Ngambaa (Mother, in Gamilaraay) is a duo dance work that embodies the story of the dhinawan baawaa (the emu sisters) who carved the shape of the earth with their bodies, feathers, and song. Together, they created balance and unity, breathing life into rivers and sculpting the mountains of country. But when one sister is cast out, her grief and fury ignite the land, setting the world ablaze. From the ashes, both sisters transcend time and space, journeying across generations to witness two yinarrs (Gamilaroi women) living in the 1960s and 2025. These yinarrs, descendants of their legacy, navigate disconnection and resilience. Rediscovering the power of Ngambaa, the Mother, and the strength found in care, renewal, and community.
Through dance, sound, and design, Ngambaa unfolds as a visual and spiritual dance theatre piece. It blends contemporary movement with ancestral rhythm, weaving fire and creation into a narrative of remembrance and return. The yinarrs’ bodies become archives of memory, moving through grief, tenderness, and reclamation. As they call forth the wisdom of the Mother and the pulse of the land beneath them.
Presentation History
Ngambaa premiered at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2025 as part of the Deadly Fringe Program, presented at the Abbotsford Convent from 1–4 October 2025. The work received strong audience engagement for its emotional intensity, striking choreography, and powerful articulation of First Nations women’s resilience and matriarchal strength.
Creative Team
Choreographer & Sound Designer: Amelia J O’Leary
Performers: Keia McGrady & Danni Cook (O’Leary will perform alongside Keia for the tour)
Costume Designer: Maya Anderson
Rehearsal Director: Carmen Yih
Cultural Advisors: Aunt Shell & Uncle Ted
NGAMBAA NITV RADIO INTERVIEW
This project was funded by Fringe, as part of Deadly Fringe, with thanks to the Sue Beeton Fund, Julie Kantor and Craig Semple.
‘Ngaamba’ was developed with the support of The Patagorang Foundation, the Victorian Government through Creative Victoria and Abbotsford Convent. Thank you to everyone who donated to our Australian Cultural Fund.