together.

Should DRILL come to your school?? Get in touch with Bec or Cathryn here: admin@drillperformance.com