"Dance Machines" from Tores Strait Islands

"Dance Machines" from Torres Strait Islands
November 1, 2009 - January 3, 2010

The Torres Strait is Australia’s most northern frontier, separating the northern tip of the Australian state of Queensland and the nation of Papua New Guinea. There are more than 200 islands scattered throughout the Strait, of which 17 are inhabited. The total population is approximately 8000 people, the majority of whom are the indigenous peoples of the islands. They are Melanesians, historically and culturally connected to the coastal peoples of Papua New Guinea. The Torres Strait is 150 kilometres across and joins the Coral sea to the east with the Arafura Sea to the West.

Traditional dance is one of the major forms of creative expression in the Torres Strait Islands (TSI). Zamiyakal (zamee yak al) means dance apparatus, or “dance machines” in one of the TSI languages (Kala Lagaw Ya), and is the term given to hand-held mechanical moving objects and elaborate moving headdresses. They constitute a most memorable aspect of TSI dance. Each clan and each island group has its own unique performance styles passed down from generation to generation. In addition, each dance group continues its array of unique dance machines, musical instruments, costumes and repertoire.

For more information, visit the East West Center's Virtual Gallery.