AustLit

'We are memory.
Glimpsed through shimmering light on water.
A story place where black oaks stand watch.
Carved into trees and painted on rocks.
North – South – East – West.
A brittle landscape of life and loss.

'At Yuldea, stories hover in the sky. The stars reveal a divine Songline, stretching between earth and sky. 

'Frances Rings’ first work as Artistic Director is a ceremonial affirmation of history and heritage. Yuldea awakens the earth and sky worlds to tell the story of the Anangu people of the Great Victorian Desert. 

'Yuldea explores the moment traditional life collided with the industrial ambition of a growing nation. In 1917, the two halves of the Transcontinental Railway met at the precious water soak on the edge of the Nullarbor, Yuldi Kapi.

'Great metal serpents scarred the landscape, draining all water from the sacred soak. Then came the black mist of the atomic testing at Maralinga, forcing the Anangu people to leave their desert homelands where they had lived for millennia.' (Production summary)

'Bangarra: 30 years of sixty five thousand is Bangarra Dance Theatre’s landmark 30th anniversary season. This diverse program of three contemporary works displays the passionate storytelling, rich artistry and deep community connections that have made Bangarra the premier Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performing arts company in Australia.

'Frances Rings’ Unaipon is an absorbing portrait of the great Aboriginal inventor, philosopher, writer and storyteller, Ngarrindjeri man David Unaipon, who features on the Australian $50 note. Stamping Ground was created by Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián as an homage to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their cultures. Curated by Artistic Director Stephen Page, to make fire highlights the breadth, power and beauty of Bangarra’s creations over three decades.

With roots in the world’s oldest continuing culture, Bangarra: 30 years of  sixty five thousand carries the spirit of Bangarra into its fourth decade, promising many more years of deeply moving and authentic Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories.

'Unaipon

'Inventor, author, philosopher, visionary. Unaipon is Frances Rings’ monumental 2004 work about the man on the Australian $50 note. Born on a South Australian mission in the late 19th century, David Unaipon was a proud Ngarrindjeri man, a Christian, and a scholar of science and culture. Unaipon tells of his advocacy for better treatment of Aboriginal Australians, and his staunch belief that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people could coexist as equals, despite the incredible challenges he faced in his lifetime. Through Rings’ modern, propulsive choreography, performed to a powerful score by David Page, dancers trace the themes and preoccupations of David Unaipon’s vibrant intellect: the secret of perpetual motion, the philosophy of human existence, religion, power, and man’s relationship to land. Against a devastating background of destructive government policies, Unaipon’s proud Warrawaldi heritage shines forth as he reconciles a changing world while holding strong the customs and traditions of his people.

'Stamping Ground

'For the first time in the company’s history, Bangarra presents a work created beyond Australian shores. Stamping Ground is the work of renowned Czech choreographer Jiří Kylián, inspired by his 1980 visit to Groote Eylandt, north east of Arnhem Land, when he attended the largest recorded dance gathering of Aboriginal people – a week-long corroboree where 1,000 men, women and children came from across Australia to dance, sing and share their culture. In 1983, Kylián created Stamping Ground for the Nederlands Dance Theater.

Kylián’s startlingly original dance vocabulary pays tribute to the essence of Indigenous dance traditions, which have been vital to the continuation of culture for thousands of years. As Bangarra dancers recreate Kylián’s steps with their own style and sensibility, Stamping Ground continues its creation cycle by returning to the culture and the land that gave it life. 

'to make fire

'to make fire celebrates 30 years of original Bangarra creations with memorable moments from the company’s repertoire, curated by Artistic Director and Choreographer Stephen Page. Spanning Australian history from pre-contact times to contemporary life, these stories speak of traditional ceremonies and practices, great artists and leaders, land and Country, loss, survival and hope.

'In thirty years the company has celebrated the power, strength and beauty of Indigenous Australians, never shying from the devastating impact of colonisation, yet always celebrating the continuation of the oldest surviving culture on this planet. 

'Each of the works in this retrospective has its origins on Country, and Bangarra acknowledges the generosity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia who have shared their stories with the company over the past three decades. Connections to these communities are at the heart of the company’s work and continue to nourish Bangarra’s spirit as it enters the next decade.' (Production summary)

'From the enigmatic waters of the Torres Strait Islands to the deeply rooted inland trees in Australia, the trio draw a realistic portrayal of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In these heartfelt dance works, they explore themes of identity, inequality, climate change and sustainability with a hopeful and positive outlook for the future.'

'Lore showcases Bangarra’s unique contemporary dance form with its compelling Australian storytelling expression – an unforgettable night at the theatre.' (Source: Bangarra website)

'Described as a hymn to country, Terrain transports us to Lake Eyre the place of Australia’s inland sea: one of the few untouched natural waterways in the world. Bangarra explores the relationship of Indigenous people to country and how landscape becomes a second skin.' (Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website)

'Showcasing the best of Bangarra’s internationally acclaimed repertoire, the majority of Spirit features highlights from the company’s sell-out production Bush, as well as treasured moments from Bangarra’s repertoire.'

'Set to a beautiful and haunting score composed by David Page and Steve Francis, Spirit is a lush and contemporary celebration of beauty, ritual and music. From the last breath of sunset to the first finger-light of dawn, the audience enters a mysterious and secret space to witness nature’s sacred poetry.'

'Featuring Kathy Balngayngu Marika, a traditional elder from North East Arnhem, Spirit weaves storytelling, dance, theatre and music into an unforgettable theatrical experience.'

'Commissioned by Bangarra’s Artistic Director, Stephen Page, of earth & sky features the work of celebrated choreographer Frances Rings and Daniel Riley in his choreographic debut.'

'Artefact by Frances Rings, breathes life back into Aboriginal objects that represent the continuum of practices that date back thousands of years. Each artefact is respected for the story it tells in reconnecting people with their traditional culture and heritage. Expressed through striking design and theatrical elements Artefact is a powerful dance theatre work.'

'Riley by Daniel Riley McKinley celebrates the life and work of the late Michael Riley, an acclaimed Aboriginal photographer and filmmaker, related to Daniel through Wiradjuri culture. Riley’s cloud series of photographs with their dream-like beauty and digital manipulation are reflected in the movement and evocative soundscape for this exciting new work about the cultural resilience of Indigenous Australians.' (Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website)

'In 2009 Bangarra Dance Theatre celebrates 20 years of bringing Australia and the world its unique, exciting and inspirational dance theatre.'

'Fire – A Retrospective features the most memorable and potent elements of the company’s repertoire during this extraordinary and dynamic artistic period.'

'Featuring Bangarra’s exciting design installations, multi-media imagery and choreographic highlights from Ochres, Fish, Skin, Bush, Corroboree and many other much-loved works, Fire – A Retrospective takes audiences on the company’s journey across 40,000 years.' (Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website)

'Inspired by two diverse Indigenous cultures, 2007 sees the company premiere its dynamic new work – True Stories.'

'Emeret Lu (“Very Old Things”) – the passion and energy of the traditional people of the Torres Strait Islands. Choreographer Elma Kris explores her peoples’ love of the land, the sea and their unique culture with an exuberance handed down from generation to generation.'

'In the 1950’s a series of atomic explosions were conducted on Maralinga, Tjarutja traditional lands. The code name of the test site was X300. Frances Rings’ new work powerfully and spectacularly explores a landscape assumed vacant but which in reality became a contaminated desert which poisoned the people. Rings’ work is known for its theatricality and inventiveness.'

Clan is Bangarra Dance Theatre’s stunning and unique fusion of contemporary and traditional dance.

'In 2004 Clan premiered with two spectacular works – Unaipon and Reflections that spring from common themes of spirit, land and totemic symbolism.

Unaipon created by Frances Rings is inspired by the life and vibrant intellect of Aboriginal inventor, writer, philosopher and story-teller David Unaipon who is featured on the Australian $50 note. He was a Ngarrindjeri man of the Warrawaldi clan born in 1872 at Port McLeay Mission in South Australia. This was a man who was not even considered a citizen and yet people dubbed him the ‘Leonardo Da Vinci of Australia’.

'Reflections brings together the best of the award-winning choreography of Artistic Director, Stephen Page with excerpts from milestone works. ’Nesting’ from Skin, ‘Cocoon’ from Fish, and “White (Gapan)’ from Ochres are woven together into one sensual and emotive theatrical experience.'

'In 2006 Clan returned as Frances’ Rings double bill Unaipon and Rations. Rations explores mission life in colonial Australia and a remarkable history of struggle and survival. (Production summary)

'They sang the songs and danced over the land. They struck the ground with their walking sticks and created fresh water, created the different landmarks, animals, sacred sites, created all living things. (From the traditional story ‘Two Sisters’ (Wirrkul Manda), Dhuwa language group)'

'From the last breath of sunset to the first finger-light of dawn, the audience enters a mysterious and secret space – reptilian creatures slither from dark caves, a moth emerges from its cocoon, the land erupts pushing up mountains and carving waterholes – the world is being born.'

'Bush is a lush and hypnotic celebration of dance, ritual and music. It’s inspiration comes from Stephen Page’s relationship over many years with Arnhem Land and his traditional mothers like Kathy Balngayngu Marika.' (Production summary) 

'Bangarra’s electrifying program, Walkabout, traces an extraordinary history of indigenous struggle and survival from the early missions and stations of outback Australia to the neon soaked streets of our modern day cities.'

'What leads us to walk away from what we know best? Sometimes there is no choice. The hardest journey can often be to rediscover the steps of the original walkabout – to tread as our ancestors did in a continuous cycle of reverence to the land.'

'Walkabout is a program of two works : Rush by Stephen Page and Rations by Frances Rings. A passionate and revealing work featuring acclaimed actress, Ningali Lawford, Walkabout explores the tensions between the spiritual and social forces that shape Indigenous life.'

'Rations pulls at the threads of hand-me-downs. Lured from their homelands, clothed in cast offs and fed an alien diet of flour and sugar, the people find themselves trapped in a cycle of dependency.'

'Rush captures the energy and resilience of youth, the struggle to reconcile old ways with new and cleanse the pain of the past. There’s the ‘rush’ of survival, new songlines are being drawn in the ancient soil.' (Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website)