An important part of Kurruru’s work has been the establishment and maintenance of strong links with regional Aboriginal communities in South Australia. Working with communities across regional South Australia, including communities in the northern Flinders Ranges, Murray Bridge, Raukkan, Port Augusta, Meningie, Ceduna and Port Lincoln, Kurruru has coordinated workshops and performance opportunities in dance, circus, music, theatre, design and costume-making. Kurruru has also taking part in important regional festivals, including Oyster Fest (Ceduna, 2006), Yarnballa Cultural Festival (Port Augusta, 2008) and Croc Fest (Port Augusta, 2003 – 2007).

Highlights of Kurruru’s work with regional communities includes:

• Kurruru’s activities in the Northern Flinders Ranges received a substantial boost through its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctors (SA), supported by Arts SA’s Partnership for Healthier Communities program. The result of this partnership has been the development of a cohort of young people within these communities who have an increased understanding of a range of arts and performance skills.
• Through engagement in Kurruru’s regional workshops young people from the Copley and Maree communities were enabled to performing at the 2007 Leigh Creek Christmas Parade – this was only the second time that Aboriginal young people from these communities had been represented in the Leigh Creek Parade. Kurruru also supported The Copley Kids, as they became known, to come to Adelaide for Yella Kiana, Kurruru’s end of year showcase.
• As requested by the Ceduna City Council, Kurruru offered a dance workshop intensive for young people in Ceduna strengthening connections and presence on the west coast leading to further Breaking and Hip Hop dance workshops.
• Working with the Elders and young people from the Point Pearce community Kurruru worked to develop The Road to Wallaroo, a DVD project that grew out of a series of workshops with women from Point Pearce in 2004 and 2005. The DVD produced enabled local Narungga elders to share their experiences of childbirth and their past relationships with local health services. The stories tell of a time in our history when racism, ignorance and government policies ruled the lives of Aboriginal people.
• Working in partnership with Relationships Australia, Kurruru produced a children’s language resource created with the partnership of mothers and children at Point Pearce. The book uses Narungga language and photos to describe the fun that kids have in their community entitled What We Do at Point Pearce.
• In September 2006, Kurruru members aged 8-12yrs and 6 staff took part in the Port Augusta Croc Festival. Members participated in cultural activities, demonstrations and workshops during the day and performed an outstanding 8 minute performance to an audience of over 2,000 people. The performance incorporated contemporary funk dance as well as traditional Torres Strait Islander dance.
• Participants developed a performance called Eagle, Crow and Magpie, based on an Adnyamathanha dreaming story and performed it at Leigh Creek Culture Week (August 07), Croc Fest in Port Augusta (September 07) and at the Leigh Creek Xmas Parade (December 07). The Copley kids and Kurruru members also paraded at the Leigh Creek Parade and stilt walked with beautiful emu and other bird costumes, winning the Best Entry award for two years in a row.
• Kurruru developed a DVD documenting the three years of our Flinders Ranges Health partnership with the RFDS program in October 2007.
• Working with the with the Lower Murray Nungas Club to offer ongoing workshops to young people from Murray Bridge, Raukkan and Meningie. From these workshops the Just 2 Deadly dance troupe formed, performing Blak Nite and at Croc Fest during 2007.
• A 10 week workshop program with young Aboriginal people from the Murray Bridge region led to the formation of Ngarrindjeri Boyz later to become NJB who wrote and recorded four songs which celebrated strong families and healthy communities.

Each year Kurruru offers workshops, intensives and responds to requests for support from regional communities around the state, as well as regularly performing at regional festivals. Kurruru has worked with a range of health, education, government and local community agencies to support them to deliver engaging arts incursions within regional communities.