Naarm-based Joel Bray is a proud Wiradjuri dancer and performance-maker. He has performed with European companies and choreographers and with CHUNKY MOVE. Joel’s dance-theatre encounters in unorthodox spaces spring from his Wiradjuri heritage, and use humour to engage audiences in rituals about sex, history, trauma and healing. Joel makes his work in collaboration with Elders, Community and Country.
Joel has made works for Artshouse, CHUNKY MOVE, Sydney Dance Company, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria His self-produced works, namely Biladurang, Dharawungara, Daddy, Considerable Sexual License, Garabari and Giraru Galing Ganhagirri, have toured to major arts festivals in Australia and overseas.
Take flight with a party inspired by the Queer Aboriginal stories of the dancing Brolga. Dance your feathers off with Indigenous headliners Dameeeela, SOVBLKPSSY, NAYCAB (Nayuka Gorrie), Kalyani, the Joel Bray Dance dancers and reigning Miss First Nations Queen Cerulean. Supported by an incredible QPOC line-up Stev Zar, Ata2ud and Aqueerius.
For one night only Brolga: A Queer Koori Wonderland will transform The Substation into a psychedelic Queer Koori Wonderland, cramming every nook and cranny with art, film, interactive games and Naarm’s best Queer performers, including Luke George, Bendy Ben, Dandrogyny and many more.
Different mobs have different Brolga stories. Some tell of a boy who only wanted to dance the women's dances, and so the Ancestors transformed him into the Brolga so he could dance for eternity. Others speak of a young woman who defied a ban on women dancing and who refused to marry a man.
This party, a reimagined contemporary gathering ground, celebrates the Queers and the Trans folk in our communities.
It's a party - arrive any time between 9pm and 3am!