Dragon Beats teaches a new generation traditional, cultural knowledge

Across many cultures, much of the ancient, traditional knowledge sits with the elders of the community, meaning it can be hard finding ways to translate that knowledge into tangible learning for the younger generation. For Asian communities in West Auckland, as is in most spaces, the traditional knowledge/skills such as drumming skills, movement practices, and lived cultural experience sits within the community elders. Things like language barriers can limit younger generation’s involvement, reduce cultural understanding and making intergenerational knowledge harder to pass down generation to generation.

Tuia Waitākere has seen and heard from many schools and communities who are seeking diverse learning opportunities, non-competitive movement experiences, and movement pathways that encourage inclusive participation for their tamariki. This leads us to Dragon Beats – cultural celebration shaped into a programme that was accessible and inclusive for all.

Dragon Beats combined dragon dance, Chinese drumming, Tai Chi and cultural story-telling for four West Auckland primary schools (Arahoe School, New Lynn School, New Windsor School, Summerland School), and rather than being a showcase of other people’s skills and experience, attendees had a chance to get involved and start moving. Since it’s initial test run with the first four primary schools, it’s now spread into community centres and libraries across the wider Auckland city – reaching thousands of participants.

For the tamariki who got to experience learning through movement with Dragon Beats, there were high levels of enthusiasm, and they were very keen to do it again, which is partly due to the high levels of participation.

One school leader reflected:

“It was really nice to see some of our students looking engaged and happy who don’t usually participate.”

At its core, Dragon Beats shows that culture becomes most powerful when it is not placed on a stage for people to simply watch – but placed into people’s hands for people to move with together.