Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National
By Emilie Gramenz

'Loud and proud': Baker Boy teaches hip hop dance at National Indigenous Tennis Carnival

Baker Boy hoped the children would gain inspiration and confidence from the dance workshop.

Yolngu rapper Baker Boy has taught hip hop to children during the inaugural National Indigenous Tennis Carnival in Darwin.

The Arnhem Land star taught the dance to his single Marryuna, which recently won a National Indigenous Music Award.

"When I get on the stage … when Marryuna comes on, the kids would know the routine so maybe we'll have some of the kids up and dancing in front of the people and get them to hype up the crowd as well," he said.

"I reckon it's pretty easy. It's pretty simple moves so I reckon the kids will nail it.

"If a five-year-old or four-year-old can do it, I guess all ages can."

He hoped the children would gain inspiration and confidence from the workshop.

"[I hope they are] being loud and proud for who they are and where they come from, and get to do whatever they want to do, whenever they grow up, and keep pushing their dreams," Baker Boy said.

Some of the almost 200 children at the carnival took part.

Fourteen-year-old Iriaka Amber-Hankin said the workshop was "really good, and so was meeting Baker Boy".

The carnival also offered cultural events, music and public markets to accompany the tennis clinics and tournaments.

Sylvia Nulpinditj, who is originally from Milingimbi in East Arnhem, was teaching pandanus weaving.

But she said it was "not really" easy to teach energetic children the intricate art.

"I was telling the children a story at the same time, demonstrating that pandanus weaving is not a very easy one. It requires a long time to learn, and patience," she said.

"I think this is a good experience, a new one, for community-based children.

"We're really into basketball and AFL and that's it … this is another level and it's good."

Joe Kelly, the Indigenous program manager at Tennis NT, said the carnival is intended to be a celebration of culture through tennis.

"The talk is already going around, kids are saying how awesome tennis is," he said.

Community markets, workshops and food stalls will be open to the public on Saturday, with the final rounds of the tournament and presentations on Sunday morning.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.