Young dancers from Mowanjum community, (L-R) Nicholas Nenowatt, Dequan Puemorra and Mathais Bear get ready

to perform. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

These original paintings of the Wandjina, the creation spirit, are housed in in the Mowanjum art centre. The display replicates the caves found across the Kimberley. Worrorra elder, Donny Woolagoodja, who is highly respected in the community and a recognised artist internationally, created the works. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Male dancers from Warmun community reveal a serpent hidden beneath the sand and hold it high during the snake dance, causing dust to billow in the night lights. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

An artist works on a massive banner used in the Mowanjum Festivals float parade. The painting is of a Wandjina spirit, which has big, round eyes, a white head and no mouth. According to cultural beliefs, the spirit is so powerful it has no need to speak. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Young Ngarinyin dancer, Keenan Bear is painted in different shades of ochre, as he prepares to perform in the nights corroboree. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Three Wandjina creation spirits form a backdrop to the nights performance. Elder Donny Woolagoodja, who was one of the Mowanjum Festivals initiators back in 1998, introduces each dance on the microphone in the foreground. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Dancers from Warmun community, also known as Turkey Creek, emerge from the shadows onto the dirt stage before 1500 onlookers. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Another young dancer, Gallaroo Keith Bradshaw, from the Mowanjum Community is painted and ready to perform. One of the aims of the festival is to inject cultural pride in younger generations. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

During the festival, Aboriginal youngsters and non-indigenous visitors are taught cultural traditions, such as the careful art of boab nut carving. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

One of the younger back up dancers for the argula the white devil dance is decorated in body paint. The ochre stripes and dots differ depending on the gender of the dancer and the story being told in the dance. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Dequan Puemorra from the Wanumbul tribe, in full traditional paint, practices his moves. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

[Gabriel Nodea is part of the Warmun dancer group from Turkey Creek, who travelled 750km to Mowanjum for the festival. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Worrora Dancers pound the earth with their feet during the hunting dance. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Boys and girls as young as four are involved in the dances. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Worrora Dancers carry colourful totems on their shoulders as they perform the canoe dance. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

A dancer stamps his feet to the tinkle of clap sticks in the argula dance. He wears a fake beard to represent the devil spirit.

Dancers carry handmade totems on their shoulders during the corroboree. Totems are made from wooden boards, some are edged with colourful tread and they have pictures of eagles, snakes, and the Wandjina spirit painted in the centre. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Mowanjum kids often use multimedia, such as cameras, video gear and recording equipment to record and tell cultural stories, linking younger generations to their elders. This girl, painted up for the nights corroboree, is undoubtedly a budding photographer. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

Journalist Fleur Bainger shares her recording equipment with young Mowanjum girls, Narelle Umbagai (furthest away on L), Sash Ngerdu (wearing headphones), Shayleen Ngerdu and Meeka Numendumah (writing in Fleurs notebook) who take to it like ducks to water. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield

A young performer is painted in different shades of ochre, perhaps the only moment hell stand still throughout the night. Photo Credit: Matt Scurfield