WYKIM Productions
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander performance
Dance, song, didgeridoo, boomerang demonstrations and smoking ceremony, brought into preschools, primary schools, high schools, festivals and corporate events across Australia. All performances are highly interactive and people can join in if they wish.
WYKIM Productions in association with Troubie
Acknowledgement of Country. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work and perform, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. Ryka Ali is a Wuthathi man from Shelburne Bay, Cape York, and a Torres Strait Islander.
The performer
Ryka Ali Satrick's heritage stems from the Wuthathi tribe of Shelburne Bay, Cape York, and from the Torres Strait Islands. He won the Young, Black and Deadly Talent Quest in 2003 and is a proud ambassador for Australia's Indigenous youth.
Ryka has presented Indigenous performances, ceremonies and workshops at festivals and cultural showcases around the world, appearing both solo and also with members of his family and community.
He recently released a self-titled CD combining hip-hop and urban sounds with the didgeridoo.
In schools teachers regularly single out the same thing: Ryka applies his ochre in front of the students, demonstrates artefacts and explores the cultural significance behind his presentations; encouraging the audience to actively participate in this cultural exploration.
What we bring
Boomerang demonstrations can be included in all programs; please discuss this with Scott.
Songs and dances drawn from both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, including animal dances and Torres Strait play-dances, with the didgeridoo through the middle of it. Built for participation — students learn movements and join the dances rather than sitting and watching.
The same cultural material carried at a level that holds a secondary audience — dance, song and didgeridoo, with more room for Ryka to talk through the meaning behind what students are seeing and take questions.
For the littlies, Ryka tailors a program of songs and dances focusing on Australian animals such as the kangaroo and emu, along with Torres Strait play-dances and the didgeridoo. Entertaining, educational, and participation is greatly encouraged.
A ceremony to open your assembly, NAIDOC event or presentation night, with the option to add a didgeridoo set or bring in additional dancers for a longer ceremony.
How it works
Ryka carries a basket of smouldering leaves. As he moves through the crowd he encourages people to use their hands to brush the smoke over and around themselves. The purpose is to cleanse the event of negative thoughts and feelings, which are brushed away as the smoke curls and disperses.
A didgeridoo presentation of about twenty minutes can run before or after the ceremony. Bringing in two additional dancers makes a longer ceremony of roughly an hour, with a full dance presentation — for that version you'll need to provide microphones and speakers.
Feedback
Excellent — engaged and included all the children. The music stories and humour were fantastic.
Kirinari Early Childhood Centre
Great. The children smiled, participated and laughed throughout.
KU Bradfield Park Child Care Centre
I particularly liked the way Ryka applied the ochre to his face and arms in front of the children — it was very child appropriate. It reinforced what the children had been learning about Indigenous culture. They learnt a lot of new words, songs and dances.
Rainbow Cottage Early Childhood Centre
The children loved this performance. All were completely engrossed for the entire show. Content and props were excellent. The performers spoke to the children in a way that involved them immediately and held their attention.
Narrabeen Community Kindy
They loved it, and they learned. Best Aboriginal performance we've ever had!
Sylvania Public School
Students were engaged and enthusiastic! The performers had a lovely way of creating energy within the students. Loved the interactive dancing! Students learnt things they didn't know.
St Francis Xavier High School
On the ground
Photographs by Amanda Gunston and others.
See him in action
Bookings
Ryka is managed by Troubie, and all bookings go through them. Tell us the year groups, roughly how many students, and the date you're working towards. Scott will come back to you with a quote and a brochure for the right program.
Opens your mail app with those prompts already filled in. Or just write to office@troubie.com.au.