Bangarra embarks on its largest regional tour
This month, Bangarra Dance Theatre will commence its largest ever regional tour of Australia as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. Following the highly acclaimed national tour of Patyegarang that was attended by over 36,500 patrons across Australia, Bangarra will visit regional areas of Australia and will spend time on country with Indigenous communities from September until November 2014 – performing in theatres, arts centres, on basketball courts and at beach amphitheaters.
Cultural residencies on country
From September 17, the company will spend time in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with cultural residencies in Broome (WA), Yirrkala (North East Arnhem Land, NT), Mutitjulu and Umuwa (Central Desert, NT) and Thursday Island (Torres Strait Islands). To conclude each residency, the dancers will perform Spirit, encompassing iconic Bangarra works, on outdoor make-shift stages from twilight into the night.
Bangarra’s performances are inspired by the lives of the Indigenous people of Australia – both past and present. Spending time on country is a way of connecting with and giving back to the communities who have given their trust and their stories to the company to be told nationally and overseas. Their songs, dances and stories are at the heart of the company.
Kinship performances
From October 3, Kinship, a double bill of two acclaimed works choreographed by Artistic Director Stephen Page (Brolga and ID), will be performed at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Cairns Civic Theatre and the Pilbeam Theatre in Rockhampton. Tickets for these performances are on sale now.
“On the occasion of Bangarra’s anniversary, this regional tour is the time of year I’ve been longing for,” Page said. “Taking the dance ensemble to many of Australia’s remote Indigenous communities, spending time with them and performing our work to them is our way to say ‘thank you’ for their trust. We are in awe of the First Nations people and my heartfelt appreciation goes to them.”
For more information, visit www.bangarra.com.au. See dates for the Kinship shows and the cultural residencies and performances of Spirit below.
Kinship shows
Darwin Entertainment Centre
Friday, October 3, 8pm
Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs
Friday, October 17, 8pm
Adelaide Festival Centre
Wednesday & Thursday, October 22 & 23 at 8pm; Friday, October 24 at 12:30pm (school show) & 8pm; Saturday, October 25 at 2pm & 8pm
www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
Cairns Civic Theatre
Thursday & Friday, October 30 & 31 at 7:30pm
Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
Thursday, November 6, 7:30pm
Cultural residencies and Spirit
Broome, WA, September 17–21 (Spirit performance at Cable Beach Amphitheatre on September 20 at 6pm)
Yirrkala, NT, September 22–27 (Spirit performance at Yirrkala Oval on September 26 at 6:30pm)
Mutitjulu, Central Desert, October 6–10 (Spirit performance at Yulara Amphitheatre on October 10 at 7pm)
Umuwa, NT, October 11-14 (No performance)
Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands, November 7-12 (Spirit performance at ANZAC Park on November 11 at 6:30pm)
Photo (top): Dancer Waangenga Blanco in ID as part of Kinship. Photo by Greg Barrett. Photo (below): Bangarra Dance Theatre on country in Dhalinbuy. Photo by Jacob Nash.