Entertainment
10 July, 2026
Cultural lens on arts expo
A GENERATIONS-old Western Gu Gu Yalanji songline will come to life at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026 when Kawanji dancers present ‘Imbala – The Dance of the Butterfly’ at Tanks Arts Centre on Saturday 11 July.
As well emerging artist Sofii Belling Harding’s debut at CIAF involves a new body of work developed alongside respected Yarrabah artists and Elders.
CIAF opened last night (9 July) and runs through until Sunday (12 July).
The Kawanji performance is inspired by the Imbala, the Western Gu Gu Yalanji name for butterfly and explores themes of survival, return and cultural renewal through dance, language and storytelling.
It aligns with CIAF’s 2026 theme, ‘Reclamation and Regeneration’, reclaiming Western Gu Gu Yalanji and Kawanji cultural knowledge through Elders’ stories while sharing them with new generations through contemporary performance.
The production is based on a significant oral history of the Kawanji Brady Family. Uncle Qawanji recounted how a devastating fire swept through Country, destroying everything in its path except the butterflies.
“There was a fire here in the summertime, the wrong time for a fire, and it burnt everything to cinders, but it didn’t affect the butterflies,” Uncle Qawanji said.
“There is a spirit here rooted in the earth and we call that the songline, the energy.
“To know that story and to know they didn’t become extinct means the songline is still strong.”
The story gained further significance when descendants of the Jawiyaba Warra people returned to Country after families were forcibly removed to Palm Island and rediscovered the butterfly habitat near Two Brothers Mountain, a sacred initiation site. According to the release, the rediscovery reinforced the truth of the story carried by Elders across generations and strengthened efforts to preserve Western Gu Gu Yalanji language, stories and cultural traditions.
Drawing inspiration from the opening and closing movement of butterfly wings, the performance explores the origins of the Cape York “shake-a-leg” dance tradition. Dancers wear body markings representing butterfly legs as they tell the family story through movement, song and storytelling.
CIAF artistic director Teho Ropeyarn said the production reflected the festival’s commitment to celebrating living cultural traditions.
Melbourne-based artist Sofii Belling Harding spent May at Yarrabah Arts Centre under the mentorship of Aunty Michelle Yeatman while working alongside Aunty Philomena Yeatman and Aunty Edna Ambrym.
The residency formed part of er Creative Australia-supported project, ‘maya’ (curing of sickness, yorta yorta), designed to strengthen her ceramics practice and to learn directly from experienced First Nations artists and cultural mentors.
Working closely with Aunty Michelle Yeatman, she explored ceramic techniques, cultural storytelling and creative processes, producing works that reflect both her own artistic journey and the knowledge gained during her time in the community.
Ms Belling Harding said the experience was life-changing.
“Due to the absence of a First Peoples art centre in Melbourne, as well as First Peoples ceramic mentorship opportunities, pursuing my creative passion has been very difficult and oftentimes disheartening,” she said.
“The residency provided an intensive period of learning and experimentation in ceramics under the guidance of internationally recognised and celebrated master potters who have been practising since the 1970s.”
She said the opportunity to create alongside other First Nations artists had a profound impact.
Ms Belling Harding said she cherished the relationships that were fostered.
