These national dances are performed on ceremonial and festive occasions. The night was always the time chosen for these entertainments, and the light for it was given by the moon or the campfire or both. During these friendly meetings one party from every tribe takes turns performing a nightly corroboree, while the other tribes form the audience. Mixing of members of different tribes amongst the performers was never admissible.

The women represented the orchestra beating with their flat hand onto a folded skin-blanket. An old man conducted the music by performing songs peculiar to this performance and clapping two short dry sticks or boomerangs. Occasionally the songs were indecent and the performance obscene.

The corroboree was always held on a level spot of earth, free of trees and bushes, after all loose sticks, stones and the like had been diligently removed. The different tribes present took their seats around this cleaned place, each on the side turned towards its territory.