Guypunura "Janet" Munyarryun (born ) is an Aboriginal dancer, choreographer and tutor. She was a founding member of the

Bangarra Dance Theatre Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-born C ...

Biography

Munyarryun was born in

Yirrkala Yirrkala is a small community in East Arnhem Region, Northern Territory, Australia, southeast of the large mining town of Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula in Arnhem Land. Its population comprises predominantly Aboriginal Australians of the ...

, a community in Arnhem Land,

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...

. She grew up in the Garthalala homeland, and as a young girl she travelled with her family across country to establish the community of Dhalinybuy. She is a Yolngu woman of the Wangnurri clan. In 1984, she started working at

National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association The NAISDA Dance College (usually referred to as simply NAISDA) is a performing arts training college based in Kariong, New South Wales for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. It was established as the Aboriginal Islander ...

(NAISDA) Dance College in Sydney, and started cultural workshops to bring traditional dance practices to urban students. She also helped establish the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT), contributing as a choreographer and tutor. In 1989,

was formed after NAISDA director Carole Johnson left the organisation, and Munyarryun contributed as a founding member. She had two children, Rarriwuy and Guruguru, to Paul Hick, an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

-born dancer. They separated when Rarriwuy was young. Rarriwuy remarked of her mother: " hewas dancing at Bangarra when she was pregnant with me and she took me to all the rehearsals and performances after I was born". Munyarryun has continued as the cultural advisor for Bangarra, ensuring that their "performances adhere to the traditional stories and songs of her people". She has also worked as an advisor to the

Australian Ballet The Australian Ballet is the largest classical ballet company in Australia. It was founded by J. C. Williamson Theatres Ltd and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1962, with the English-born dancer, teacher, repetiteur and direc ...

. In May 2012, Munyarryun performed with an Aboriginal dance troupe at

Windsor Castle Windsor Castle is a royal residence at Windsor in the English county of Berkshire. It is strongly associated with the English and succeeding British royal family, and embodies almost a millennium of architectural history. The original c ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, for celebrations of Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

Diamond Jubilee A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th anniver ...

. She also worked to establish the Bunggul Djama Arts Alliance, a community-driven initiative to foster Yolngu performance arts and mixed-media projects. In 2013, Munyarryun worked on and performed in the dance production ''The Morning Star''. The production travelled between Arnhem Land and Mirramu Creative Arts Centre near Lake George in

Bungendore Bungendore is a town in the Queanbeyan Region of New South Wales, Australia, in Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council. It is on the Kings Highway, Australia, Kings Highway near Lake George, New South Wales, Lake George, the Molonglo River Valley ...

, NSW.

Theatre

* 1997-1999 – ''Fish'',

* 2012 – ''Infinity'': ''Warumuk − in the dark night'', vocalist, Bangarra Dance Theatre * 2013 – ''The Morning Star''

Awards

* 2012 – Dancer of the Year,

Deadly Awards The Deadly Awards, commonly known simply as The Deadlys, was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. The event was held from 1995 to 2013. Description T ...

Personal life

She has a younger brother Djakapurra Munyarryun, a performance artist and dancer, and who was also a founding member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre. Her children are

Rarriwuy Hick Rarriwuy Hick (born ) is an Aboriginal Australian award winning actress, known for her roles in the television series ''Redfern Now'', ''Cleverman'', '' Wentworth'' and '' True Colours''. Early life and education Hick was born around 1991 in ...

, an actress and dancer, and Guruguru Hick, rap artist.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Munyarryun, Janet 1960s births Living people Yolngu people Australian female dancers Australian choreographers Australian women choreographers