Jax & Daz of Muggera Dancers at Yabun Fest

Returning this Thursday, the Yabun Festival is the largest one-day gathering and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia. Held annually since 2001 on January 26, it takes place upon the traditional lands of the Gadigal people in Sydney. Yabun (meaning “music to a beat” in Gadigal language) is a free event that features cultural performances, live music, a bustling stalls market, children’s activities, and panel discussions and community forums on Aboriginal issues.

Local dancers should be sure to check out the Yabun Festival’s Corroboree Ground, which will be hosted by Jax and Daz, of the Muggera Dancers and stars of Logie Award-nominated TV series Move it Mob Style.

“Jax” (legally Jacqueline Cornforth) and “Daz” (formally Darren Compton) both boast many years of experience with performance and community engagement. Daz is a proud descendent of Bundjalung, Munanjali, and Gamillaraay nations of the mainland, and the Mer people of the Torres Strait Islands. He is a proficient yiggi yiggi (didgeridoo) player, an artist/craftsman and a multi-skilled Indigenous performer and dancer in both traditional and hip-hop dance. He’s been dancing since the age of 13 and has performed in over 4,000 shows across Australia, from remote communities to urban corporate functions. He’s also performed internationally, travelling to over 24 countries representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island culture.

Likewise, Jax, born in Cairns, is a proud Wuthathi woman from East Cape York Peninsula, QLD. She’s also a proud Torres Strait Islander woman with family ties to Thursday, Badu and Moa Islands. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and also studied at NAISDA Dance College. She has extensive skills as a performer, dance teacher, choreographer and event host.

The duo has worked together throughout Australia over the last five years teaching young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about culture and dance. They’ll now be on hand to deliver another unforgettable day of traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural expression and celebration down at the Corrorboree Ground this week!

For more information, head to https://yabun.org.au.

Image courtesy of the Yabun Festival.