CASPA’S Aboriginal Services and Support team took seven of our young people on the trip of a lifetime to the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival.
Held every two years, the festival is a unique gathering of dance troupes from across Cape York and the Torres Strait coming together sharing history and stories through dance and cultural performances, passing on knowledge and history.
Flying into Cairns the group then took the 3.5 hour drive out to Laura, though it took them a little longer than planned - they arrived 5 hours later! Despite the unexpected extension to the journey the positives of the trip far outweighed the negatives along the way.
Aboriginal Services team manager, Terri Bird said, “It was an absolute pleasure to get to know the kids and young people more closely."
Watching the kids embrace the experience and learn from the journey was incredibly rewarding. “The teenagers, who went from being typical teens and not wanting to be seen with the rest of the group were suddenly opening up and seeking us out to sit with us and share their experiences throughout the trip”, Terri recalls.
Across the three-day dance competition, dance troupes were narrating their stories as they performed, explaining what these song lines and dances mean to them. CASPA’S older kids that were part of the group were enthralled by the performances and even got up and joined in when there was a call for audience participation. “It was great to see some of our young people dancing and doing corrobboree lingo and song – you couldn’t miss anything that was going on there and it was great to see the kids take it all in”, said Terri.
For our team, the festival was an example of CASPA’s mission to support connection and community for the young people in our care. The group embraced the experience with respect and openness, building confidence and unforgettable memories along the way. “You could feel the strong spirituality everywhere you went," said Terri. "It was fantastic, and what all of us learnt, saw and shared there can’t be taken away”.
The journey to the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival was made possible through the generosity of CASPA’s donors, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported this incredible experience. Together, we’re empowering young people to connect with their culture and carry it forward into their futures.