This image represents the Bali Bali Balga dance. The traditional dance is an important part of cultural life and is still practiced and performed in the Kimberley. We dance to feel and understand the story and the message from our old people. The dancers carry these woven objects called balmarra on their shoulders, above their heads. The dancers move with stamping feet and swaying body movements in rhythm with the singing and clapping of the boomerangs. Each balmarra has an important order in the song cycle as they represent different stars, constellations, places, spirits and ancestors. The order follows the night sky, as the night to progresses to day. This image represents the opening balmarra which are the first in the song cycle to come out with a women on each side. The Bali Bali Balga song tells of an actual event that happened in my time. It is a priority for me to carry on the song, dance and painting traditions to continue my father's legacy. Here my father's words to describe the event that shaped the dance and a warning for our family to never forget our elders and their continuing presence:
“The stars were out and he woke up and I saw a fire on the hill. The next morning I realised it wasn’t a fire it was that Bali Bali ghost. The Bali ghost had stolen my young daughter away. We couldn’t find her anywhere. I went running to find her but that old ghost Mundy Moore had her. [Mundy Moore was head boss man and the father or Nancy Dilyai and Phyllis Ningarmara. It is believed that his spirit inhabits the country around Spillway Creek.] We were calling out to her and searched for her everywhere. When I found her she was on a hill near a cave. She couldn’t hear, that old Bali ghost had put a spell on her. I blew hard in her ear to bring her back and then made a fire and put her through the smoke to make her better. I put all my children through the smoke to keep them safe and to let Mundy know to leave my kids alone. If we hadn’t found her she would have been lost forever. That old Mundy Moor must have changed his mind.”