1 Bringing the connection to the arts “Broadcast Australia is proud to partner with one of Australia’s most recognised and iconic performing arts companies, Bangarra Dance Theatre. We are committed to supporting the Bangarra community on their journey to create inspiring experiences that change society and bring cultures together. The strength of our partnership is defined by our shared passion of Photo: Daniel Boud Photo: SYDNEY | Sydney Opera House, 14 June – 14 July connecting people across Australia’s CANBERRA | Canberra Theatre Centre, 26 – 28 July vast landscape in metropolitan, PERTH | State Theatre Centre of WA, 2 – 5 August regional and remote communities.” BRISBANE | QPAC, 24 August – 1 September PETER LAMBOURNE MELBOURNE | Arts Centre Melbourne, 6 – 15 September CEO, BROADCAST AUSTRALIA broadcastaustralia.com.au Led by Artistic Director Stephen Page, we are Bangarra’s annual program includes a national in our 29th year, but our dance technique is tour of a world premiere work, performed in forged from more than 65,000 years of culture, Australia’s most iconic venues; a regional tour embodied with contemporary movement. The allowing audiences outside of capital cities company’s dancers are dynamic artists who the opportunity to experience Bangarra; and represent the pinnacle of Australian dance. an international tour to maintain our global WE ARE BANGARRA Each has a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres reputation for excellence. Strait Islander background, from various BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE IS AN ABORIGINAL Complementing Bangarra’s touring roster are locations across the country. AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ORGANISATION AND ONE OF education programs, workshops and special AUSTRALIA’S LEADING PERFORMING ARTS COMPANIES, WIDELY Our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres performances and projects, planting the seeds for ACCLAIMED NATIONALLY AND AROUND THE WORLD FOR OUR Strait Islander communities are the heart of the next generation of performers and storytellers. Bangarra, with our repertoire created on POWERFUL DANCING, DISTINCTIVE THEATRICAL VOICE AND Authentic storytelling, outstanding technique Country and stories gathered from respected and deeply moving performances are Bangarra’s UTTERLY UNIQUE SOUNDSCAPES, MUSIC AND DESIGN. community Elders. unique signature. It is this inherent connection to our land and people that makes us unique and enjoyed by audiences from remote Australian regional centres to New York. 4 5 WELCOME TO DARK EMU On behalf of everyone at Bangarra, welcome We embark on our 26th international tour later to our 2018 production of Dark Emu. this year and will return the 2016 production of Nyapanyapa back to the home of the artist who We are delighted to present Dark Emu in Sydney, inspired its creation – Nyapanyapa Yunupingu Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne, following of Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land – with the extraordinary success of Bennelong last year thanks to the generous support of the Annamila and an exciting start to 2018. Already this year, Foundation. When we Return to Country we the company has presented a successful regional connect with culture, learn from our Elders and tour, a sold-out season of Bennelong at Adelaide give back to the communities from where our Festival, and an acclaimed performance at the Gold stories originate. Coast Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Our core Government funding and box office As we approach the company’s 30th anniversary income contributes to the creation of large- in 2019, it is an absolute privilege to collaborate scale productions such as Dark Emu, but those with Bangarra’s world-class ensemble of 18 dancers funds do not extend to our work off the stage. and a group of Australia’s most accomplished For these powerful initiatives, we rely on the theatre creatives to bring the incredible stories incredible support of generous individuals, from Bruce Pascoe’s award-winning book to life forward-thinking corporations and inspirational through our unique dance language. trusts and foundations who back our vision. Everything we do at Bangarra is inspired by our Tonight’s performance would not be possible land and our people. With this in mind, we are without the support of the Australian Government committed to delivering real impact through through the Australia Council for the Arts and the initiatives that support the development of NSW Government through Create NSW. Thank future cultural leaders. In 2018, we welcomed two you for your continued support of Bangarra as emerging dancers into the company thanks to the a Major Performing Arts company. Russell Page Graduate Program, which provides them with 12 months of professional dance In the midst of creating Dark Emu we moved experience and mentoring. Our growing Safe into a temporary new home at Barangaroo while Dance and Dancer Further Education programs the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct undergoes a major also exist to empower our artists – all of whom redevelopment. We would like to thank the are future cultural leaders of Australia – to ensure NSW Government for their support and extend that they have longer, healthier careers and, our thanks to International Towers Sydney for when they do retire from the stage, vital support their incredible generosity, and for being so to transition into the next phase of their careers welcoming as we settle in. outside of dance. We are proud to nurture our Thanks to our fantastic major corporate partners dancers to tell their own stories and develop as – Broadcast Australia (a BAI Communications choreographers. Former dancer Yolande Brown, company), Boral, Lendlease and Qantas – who and current dancer Daniel Riley, were both we thoroughly enjoy working with to deliver on instrumental in the creation of Dark Emu. our mission of creating inspiring experiences Given we are the only Major Performing Arts that change society. company in Australia with its cultural origins in Lastly, thank you to our Chair, Michael McDaniel this land, we dedicate an enormous amount of and the Board for their drive, dedication and energy and passion into ensuring that we are passion. connecting in meaningful ways with communities across the country. We do this through an We hope you enjoy the story of Dark Emu extensive program of regional touring, and tonight. through the Rekindling youth outreach program, which continues to inspire pride, kinship and Stephen Page strength in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Artistic Director Bangarra Dance Theatre Islanders through intensive dance residencies in Philippe Magid regional, remote and urban communities. Executive Director Bangarra Dance Theatre 6 SYNOPSIS “The stain is deep in our chalk and until we Escape Through Dust can accept what the explorers saw as part A resilient lone spirit prevails, moving onwards of the national story our debate of national Bowls of Mourning origins, character and attributes is hobbled by Tears mix with the earth in caps of clay ignorance.” -Bruce Pascoe, Dark Emu, Black Seeds: Trampled by Indifference agriculture or accident? A scourge of hooves, of flies and disease Bruce Pascoe’s award-winning book provides Rebirth Ritual an historical account of the sophisticated Carefully we are restored farming, fishing and land management practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Rocks of Knowledge across the continent prior to colonisation, Weaving traps with stone and skill exploding the hunter-gatherer myth which Whales of Fortune has been perpetuated to support the colonial The pinnacle of reciprocity, trust is shared with DARK EMU (2018) lie of terra nullius. Dark Emu chronicles what the cetaceans Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have always known, that their reciprocal and Smashed by Colonisation Artistic Director Author of original book PRODUCTION interconnected relationship with the environment A final, climactic massacre, an uncomprehending Stephen Page Bruce Pascoe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS is both sustainable and sacred. destruction Dance stories inspired by AV projection content by Choreographers Resilience of Culture Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu, Experience the Pulse Inspired by these stories of respect and Stephen Page, Daniel Riley, The wonder and power that nurtures earth, sea Black Seeds: agriculture or connection, Bangarra’s Dark Emu is a dramatic Yolande Brown, and the Scenografic Studios and sky accident? and evocative dance response to the assault dancers of Bangarra Dance Planet Engineering on land, people and spirit. We celebrate this Baiame Theatre Cultural Consultant Theatre Star sharing of knowledge, the heritage of careful The spirit of resilience and hope, singing up the Yuin/Biripi Nation Woman, Pattons Awnings custodianship, and the beauty that Bruce Costume Designer land. Lynne Thomas Gorilla Constructions Jennifer Irwin Pascoe’s vision urges us to leave to the children. Chameleon Touring Systems THANK YOU MY COUNTRY Language Consultant Set Designer Traleen Ryan SEGMENTS Yuin knowledge holder, Emily Adinol Jason Lowe I am the rock that holds the heat, after the sun Jacob Nash Dark Spirit of the Sky Warren Foster has set Looking into the void Composer Thank you to: Thank you, my country CREDITS & SPECIAL THANKS Steve Francis STC Production Department Blowflies, Massacre, Thank You Ceremony of Seed Technical Event Services I am the grain that takes the oil, after the pouring Working with the cycle of life Lighting Designer My Country © Copyright Alana is done Valentine 2018 COSTUME Sian James-Holland Forged by Fire Thank you, my country ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHY