Tag Archives: Bangarra Dance Theatre

Dance

FRANCES RINGS APPOINTED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE

Bangarra Dance Theatre is proud to announce the appointment of Kokatha woman, Frances Rings as the company’s incoming Artistic Director. Rings will take on the role as Stephen Page announces that he will step down as Bangarra Artistic Director in early 2023.

Announcing the appointment, Bangarra Dance Theatre Chair Phillipa McDermott said, “Whilst this marks the end of an era, Frances Rings is an incredible artist and the perfect choice to carry the extraordinary legacy of Stephen Page into Bangarra’s next cycle. We are thrilled to welcome such a major talent with a deep connection to Bangarra.  Stephen is a national treasure and his legacy cannot be underestimated, he has done so much for this nation.  On behalf of the board I thank him for his unfailing dedication to his people and his work in bringing cultures together through art, which will be honoured forever more.”

Page’s resignation marks the end of an incredible 32-year tenure as Bangarra’s Artistic Director. A descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation from SE Queensland, Page was appointed Artistic Director in 1991. Over this time, he has developed an unsurpassed signature body of works that have become milestones in Australian performing arts history, setting a benchmark for storytelling not only across Australia, but internationally, and firmly establishing Bangarra as a critical part of the Australian cultural ecosystem. Continue reading FRANCES RINGS APPOINTED ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE →

Dance

BANGARRA ANNOUNCES TWO NEW DANCERS FOR 2022

Bangarra Dance Theatre today announces the appointment of two new Dancers, who will join the company in 2022.

Janaya Lamb

Janaya Lamb will join the ensemble of company dancers in 2022. Janaya is a proud young Wiradjuri woman, born on Bunjalung country. Raised in Tamworth on Gamileraay country, she also has connections to the Torres Strait in her ancestry.  Lamb’s initial dance training was in hip hop, starting at the age of four. During school, she was part of the NSW Department of Education Aboriginal Dance Company.

On commencing studies at NAISDA in 2018 she further developed her skills in hip hop, as well as Indigenous contemporary dance. She has also performed in a number of independent and commercial projects. Continue reading BANGARRA ANNOUNCES TWO NEW DANCERS FOR 2022 →

Dance

FIRST NATIONS DANCER JASMIN SHEPPARD: THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS

Sure to be one of the highlights of January’s Sydney Festival is leading indigenous dancer Jasmin Sheppard’s performance of her world premiere work ‘The Complication Of Lyrebirds’ at the Campbelltown Arts Centre.

Acclaimed for her powerful performances with Bangarra Dance Theatre, and her work as a choreographer and solo dancer, Jasmin has performed on stages around the world.  However, this work has special significance for the artist, as it is inspired by her own personal journey of discovery to explore her Aboriginal identity and questions what it means to be Aboriginal today.

It is also sparked by the anger and frustration she felt from outside pressures to define her Aboriginal heritage or prove her ‘blackness’: a pressure she says is faced by many First Nations people. Continue reading FIRST NATIONS DANCER JASMIN SHEPPARD: THE COMPLICATION OF LYREBIRDS →

Dance

BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE TO TOUR CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES

In its 30th anniversary year, Bangarra Dance Theatre will travel to Canada and the United States to present the company’s 27th international tour.

Throughout October-November, Bangarra will deliver its first major national tour of Canada, presenting an ambitious five-city tour to Brantford, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as an inter-cultural residency at Six Nations of the Grand River; the country’s largest First Nations reserve. To complete the tour, the company will perform in Chicago for the first time at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, known for its world-class programming and work as a cultural anchor in the United States.

International touring is an essential part of Bangarra’s role as ambassadors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, underpinning the company’s commitment to sharing the strength and resilience of Australia’s First Peoples on the world stage.

Coming Soon/Previews, Dance

DARK EMU: MAJOR NEW WORK FROM BANGARA

Compelling contemporary dance, soul-stirring soundscapes and uniquely Australian stories – Bangarra is a company at the peak of its powers. In superb form after the sold-out season of Bennelong, Bangarra Dance Theatre returns with a major new dance work, DARK EMU at the Sydney Opera House.

Inspired by Bruce Pascoe’s award-winning book of the same name, DARK EMU explores the vital life force of flora and fauna in a series of dance stories directed by Stephen Page. Continue reading DARK EMU: MAJOR NEW WORK FROM BANGARA →

Dance

BANGARRA TRIPLE BILL: ONES COUNTRY

This image: Waangenga Blanco and Bangarra Dance Ensemble in NGATHU
Banner Image: Tara Gower, Rika Hamaguchi, Deborah Brown (front) and Jasmin Sheppard in WHISTLER
Photos by Daniel Boud

BANGARRA is back in Carriageworks, Sydney with a triple bill of new works and contemporary Australian stories.

ONES COUNTRY is a repertoire created from indigenous heritage – original and authentic material gathered from community elders and converted into a diverse program of choreographic talents.

Artistic Director Stephen Page sees this program as the spine of their stories. It brings together the choreographic work of dancers Elma Kris and Nicola Sabatino teaming up for a Torres Strait island story titled (Whistler). Djakapurra Munyarryun, a songman, dancer and foundation member of Bangarra creates his first choreographic work (Ngathu). Dancer Kaine Sultan-Babij’s  family totem the caterpillar, is brought out in a series of fluid, grounded undulations in a work titled (Place).

ONES COUNTRY is a powerful and passionate production. The pulsating rhythm, combined with the costumes and artistry of the dancers certainly raises the tempo. Bangarra has so far never failed to impress, particularly with some of the most experienced and versatile dancers in the county in action.

ONES COUNTRY plays at Carriageworks from 24 November to 2 December for more information visit:

https://www.bangarra.com.au/whatson/productions/ones-country-2017

Dance

PATYEGARANG

Thomas Greenfield and Leonard Mickelo in PATYEGARANG. Pic Jess Bialek
Thomas Greenfield and Leonard Mickelo in PATYEGARANG. Pic Jess Biale

The Bangarra Dance Company’s new production brings to light the story of Patyegarang, a remarkable young indigenous woman,

When the colonial fleet first arrived in Eora country in the late 18th Century, Patyegrarang, a young indigenous woman, befriended Lieutenant William Dawes, gifting him her language in an incredible display of trust and friendship.

The Company, under Artistic Director Stephen Page, have fashioned this latest work from various archival records including diaries maintained by Lt Dawes that were rediscovered in 1972. Dawes, an astronomer, mathematician and linguist by profession, recorded all his encounters with Patyegarang in his notebooks.

Continue reading PATYEGARANG →