Doonooch Dancers

The Doonooch Dancers are an all-male cultural dance company from the South East Coast of Australia. They were established in the early 1990s by Yuin Elder, musician and author, the late Uncle Bobby McLeod, as part of a self-healing and cultural renewal program for Aboriginal men and youth. McLeod believed that culture was essential to restoring strength and wellbeing, he said that returning to ceremony and shared responsibility could “bring our young fellas back to themselves.”

Today, Doonooch is led by Andrew McLeod and a circle of senior cultural holders. Performers from multiple generations dance side by side, reflecting the company’s strong kin and mentoring base. Their work is driven by what one member described as “the old ways guiding the new footsteps.”

The Doonooch Dancers have performed at Woggan-ma-gule ceremonies, toured internationally, and appeared at major festivals across Australia. Audiences speak of being struck by the “raw power” of their singing and the “startling precision” of their movement. Yet those close to the group stress that performance is only one strand. As one dancer explained, “The dance is the part people see, the healing is what happens behind it.”

While publicly known for their performance excellence, Doonooch also operates as a quiet mentoring network, passing on song, story, language, and men’s cultural responsibilities. By sustaining songs, stories, language and men’s cultural obligations, Doonooch realises Uncle Bobby’s founding vision. Their work demonstrates that practicing culture strengthens identity and keeps Country and community strong across generations.