Of Earth & Sky

2010 $30

Bangarra Dance Theatre leaps into the next 20 years with a stunning new double bill, of earth & sky.

Always original and evocative, Bangarra presents two works inspired by old and new stories and examines the fusion of dance and visual art.

of earth & sky features the work of Bangarra's celebrated choreographer Frances Rings, who first made the move from dancer to creator with the company's Walkabout season in 2002.

Frances' new production for 2010, Artefact, is inspired by dynamics between man and object that have meaning to culture, spirit and place. This work honours symbols of ancient and modern rituals and reclaims the spirit of these artefacts.

Riley, the eagerly anticipated choreographic debut of dancer, Daniel Riley McKinley is a celebration of the life of Aboriginal photographer and filmmaker, the late Michael Riley and his internationally acclaimed cloud series. cloud was Michael's last photographic work prior to his passing.

Mathinna

2008 $20

Inspired by a young girl's journey between two cultures. Born on Tasmania's Flinder's Island in 1835, adopted into the household of Governor Sir John and Lady Franklin, sent to the Queen's Orphan School and ultimately abandoned with her people at Oyster Cove. Mathinna's story is one of vulnerability and searching in an era of confusion and intolerance.

True Stories

2007 $30

True Stories is a double bill. Exploring the unending inspiration of Australia's Indigenous culture, the company enters new theatrical territory with the choreographic originality of award-winning Frances Rings and with Elma Kris making her main stage debut.

1. X300

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 and cleared of occupation but which in reality became a contaminated desert which poisoned the people. Rings' work is known for its theatricality and inventiveness. X300 will bring Australian audiences a memorable evening of lasting imagery.

2. Emeret Lu (Very Old Things)

The passion and energy of the traditional people of the Torres Straits fuel this exhilarating new work by choreographer, Elma Kris. She explores her people's love of the land, the sea and of each other with an exuberance handed down from generation to generation. The power and excitement of dances celebrating rain, wind, the hunt, desire and pleasure mingle with the charm of the spiritual to create an uplifting work of lasting imagery and a thrilling experience of a fascinating and little-known culture.

Boomerang

2005 $20

Caught between two worlds - one ancient, one modern - a family returns to their traditional land to rekindle the sacred wisdom of the past for future generations.

Inspired by the songs and stories of north-eastern Arnhem Land, internationally renowned choreographer Stephen Page combines exhilarating dance and stunning theatricality in Boomerang. Boomerang captures the old and the new in powerful visions, revealing the impact of social poisons and the beauty of forgotten rituals.

Clan

2004 $20

A spectacular double bill featuring the company's exciting blend of physical artistry and breathtaking visuals. Crafted by award winning choreographer Frances Rings, Clan is dance theatre at its most captivating.

Unaipon: (pronounced You-nigh-pon) is inspired by the extraordinary passion and genius of Aboriginal inventor, writer and philosopher David Unaipon who is featured on our $50 note.

Reflections: is a rework of 3 previous Bangarra dance pieces. Nesting (Skin), Coocoon (Fish) and White (Ochres) beautifully choreographed by Stephen Page.

Bush

2003 $20 sold out

Bangarra Dance Theatre's work Bush is a lush and hypnotic celebration of beauty, ritual and music inspired by the Aboriginal Dreamtime creation stories of Arnhem Land in Northern Australia. From the last breath of sunset to the first finger-light of dawn, we enter a mysterious and secret space to witness nature's sacred poetry - 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.

Composers notes:

When Stephen started to create Bush it became apparent his vision for this work was a distinct shift away from Bangarra's recent works. Bush didn't seem to focus so much on the issues or the struggles of its protagonists but rather celebrated them as they went about their respective journeys. Whether it was the life cycle of the humble moth, the feeding goannas or the Two Sisters creation of the landscape, there seemed to be a thread of hope and beauty that was common to them all. This became the starting point for the creation of our score. Our choice of themes and instrumentation hopefully reflect this beauty.

Walkabout

2002 SOLD OUT

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. Bangarra's electrifying new double bill, 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.

Corroboree/SKIN

Double CD 2000 $30 sold out

As you enter the theatre for Skin, you are entering a timeless sacred space. Barely visible in low lighting, a woman and a boy are ready to start unfolding a story. The image is stylised to indicate a point on a journey between two worlds. This is the mother heart that leads to the bonding spirit of the women in Shelter which, in turn, lays the foundation for the men of Spear to survive.

Corroboree was first performed in Australia in 2001. A rich visual feast and a return to a purity of dance and tradition, Stephen Page's triple bill embraces the Dreamtime, a time when animal spirits occupied the land without the influence of humans. Corroboree takes a journey through the songlines of three dreamings that are central to the lives of Indigenous people; Brolga, Roo and Turtle.

Fish

1997 $20

Bangarra's second major work, continues the story of the earth and the power of the elements, that began with Ochres, taking the journey to the vast bodies of water. As disparate, as diverse, as Aboriginal identity itself, Fish celebrates the seas, the rivers, the swamps, and the wealth of life and mystery they contain.

Ochres

1995 $20

First performed Sydney in 1995, proved a watershed production for Bangarra, leading to sellout shows around the country and more invitations to perform overseas. Ochres is a work in four parts which explores the mystical significance of ochre, inspired by its spiritual and medicinal power: Prologue, Yellow, Black, Red and White.