IN|FORM | Rita Pryce

Image: Pryce Centre’s Youth Company Baiwa Kazil at Bulmba-ja Opening (Cairns), with Umpila man and Cultural Dance Leader - Uncle Josiah Omeenyo

Photo by Mark McCormack

Contributed by Rita Pryce, The Pryce Centre for Culture and Arts

My name is Rita Pryce. I am a Kulkalgal and Kawrareg woman from Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands). I am Artistic Director of Pryce Centre for Culture & Arts, which is based in Cairns with a satellite office in Los Angeles USA. The most memorable moments of my life were during my childhood whilst growing up on Keriri (Hammond Island).

Dance is part of my being. I am passionate about creativity in general, and when I paint, draw, weave or write poetry, my hands move as though they are dancing. Dance has also saved my life. I remember times when depression took its toll from years of abuse, family rejection and hurt. It was Dance that made me feel happy, empowered and in control. Messages, ideas, thoughts and feelings take on the form of ‘Dance’ when they come to life. There is so much power in this artform, and it is even used by other species on the planet - to entice, communicate and assert authority.

It is also important to each and every tribal and clan group, as the future of our young people depend on it for survival reasons. Dance plays an integral part in my peoples Cultures, is sacred and used as part of Ceremony. Dance I believe, helps connect us to our Ancestors in the Spirit world. We are not just dancing the dances they did, but we’re taking on the feelings they felt. We embody the spirit of what we are telling the story about and become the subject. And of course, movement is accompanied by music, chants, body markings and many other components to make it complete. These are inter-related and naturally belong together. As First Peoples, the survival of our cultures relies heavily on information and experiences that have been passed down over generations in the form of Dance and other modes of expression. Festivals, events and venues have presented our Cultural Dances as ‘entertainment’. But in fact, the songs, dances, artwork and stories hold information that is intrinsic to maintaining a high quality of life. Knowing one dance can teach a single child, how to hunt and when to do it, equipping him with the skills and knowledge to feed a village.

The Pryce Centre is a social enterprise that specialises in Creative Projects. The organisation provides and curates Employment Opportunities, and Cultural and Artistic Development for talented Youth in the Community - working to connect them, from Cairns and surrounding areas through Cape York to Torres Strait, to elite training and development opportunities with world-renowned artists, companies, and institutions globally. We are currently looking for financial support to run our Stages To Success program full-time, so that our developing youth can eventually be employed in The Arts and contribute to the economy, whilst confidently taking the lead in determining their own futures. As our Culture is the foundation of everything we do at The Pryce Centre, our Indigenous practices and protocols are embedded deep within the veins of our programs and operations - giving our young people realisation, reason and responsibility.

Other responses in the industry to COVID-19 have made us realise that positive language is key to maintaining healthy minds and spiritual wellbeing. We have seen the opportunity in this time of crisis, and it is a time of excitement, Black-Sky Innovation, and ‘Discovery’ rather than ‘Recovery’.

The way we see the future of the Dance sector in Queensland, is not a dream. The reason The Pryce Centre exists, is to change perceptions, and reset the meaning and value of ‘Culture’. This is a time of cleansing and renewal in The Arts, and sovereignty is on the horizon. Once there is a shift in mindsets, and the World’s Indigenous Nations finally get the respect they deserve as Custodians of Ancient Wisdom, there will be an appreciation for the eminent value my peoples can add, not just to Dance and the Arts Sector, but to Humankind.

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