Dharug dancer and choreographer Peta Strachan is bringing a powerful new work centred on First Nations women, language and Country to the Sydney Opera House as part of Sydney Festival 2026.​

Jannawi Dance Clan’s new work

• Strachan’s all-female company, Jannawi Dance Clan, will premiere the immersive work Garrigarrang Badu – meaning “saltwater, freshwater” in Dharug – at the Opera House on January 9 and 10.​
• The Sydney-based ensemble draws dancers from across the country, with a focus on honouring and revitalising First Nations language, story and ceremony through contemporary and cultural dance practice.​

Celebration of Dharug Country

• Performed entirely in Dharug language, Garrigarrang Badu traces the journey of water from the mountains to the sea, highlighting how each part of Country holds its own stories and responsibilities.​
• Strachan describes the work as a “love song” to her Dharug homelands and to the ancestors, especially the matriarchs who have safeguarded stories and culture across generations.​

Space for women, strength and voice

• Strachan founded Jannawi Dance Clan after becoming a mother, determined to create a safe, supportive space where women could continue their dance practice while navigating parenthood.​
• She says the company allows women from different mobs to come together, ground themselves and “lift our voices” through shared performance and cultural connection.​

Creative collaborators and cultural leadership

• The production has been developed in partnership with FORM Dance Projects and Arts and Cultural Exchange, whose leaders praise the work as a powerful expression of First Nations creativity in western Sydney and an example of strong cultural leadership by First Nations women.​
• Dharug Elders and knowledge holders have also guided the creation of the piece, ensuring cultural integrity and community ownership of the stories being brought to the stage.​

Deeper cultural insight for audiences

• One of the three performances will be followed by a special knowledge holders’ talk, giving audiences the chance to hear directly about the stories, language and cultural knowledge embedded in the work.​
• The season at the Sydney Opera House marks a major milestone for Jannawi Dance Clan, positioning Garrigarrang Badu as a must-see work within the 2026 Sydney Festival program.​