Spirits of the Red Sand - Aboriginal cultural experience Have Spirits of the Red Sand at your next Event
60,000 years of culture and storytelling, perfected for your Conference or Event
Being traditional owners and descendants of the Yuggera, Yugambeh and Turbul people of the Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich regions; Kabi Kabi people of the Noosa area; Nunukul, Quandamooka and Nugi people of Stradbroke and Moreton Island and Koombamerri people of the Gold Coast region – it is our privilege and our right to travel throughout and within these regions to share our culture.
Our highest honour is to engage with the people around us, to share our culture, our stories and our history.
Uncle Eddie Ruska, Cultural Elder and Co-Founder for Spirits of the Red Sand has devoted his entire life to ensuring that not only is our culture kept alive, but that the flame would burn brightly in the younger generations that make up Spirits of the Red Sand cast and crew.
From on-board cruise ship performances, awards evenings, citizenship ceremonies, sporting events, conferences, events, incentives, school incursions, university groups, language school groups, to Airport VIP tarmac arrivals we have been at the forefront of welcoming visitors and delegates to our Country.
Our talented group have been travelling and performing together for over 10 years and as the most respected and most awarded Aboriginal performance group in these regions, we know we have what it takes to deliver an exceptional cultural experience for all clientele, from energetic school kids to foreign Heads of State and dignitaries.
If you want to breathe some indigenous flavour into your conference or event, then entrust the Traditional Owners of the land to deliver an exceptional experience that got us awarded the No. 1 Dance Troupe in Australia, along with myriad other awards for our passionate interpretation and articulation of our culture.
Here’s a select sample of what we can provide, just talk to us about your Conference or Event and we can tailor an experience that suits your style, taste and budget and you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you are working with the best in the industry.
- Welcome to Country Ceremony and Acknowledgement to Country Ceremony
- Didgeridoo playing for arrival ambience
- Traditional or Contemporary Cultural performances
- Interactive cultural stations for breakout sessions
- Indigenous inspired canapes, live cooking demonstrations and tastings
- On-Board Cruise ship performances
- Sporting Event Acknowledgement to Country and Cultural song and dance performance
5 Reasons Why Spirits of the Red Sand and our Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Tribal Group should be chosen to perform at your next Conference or Event?
- We are the No.1 Aboriginal Dance Troupe in Australia (2018 Winner of Aboriginal Dance Rites National competition)
- We are the only South East Queensland Aboriginal product endorsed by Tourism Australia in their signature experiences program – Discover Aboriginal Experiences
- We are Queensland Tourism Accredited, a rigorous process of service and delivery requirements by the Queensland Tourism Industry Council
- We are a top Best of Queensland Experience, as benchmarked by Tourism & Events Queensland
- We are a Travellers Choice Award Winner 2020, TripAdvisor and hold a Certificate of Excellence as well. Our reviews speak for themselves, we always turn up, we always deliver, we always bring it
Spirits of the Red Sand holds an impressive resume of performance highlights and has built a reputation over the last 12 year’s with our real ways, heartfelt and spiritually up-lifting expression and our catch-cry – Culture is our identity!
Just a few of the dignitaries and professional events that we have performed at:
Queen Elizabeth II; Brisbane Bronco’s; NRL World Cup Game in Sydney; NAIDOC events; The Hon Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd.
Experiences on offer:
Aboriginal Dance Performance, Cultural Interaction & Q&A
This is the best of Aboriginal culture, combining sacred creation stories; the mystery and raw energy of the didgeridoo and a Corroboree of traditional songs, dances, chants and traditions brought to life by the award-winning Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Tribal group.
Age old traditions are handed down to new generations, it’s a true ceremony coming alive on stage as you feel the power of the dancers calling on the ancestors to deliver our story, a story 60,000 years in the making. The didgeridoo plays a leading role within the show and the MC or main singer/song man brings to life the back-story behind the song. We always perform this to standing ovations with one of the big highlights being the audience getting up to ‘shake a leg’ and Question and Answer time afterwards with our team.
Your Experience Includes:
- 45 minute Traditional or Contemporary Aboriginal song and dance cultural performance group
- Didgeridoo playing
- Dreamtime (Creation stories) infused throughout experience
- Acknowledgement to Country
- Ancient Fire Lighting Ritual
- Audience Dance Participation and Q&A time
Pricing
$2825 (Mon-Sat), $3390 (Sun)
Prices vary depending upon inclusions, duration and add-ons.
Welcome to Country Ceremony & Acknowledgement to Country Ceremony
This ceremony can only be performed by a true bloodline descendant of the land you are standing on and is a practice of acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land. It is an ancient custom of great significance that we have performed over many generations.
Not just a quick few words, this is our way of connection through storytelling. It is an acknowledgment of our land, our people, our culture and a welcome to visitors and locals alike. This will engage your guests, make them laugh, make them think and surely entertain with our articulate team who are experts at engaging the crowd and creating the right vibe and hype.
Your Experience Includes:
- Ceremonial speech by Bloodline descendant
- The message stick ritual
- ‘One with land & people’ farewell
Pricing
$750 (Mon-Sat), $1000 (Sun). Enquire for Public Holidays.
Prices vary depending upon inclusions, duration and add-ons.
Didgeridoo Playing
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians and is still in widespread use today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or “drone pipe”. Musicologists classify it as a brass aerophone. Listen to the sounds of the oldest wood pipe instrument in the world, the didgeridoo. We also can provide a symphony of Didgeridoo Performance of up to 6 Didgeridoo Players. Pair a Didgeridoo player together with the Welcome to Country ceremony for an authentic blessing for your event.
Your Experience Includes:
- Experienced and talented didgeridoo player
Pricing
$675 (Mon-Sat), $875 (Sun). Enquire for Public Holidays.
Prices vary depending upon inclusions, duration and add-ons.
Traditional Smoking Ceremony
A smoking ceremony is one of the most significant ancient ceremonies performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The ceremony involves smoldering various native plants to produce smoke, believed to have cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits.
Your Experience Includes:
- 1-2 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander performers
- Smoking Ceremony
- Ceremonial Smoking Ceremony Dance
Pricing
$750 (Mon-Sat), $950 (Sun). Enquire for Public Holidays.
Prices vary depending upon inclusions, duration and add-ons.
Artefact Display & Demonstration
Australian Aboriginal artefacts consist of boomerangs, spears, shields, dillybags among some of the many artefacts that Indigenous Australians had to carry with them. Discover the different artefacts, their use and how they were made.
Your Experience Includes:
- 1-2 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander guides
- A variety of artefacts that the audience can touch (COVID-dependant)
- From 5-10 minutes
Pricing
$500 (Mon-Sat), $700 (Sun). Enquire for Public Holidays.
Prices vary depending upon inclusions, duration and add-ons.
