Bangarra Dance Theatre
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BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this production and program contains images, audio, quotes and the names of people who have passed away. Bangarra would like to acknowledge the many people in our family who are no longer here but have left an indelible mark in our cultural and creative continuum. BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE 30th Anniversary Australian Tour SYDNEY | Sydney Opera House, 13 June – 13 July CANBERRA | Canberra Theatre Centre, 18 – 20 July PERTH | State Theatre Centre of WA, 31 July – 3 August DARWIN | Darwin Entertainment Centre, 17 August BRISBANE | Queensland Performing Arts Centre, 23 – 31 August MELBOURNE | Arts Centre Melbourne, 5 – 14 September ADELAIDE | Adelaide Festival Centre, 19 – 21 September HOBART | Theatre Royal Hobart, 3 – 5 October We are storytellers. Music makers. Visionary the stories that are in this landscape — stories dance theatre creators. that provoke us politically and spiritually. A clan of dynamic artists, each with a proud It is this unbreakable connection to our land Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. and people that makes us unique and sees us We represent the pinnacle of Australian dance. performing on basketball courts or creek beds in remote communities one week, and in the We are embraced by Australians from remote Sydney Opera House or on the stages of communities to bustling city metropolises. We WE ARE BANGARRA Tokyo or Paris the next. are ambassadors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait AN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ORGANISATION CHARGED Islander culture, sharing and exchanging with Each year we share our spirit with more than WITH CARRYING AND CARING FOR STORIES THROUGH A DANCE FORM THAT First Nations people across the world. 50,000 people who pack theatres in capital cities, IS FORGED FROM MORE THAN 65,000 YEARS OF CULTURE. regional centres and international locations. Our spirit is fed by our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities For 30 years we have been scratching the across Australia. We create our works on surface of stories that span 65,000 years. Country, learning from and listening to the Now we are working to ensure Bangarra has stories that our people need us to share. We take enough cultural fuel for the next cycle. great responsibility in providing a platform for 4 5 WELCOME TO BANGARRA: 30 YEARS OF SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND For 30 years, Bangarra has been given the So many people have made this 30th anniversary wonderful privilege of breathing and celebrating season possible — a season that includes an the spirit of 65,000 years of Aboriginal and iconic work from our Associate Artistic Director Torres Strait Islander culture. With this program Frances Rings; the presentation of a work we reflect on this privilege, and remind ourselves by a non-Indigenous choreographer for the that what we have created with this company, first time in Bangarra’s history; and a spiritual is one of a kind in the world. acknowledgement of the past and gift to our current dancers with to make fire. In turning 30, of course we’ve been looking back, and in doing so we reflect on the stories We thank our magnificent dance ensemble, our that we’ve told and the growth of the company entire team, all of the creatives who wove their over three decades. Even in the last five years magic throughout the program — in particular alone we’ve seen so much growth, success and Frances Rings; it’s so great to have her back in stability. The relationship that we have built — as our family — and of course our talented Board joint leaders of this company — is a professional led by the wisdom of our Chair Michael McDaniel. clan that we both feel so privileged to be a part And we thank you for celebrating Bangarra: of. The wider company is a driven clan that 30 years of sixty five thousand with us. We exist works in reconciliation with people who believe because of the communities who trust us to in our mission of creating inspiring experiences share their stories; because of the audiences that change society. There is a spirit there. who embrace the importance of their spirit; and We can’t see it, we can’t identify it, but we because of the people, partners, governments can feel it. This company can capture you and organisations who believe in the vision into its spirit. It’s magnetic. and passion of Bangarra Dance Theatre. You can see this spirit in the group photo in the Enjoy! middle of this program — a gathering of the incredible individuals who pour their energy and Stephen Page Philippe Magid passion into Bangarra both on and off the stage, Artistic Director Executive Director day in, day out. We wanted to gather everyone together for this important milestone and honour their work. 6 Let’s talk about celebrating 30 years of Bangarra within 65,000 years. How has the company managed the responsibility of giving voice to the myriad of languages, STEPHEN PAGE dance styles and songlines across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures? ON BANGARRA: 30 YEARS OF SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND Our spirits from this extraordinary and ancient Stephen is a descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan place are always connecting our cultural of the Yugambeh Nation. He has been Artistic Director of Bangarra for 28 consciousness to Country and land. The spirit of of its 30 years and has created 25 works for the company over this time. that connection is what leads us to the myriad relationships that we have all over the country. Elders, song men and women, dance teachers from traditional and urban communities — they all share their stories and entrust them to us Can you share your process behind the curation work and the dance language that Stamping because of the values that underpin Bangarra of this year’s anniversary season — why have Ground embodies, so carefully with our dancers. as an organisation. As the caretakers of these you chosen these works to celebrate 30 years? stories and relationships — we utterly respect this This work is a contemporary dreaming and cultural responsibility. We are now in the new Each work was chosen because of the back a contemporary creation story that was millennia of this cycle of our culture and having story behind them. I’ve always wanted to revisit observed by someone from so far away — the that responsibility — it’s fragile, you’re always Unaipon and celebrate its life. It was Frances fact that he’s given that to us to bring back aware of its cultural protocols, you’re always Rings’ first major work and a pivotal moment on Country this year is really exciting. And our aware of its integrity. We pay great respect to it. in her transition from dancer to dance-maker dancers love it. They’re embodying it in their when it premiered in 2004. It was also the first own way. Jirˇí said to me: ‘let them find the What do you think is Bangarra’s greatest time in our repertoire that we focused on the internal spirit of where they come from’. achievement of the past 30 years? biographical story of one character. It has been fifteen years sinceUnaipon was created. The third section is called to make fire. Here, Just surviving and thriving in this contemporary That’s half of our lifetime. we’re creating three worlds that encompass world of politics and culture. Politically for us, 65,000 years. I chose moments from Mathinna we are so thankful just to be sustaining and Stamping Ground has been in my head since (2008), About (2011), ID (2011) and Rush (2002) surviving in the mainstream, let alone as an There is a very strong sense of your brothers, before Bangarra existed! In 1980 Jirˇí Kylián was to sit within these worlds because they’re Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander company — Russell and David, throughout this program. planning to create three new works inspired meditative works about identity, resilience that is a feat. Philippe Magid’s leadership of the What do you think they’d make of Bangarra by Aboriginal culture. With his colleagues, and strength. In the Bangarra creative pantry company as Executive Director over the past celebrating 30 years? Jirˇí worked with communities and organisations we’ve been able to create this thematic array five years has been an absolute game-changer to arrange a huge corroboree on Groote Eylandt of diverse stories — because we are a complex for us and I can’t thank him enough for what The more I listen and re-live and reflect on off the coast of North East Arnhem Land. race and our history is complex. to make fire is he has done for Bangarra. David’s music, the more I’m reminded that it was The event was attended by Jirˇí, a number of not a ‘best of’ program; it is a gift back to our truly the pulse and the heart and the spirit of international artists and producers, and over a mother creation spirit of 65,000 years, the spirit The thing I’m most proud of is the clan. this company. He’s still here and he still inspires thousand Aboriginal men, women and children. that keeps us striving into the future. The spearhead. The heart of all that work and our future works — in a sonic sense, in a musical That major body of work didn’t eventuate, but the respect for our 65,000 years of culture. sense. And Russell, my baby brother, too. They he created Stamping Ground in 1983 in response I’m so proud of every one of our dancers, who I’m proud of the energy that’s come from both left us too early.