WAB to collaborate with Gary Lang

NT Dance Company artistic directorWest Australian Ballet (WAB) recently announced a new collaboration with Gary Lang, a Darwin-based Indigenous choreographer and the artistic director of the NT Dance Company. With a confirmed investment from the Federal Government’s Catalyst arts fund and Arts NT, the project’s creative development period officially began in October of last year and with other support will span across a total of 16 months. It will culminate in a world premiere performance as part of the 2018 Ballet at the Quarry program, featuring Indigenous opera singer Deborah Cheetham AO, Indigenous (Bungal) dancers, NT dancers, WAB dancers, a traditional song man, and a didgeridoo (Yidaki) player.

 

WAB Artistic Director Aurélien Scannella stated, “This project has been at the top of my to-do list for nearly four years and I am very excited to finally have the opportunity to work with Gary Lang. I have known since meeting him and seeing his work that we share a vision for creating work that is culturally inclusive and artistically innovative. It will be a beautiful journey for all.”

 

Lang commented, 
“I met Aurélien when I was working with Ochre. Aurélien watched what I was doing and told me he’d like to work with me. I was blown away that someone of that calibre and from the heights of the dance world would just go with a feeling and want to take a risk with a non-mainstream company, with an indigenous choreographer. I love West Australian Ballet for that.”
 

 

This month, Scannella, WAB Executive Director Jessica Machin and their families are traveling to Darwin to meet with Cheetham and view the outcomes of the creative development funded by Arts NT. Then they’ll move on to Gove (Arnhem land, NT) to meet Lang’s family and cultural elders in the Yirrkala community.

 

“By Aurélien, Jess and their families coming to my community, they will gain a wider perspective of where my work comes from. They will have an understanding of who I’m working with,” Lang said. ”We are also excited to show them the outcome of the first creative development process and begin to deepen the collaboration.”

 

“City of Darwin welcomes WAB to the Top End,” stated Katrina Fong Lim, Lord Mayor of Darwin. “We are excited by the news that WAB will be collaborating with Gary Lang. This is a fantastic opportunity to create a performance so rich in culture and passion.”

 

In October 2017, Gary Lang, three NT dancers and Cheetham will come to Perth for another creative development at West Australian Ballet Centre, Maylands. During this development, Lang will meet with Noongar elders and artists.

 

According to WAB, this project is now at an exciting phase in its development, with the majority of the required funding secured through the means mentioned above plus a generous philanthropic commitment from a private donor. The company now has six months to secure the remaining funding from private donors and corporations to enable the full realisation of the project.

 

The project will include cultural awareness training for all WAB staff and dancers, and contributes to an overarching mission to be at the forefront of developing culturally inclusive practices in the sector. Lang will also hold masterclasses to engage the wider dance community in Perth, broadening the project’s cultural footprint.

 

“This is such an exciting development for the company artistically and also for the whole organisation,” Machin said. “We will be embracing this project on many levels and know that it will change us all. I was delighted to be able to support Aurélien and Gary in realising this important collaboration.”

 

To follow this project, keep tabs on WAB at www.waballet.com.au.

 

Photo: Gary Lang. Photo by Glen Campbell, courtesy of NT Dance Company.