QPAC

Circa Cairns is a proudly First Nations-led contemporary circus ensemble, based in regional Queensland, dedicated to creating bold art from the nexus of place and culture.

Fuelled by values of thrilling, challenging and connecting its diverse team which features a majority of First Nations artists, Circa Cairns creates, presents and tours new circus productions and innovative engagement programs.

Circa Cairns is a Circa initiative supported by the Queensland Government and the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation, and is supported in 2022 by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative. Circa Cairns is based in Gimuy (Cairns) on the lands of the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people. We acknowledge that art has been practiced here over many millennia, and that it remains a fundamental way of life for the traditional caretakers and custodians of the lands on which we work, create and perform today. We acknowledge that we are here as visitors, and accept the responsibility to respect and care for these lands and tread lightly. Always was. Always will be.

Kardajala Kirridarra translates to ‘Sandhill Women.’ Kardajala is the name of the mysterious bush woman from the sandhills behind the community of Marlinja, Northern Territory.

Kardajala Kirridarra create music to empower women in all aspects of their role as creators, from young girls through to being mothers and grandmothers.

From their inception until now, Kardajala Kirridarra has won the NT Song of the Year award, played at Golden Plains Festival, Wide Open Spaces, and Barunga Festival, and were the first all-female band to appear at Bush Bands Bash in 2016. The descendants of a mysterious bush woman from the Northern Territory, these compelling women are from the communities of Marlinja and Kulumindini (Elliott) and together with Melbourne based producer Beatrice they form Kardajala Kirridarra. With the release of their debut self-titled album featuring new single “Ngabaju (Grandmother’s Song)”, Kardajala Kirridarra meld the contemporary with the traditional. Sung in both Mudburra and English, together they tell the story of the connection between Aboriginal women and country as a reminder about the importance of women as creators.