Sand Tracks 2010 – Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay and Iwantja Band
In 2010 Country Arts WA completed the first cross-border Sand Tracks tour after a pilot tour in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands and the Goldfields region in 2009.
Manuel Ngulupani Dhurrkay of Saltwater Band (from Elcho Island) and emerging band Iwantja (from Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara) toured to four communities in the central desert.
Jason Dharmarandji from Saltwater Band takes a leap into the Sand Tracks tour. Picture by Matt McHugh.
The tour achieved significant outcomes including the strengthening of a remote touring circuit through the central desert, skills development for the emerging band Iwantja and for people living in the communities visited by the tour and the reinforcement of the important of music as a tool for inspiration and development.
In 2010 the two bands toured to 4 communities in NT, SA and WA, playing to an audience of 3800. Over the 20 day tour across 2,240km they delivered 11 workshops to 192 participants.
Shows were locally presented in Alice Springs by RedHOT Arts, Warburton (Mirlirrtjarra) by Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku, Amata by the Amata Community Council and Warakurna by NG Media.
“I enjoy touring. When Saltwater were touring in the bush we all loved meeting new people and helping young people know that music is important in our culture. Music makes us all stronger people and touring encourages young people to use music in a manymak (good) way. Everyone gets stronger through music.”
– Dr G. Yunupingu (in conversation with Mark Grose)
