Western Terrace: Utp Portals to the Ancestors

A group of people joyfully dance in a brightly lit room with an orange floor and colorful lights. The atmosphere is lively and energetic.

Western Terrace: Utp Portals to the Ancestors


As the sun sets in Burramatta, we invite you to dance, craft and gather with us to honour ancestral memory and living culture.

Portals to the ancestors is a community offering of artist-led movement workshops and shrine-making that centre the body as a site of ancestral memory, continuity of culture and resistance against erasure. Dance and craft with us to connect across time and open portals together.

Dharug collective Jannawi Dance Clan will present a cultural dance workshop, Mohamed Albayed from Ataba Dabke will facilitate a Palestinian dabke workshop, and Shyamla will host an introduction to the Tamil drumming dance, Parai Attam. Artist emoeba h♡rtbridge invites you to bring a photo of a ‘spiritual ancestor’ (real or imagined) or a treasured memory to make a personal shrine.

We hope you can join us in Burramatta as we reach backwards and forwards in order to make sense of the now. Presented as a part of Utp’s 2026 programs under the provocation of ‘Ancestral Portals’

 

Gallery

A woman speaks into a microphone at an indoor event, holding a phone. Two women stand behind her. The setting is modern and warmly lit.
Image by Grant Leslie
A diverse group of women stands attentively in a warmly lit room, each facing forward with focused expressions, creating a thoughtful and engaged atmosphere.
Image by Grant Leslie
Two women standing near a microphone, speaking to an audience. The woman in the foreground is in a purple top, appearing focused and earnest.
Image by Grant Leslie
A woman in a purple top speaks into a microphone in a brightly lit room. Two screens display red graphics with the text "portal to the ancestors." The mood is vibrant and engaging.
Image by Grant Leslie
A diverse group of people dance joyfully in a well-lit room with pink flooring. They have outstretched arms, portraying energy and unity.
Image by Grant Leslie
A woman energetically leads a group workshop in a vibrant indoor space. Participants face her with attentive expressions, creating an engaging atmosphere.
Image by Grant Leslie
A group of people joyfully dance in a brightly lit room with an orange floor and colorful lights. The atmosphere is lively and energetic.
Image by Grant Leslie
A dancer in vibrant attire energetically leads a group, holding a traditional drum. Participants mirror movements in a warm-lit setting, capturing lively engagement.
Image by Grant Leslie
A group of people engaged in lively conversation around a food table at night. The atmosphere is warm and social, lit by soft, glowing lights.
Image by Grant Leslie
A woman in a scarf and gloves serves food from a large tray at an indoor event. The scene is warmly lit, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Image by Grant Leslie
Two women sit at a table focused on crafts, with colourful materials around. The warm lighting creates a cozy, engaged atmosphere in the bustling room.
Image by Grant Leslie
A group of three people sit around a table engaged in crafting with colourful paper and glue. The atmosphere is lively and creative, suggesting teamwork and fun.
Image by Grant Leslie
A hand holds a small, ornate rectangular gift with shiny wrapping, floral decorations, and hanging tassel. The background is softly blurred with bright colours.
Image by Grant Leslie

Meet the Artists

Utp is an experimental arts organisation in Western Sydney, supporting artists to make breakthrough works of scale. Each year, Utp’s program is guided by a provocation responding to emerging social, cultural and political challenges of the moment. At Utp, we nurture artists long-term, championing those who challenge the status quo and reflect contemporary Australia’s complexity. 

Learn more about Utp

An androgynous figure with white makeup and dark lips, wearing a golden crown and halter top, holds a large drum. The background is textured in gold and black.

 

Shyamla Eswaran (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer and facilitator based on Dharug Land, working across movement, sound and embodied storytelling. In 2019, they founded BINDI BOSSES, a South Asian arts company whose work has been presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, TEDxSydney, Qudos Bank Arena, Carriageworks and the Sydney Opera House.

Their practice is grounded in community-based training in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, where they study the 3,000‑year‑old artforms of Parai Attam (Tamil drumming dance) and Silambam (martial arts), performing at the Nataraja Temple. A descendant of Fijian‑Indian indentured labourers with Telugu Mala and Tamil Brahmin lineages, Shyamla’s solo work explores caste, migration and ancestral memory. They are a recipient of the Multicultural NSW Premier’s Harmony Medal (2020) and presented their first solo work GIRMITYA at Sydney Dance Company in 2025.
 

Three dancers in dynamic poses kneel on stage, holding large round objects above their heads. They wear earthy-toned costumes illuminated by vibrant stage lighting, evoking a powerful and expressive atmosphere.

 

Jannawi Dance Clan is a First Nations intergenerational dance collective based in Western Sydney. Founded in 2008 by Artistic Director Peta Strachan, Jannawi (meaning “with me, with you” in Dharug language), centres Indigenous storytelling through dance, embodied language revitalisation, traditional movement and contemporary forms.

Their practice celebrates the strength, resilience and stories of Aboriginal people in NSW, with a strong commitment to community, identity, culture and the revitalisation of Dharug language and histories.

Three men perform a traditional dance on stage. They wear black outfits with checkered sashes and headbands, exuding energy and coordination.

 

Ataba Dabke Group is a Sydney‑based collective dedicated to preserving and sharing Palestinian cultural heritage through dabke. What began as a hobby among friends has grown into a passionate troupe highlighting dance as a powerful expression of identity, resilience and community. Through performances and workshops, they bring energy, joy and togetherness, honouring tradition while embracing contemporary expression.
 

A person sits in a brightly lit room, hands clasped, appearing thoughtful. The wall behind is filled with colorful papers and drawings. Calm and creative atmosphere.

 

Emoeba (they/them) is an artist living in south‑west Sydney on Bidjigal and Dharug Lands. Their practice uses art as a connector between people, earth and animals, shaped by the extremities of Sydney’s changing weather. They believe in piracy for leisure, friendship, and the idea that temporary, love‑driven struggles can lead to meaningful memories and beautiful outcomes.

The Western Terrace is a series of creative gatherings, performances and workshops taking place underneath the golden hour, as the sun sets, facing West, thinking West. Imagining the Western Terrace as an extension of their own homes, gardens and balconies, the series features artists, authors, filmmakers, musicians and community sharing domestic ritual collectively. The Western Terrace Series was developed and curated by Eleni Christou, PHIVE Programs Producer.