Bangarra Dance Theatre Explained

Founder:Carole Y. Johnson, Rob Bryant, Cheryl Stone
Purpose:Indigenous Australian contemporary dance company
Website:https://www.bangarra.com.au/

Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance company focused on contemporary dance. It was founded by African American dancer and choreographer Carole Y. Johnson, Gumbaynggirr man Rob Bryant, and South African-born Cheryl Stone. Stephen Page was artistic director from 1991 to 2021, with Frances Rings taking over in 2022.

Bangarra (pronounced bungurra) means "to make fire" in the Wiradjuri language.

History

Bangarra Dance Theatre was founded in October 1989 by Carole Y. Johnson,[1] an African-American modern dancer and founder of the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), Rob Bryant, a Gumbaynggirr man and graduate of NAISDA, and Cheryl Stone, a South African-born student at NAISDA.[2]

Clive Joseph Robin "Rob" Bryant (later known as Uncle Rob Bryant), born in Bellingen, New South Wales in 1947, was a retired leading aircraftman of the RAAF and a Vietnam veteran.[3] [4] Stone had been born in South Africa, growing up in Cape Town and moving to Australia as a teenager in 1969. She participated in the six-week Black Theatre workshop established by Johnson in Redfern, Sydney, in 1975

Johnson toured Australia in 1972 with American choreographer Eleo Pomare and his company, and remained in Australia. In 1975, Johnson became the founding director of the Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Scheme, now known as the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA).[5]

Johnson had a three-part plan for Aboriginal dance in Australia. It was to establish a school to give academic qualifications, and train dancers as members of a student and graduate performing company that would also teach. It would further provide a path for the dancers to other dance-related areas, including choreography, tour management, and all front and back of house skills. The other key aim was to maintain authentic cultural continuity, friendships, and close ties to traditional communities. Johnson mentored Stone, who studied alongside the dancers. She planned the formation of Bangarra Dance Theatre and, in 1989, became its founding artistic director. Bangarra is a Wiradjuri word meaning "to make fire".[6] [7]

Stephen Page has been the artistic director since 1991. Bangarra's first full-length show, Praying Mantis Dreaming, was produced in 1992. In 1994, Page, with Bernadette Walong as associate director, created Ochres[5] and productions have followed annually since 2000. All have been successful within Australia and some have toured the United States and the United Kingdom. The group also made significant contributions to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

The company has received the Helpmann Award for Best Ballet or Dance Work a number of times.[8]

In 2019, the company marked its thirtieth anniversary with the launch of a digital archive and exhibition called Knowledge Ground.[9]

In early December 2021, Page announced that he would be stepping down from the role of artistic director in 2022, handing over to Frances Rings, former dancer and choreographer with Bangarra and later associate artistic director.[10] Bangarra's last performance with Page as director was Wudjang: Not the Past, which premiered at the Sydney Festival in January 2022 before touring to Hobart and then Adelaide as part of the Adelaide Festival in March 2022.[11]

In 2023, Rings, a Kokatha woman, was choreographer and artistic director for the company's new work, Yuldea. It tells the story of the South Australian town of Ooldea, which was settled in the early 20th century as it was close to the water source known as "Yooldil Kapi" by the Aboriginal groups who lived in the area, including the Kokatha, Mirning, and Wirangu peoples. Rings' father, a German migrant, worked on the railway, and her mother was born nearby. Yuldea has four acts – Supernova, Kapi (Water), Empire, and Ooldea Spirit. The creative team included Gamilaroi astronomer Karlie Noon, and musical duo Electric Fields, and Bangarra's chief composer, Leon Rodgers. The voices of people from Yalata were recorded for the last track.[12]

People

Page brothers

Others

Works

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details! Title! Details
Clan: The Music
(with David Page)
  • Released: 2004
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Nikinali Music (NN002)
Boomerang - The Music
  • Released: 2005
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Nikinali Music (NN003)
Lore - Dance Stories of Land and Sea
(with David Page and Steve Francis)
  • Released: 2015
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Bangarra Dance Theatre (BDT2015)

Films

Awards and nominations

Australian Dance Awards

The Australian Dance Awards recognise excellence and promote dance in Australia. They are awarded under the auspices of the Australian Dance Council (Ausdance) for performance, choreography, design, dance writing, teaching and related professions. they commenced in 1997.

(wins only)! |-| 1997| Stephen Page (Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding achievement in choreography| | |-| rowspan="2"| 2004| Frances Rings for Unaipon (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Achievement in Choreography| | |-| Fire - A Retrospective (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Performance by a Company| | |-| 2010| Bangarra Dance Theatre for Belong| Outstanding Performance by a Company| | [39] |-| 2012| Bangarra Dance Theatre for Belong| Outstanding Performance by a Company| | [40] |-| 2015| Waangenga Blanco (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer for Patyegarang| | |-| rowspan="3"| 2016| Bangarra Dance Theatre for Lore| Outstanding Performance by a Company| | |-| Elma Kris for Lore (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer| | |-| David Mack for Frame of Mind (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer| | |-| 2017| Bangarra Dance Theatre for OUR Land People Stories| Outstanding Performance by a Company| | |-| 2018| Beau Dean Riley Smith for Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer| | [41] |-

Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards, (commonly known simply as The Deadlys), was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. They ran from 1996 to 2013. (wins only)! |-| Deadly Awards 2008| Stephen Page and Bangarra Dance Theatre| Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment| | [42] |-| Deadly Awards 2009| Stephen Page and Bangarra Dance Theatre| Achievement in Theatre or Live Performance| ||-

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards is an awards show, celebrating live entertainment and performing arts in Australia, presented by industry group Live Performance Australia since 2001.[43] Note: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ! |-| rowspan="4"| 2001| Skin (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Helpmann Award for Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="4"| [44] |-| rowspan="2"| Stephen Page for Skin (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Helpmann Award for Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work| |-| Karen Norris for Skin (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Helpmann Award for Best Lighting Design| |-| rowspan="4"| 2002| Corroboree (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="4"|[45] |-| rowspan="2"| Stephen Page for Corroboree (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| Best New Australian Work| |-| David Page and Steve Francis – Corroboree| Best Best Sound Design| |-| rowspan="6"| 2003| rowspan="2"| Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="6"|[46] |-| Best New Australian Work| |-|Stephen Page for Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Helpmann Award for Best Original Score| |-| Stephen Page and Steven McTaggart "Rush" - Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| rowspan="2"| Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| Frances Rings "Rations" - Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| |-| Russell Page – Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Male Dancer in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| rowspan="4"| 2004| Bush (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="4"|[47] |-| Stephen Page Bush (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| Jennifer Irwin – Bush (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Costume Design| |-| Nick Schlieper – Bush (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Lighting Design| |-| rowspan="1"| 2006| Jennifer Irwin – Amalgamate (The Australian Ballet & Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Costume Design| | rowspan="1"|[48] |-| rowspan="1"| 2007| Clan (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Helpmann Award for Best Regional Touring Production| | rowspan="1"| [49] |-| rowspan="1"| 2008| True Stories (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| | rowspan="1"| [50] |-| rowspan="3"| 2009| Mathinna (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="3"| [51] |-| Stephen Page Mathinna (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production| |-| David Page for Walkabout (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Original Score| |-| rowspan="4"| 2010| Fire (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="4"| [52] |-| Deborah Brown Fire (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work| |-|Stephen Page Fire (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production| |-| True Stories (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |-| rowspan="2"| 2011|Frances RingsArtefact (of Earth & Sky) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production| | rowspan="2"| [53] |-| Mathinna (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |-| rowspan="3"| 2012| Stephen Page – ID from Belong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="3"| [54] |-| Waangenga Blanco – Belong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Male Dancer in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| David Page and Steve Francis – Belong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Original Score| |-| rowspan="5"| 2013| Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="5"| [55] |-| Deborah Brown – Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production| |-| David Page - Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Original Score| |-| Frances Rings - Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Ballet or Dance Work| |-| Artefact (of Earth & Sky) (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |-| rowspan="1"| 2014| David Page & Paul MacBlak| Best Original Score| | rowspan="1"| [56] |-| rowspan="1"| 2015| Stephen Page – Patyegarang (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production| | rowspan="1"| [57] |-| rowspan="7"| 2016| Sheoak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Ballet or Dance Work| | rowspan="7"| [58] |-| Frances Rings – Sheoak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| rowspan="2"| Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work| |-| Stephen Page, Bernadette Walong-Sene, Djakapurra Munyarryun – Ochres (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| |-| Yolanda Lowatta – Sheoak (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work| |-| Frances Rings, Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco – Lore (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best New Australian Work| |-| rowspan="2"| David Page - Ochres (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Original Score| |-| Best Sound Design| |-| rowspan="4"|2017| OUR Land People Stories (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Dance Production| | rowspan="4"| [59] |-| Jennifer Irwin - OUR Land People Stories (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Costume Design| |-| Elma Kris – Nyapanyapa (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work| |-| Terrain (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |-| rowspan="7"| 2018| Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Dance Production| | rowspan="7"| [60] |-| OUR Land People Stories (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |-| Stephen Page – Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best New Australian Work| |-| Steve Francis – Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Original Score| |-| Jennifer Irwin – Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Costume Design| |-| Jacob Nash – Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Scenic Design| |-| Nick Schlieper – Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Lighting Design| |-| rowspan="2"| 2019| Waangenga Blanco – Dark Emu (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Male Dancer in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production| | rowspan="2"| [61] |-| Bennelong (Bangarra Dance Theatre)| Best Regional Touring Production| |}

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards commenced in 1984 and recognise outstanding achievements in dance, drama, comedy, music, opera, circus and puppetry.

|-| 1993 || Bangarra Dance Theatre || Group Award || |-

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carole Johnson Aboriginal Dance portfolios: 1967-2001 . The New York Public Library

    Archives and Manuscripts

    . Compiled by Valerie Wingfield. Valerie. Wingfield. 2013 . 27 August 2022.
  2. Web site: This dance company is keeping ancient Indigenous knowledge alive and well in the 21st century. Tan. Teresa. 2019-12-13. ABC News. en-AU. 2019-12-13.
  3. Web site: Rob Bryant . Serving Country . 2 September 2022.
  4. Fabri. Blacklock. Rob. Byrant. Uncle Rob Bryant. City of Sydney Oral History Program. Transcript of an oral history interview by the City of Sydney. .
  5. Burridge. Stephanie. Oct 2002. Dreaming the future: the emergence of Bangarra Dance Theatre. Australasian Drama Studies. 41. 77–89. 0810-4123. ResearchGate.
  6. http://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120625140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/35285/20120626-0000/www.australiadancing.org/apps/adb61e.html Bangarra Dance Theatre (1989 -)
  7. Web site: Sheppard . Jasmin . Making Fire: Bangarra Dance Theatre Australia . . 27 August 2022 . 27 August 2022.
  8. Web site: Sydney Theatre Company the biggest winner at this year's Helpmann Awards. Jefferson. Dee. 2018-07-16. ABC News. en-AU. 2019-12-13.
  9. Web site: Welcome to Knowledge Ground - Bangarra Dance Theatre. Bangarra Dance Theatre - Knowledge Ground. en-au. 2019-12-13.
  10. Web site: Jefferson . Dee . Stephen Page to step down from Bangarra artistic director role, passing torch to Frances Rings . ABC News. . 2 December 2021 . 7 December 2021.
  11. Web site: Elaine Crombie will calm you down before she punches you in the guts . ABC Radio National. The Stage Show. Michael. Cathcart . 7 December 2021. Audio + text . 8 December 2021.
  12. Web site: Bremer . Rudi . In Bangarra’s new work Yuldea, Frances Rings peels back Indigenous, colonial and personal history, inspired by a precious water source . ABC News . 5 August 2023 . 22 August 2023.
  13. http://bangarra.com.au/people/artists-in-residence/david-page David Page, Composer at Bangarra Dance Theatre
  14. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/bangarra-dance-theatre-shattered-by-death-of-composer-david-page-20160429-goi4tn.html Linda Morris, (29 April 2016), Bangarra Dance Theatre shattered by death of composer David Page
  15. Web site: Russell Page, 1968 – 2002. National Portrait Gallery . 2018 . 25 October 2020.
  16. Web site: Loved ones left wondering why a dazzling talent is gone . The Age . 20 July 2002 . 25 October 2020.
  17. Web site: Bangarra dancer Russell Page dies . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 July 2002 . 25 October 2020.
  18. Web site: Jindalee Lady . Ozmovies . 26 August 2021.
  19. Web site: A catch up with Raymond D Blanco . NAISDA Dance College . 10 July 2019 . 31 August 2021.
  20. Web site: Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre (sic) . . 2008. Zoe. Pollock. 7 December 2021.
  21. Web site: Banula Marika . Bangarra Knowledge Ground . 25 July 2021.
  22. Web site: Lillian Crombie and Ningali Lawford-Wolf honoured by Australian performers. 31 October 2019. 26 August 2021.
  23. Web site: Carter . Mahalia . Daniel Riley announced as the first Indigenous artistic director to lead non-Indigenous dance company . ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 6 June 2021 . 12 July 2021.
  24. Toured the UK in 2006,
  25. News: A savage lesson in 'civility'. Pybus. Cassandra. Arts reviews. 10 May 2008. 20 June 2008.
  26. Web site: Aboriginal ballet hits Paris stage . . 30 September 2008 . 30 September 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081003010917/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/30/2378003.htm. 3 October 2008 . live.
  27. http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/stories/s2687977.htm Majhid Heath, (11 September 2009), Review: Bangarra Dance Theatre performance of Fire – A retrospective, Indigenous Arts & Events: Performance, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  28. Patyegarang's gift. Deadly Vibe. June 2014. 208. 30 March 2015.
  29. Web site: Bennelong. AMPAG. 16 March 2017.
  30. Web site: Dubboo — life of a songman Bangarra. www.bangarra.com.au. 2019-07-10.
  31. Web site: Dark Emu Bangarra. www.bangarra.com.au. 2019-07-10.
  32. Web site: Spirit Bangarra. www.bangara.com.au. 2019-11-05.
  33. Web site: Spear Review . 25 October 2020. 11 Sep 2015 . Variety.
  34. Web site: From stage to screen: Bangarra Dance Theatre's Spear re-imagined as feature film. ABC News. 16 Oct 2015. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Monique. Schafter. 25 October 2020.
  35. Web site: Ward . Sarah . Film Review: Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra is vivid and important . screenhub Australia . 13 October 2020 . 25 October 2020.
  36. Web site: Firestarter - The Story Of Bangarra . Adelaide Film Festival . 23 October 2020 . 25 October 2020.
  37. Web site: Announcing the BIFF 2020 Closing Night Film – Brisbane International Film Festival . Brisbane International Film Festival . 25 October 2020.
  38. Web site: Tiley . David . Adelaide Film Festival winners: 'art can become a weapon' . ArtsHub Australia . 20 October 2020 . 24 October 2020.
  39. Web site: 2012 Australian Dance Awards winners . 14 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130426020256/http://www.australiandanceawards.net.au/award-winners/2012-australian-dance-awards . 26 April 2013 . dead .
  40. Web site: 2012 Australian Dance Awards winners . 14 June 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130426020256/http://www.australiandanceawards.net.au/award-winners/2012-australian-dance-awards . 26 April 2013 . dead .
  41. Web site: 2018 Awards – 21st Australian Dance Awards. www.australiandanceawards.net.au. 2019-02-01.
  42. News: 0312-6315. Dunn. Emily. Elicia Murray. Deadly Lot of Awards for Yunupingu. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2008-10-10. 2008-10-10.
  43. Web site: Events & Programs. Live Performance Australia . 22 March 2022.
  44. Web site: 2001 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  45. Web site: 2002 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  46. Web site: 2003 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  47. Web site: 2004 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  48. Web site: 2006 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  49. Web site: 2007 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  50. Web site: 2008 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  51. Web site: 2008 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  52. Web site: 2010 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  53. Web site: 2011 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  54. Web site: 2012 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  55. Web site: 2013 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  56. Web site: 2014 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  57. Web site: 2015 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  58. Web site: 2016 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  59. Web site: 2017 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  60. Web site: 2018 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.
  61. Web site: 2019 Helpmann Awards Nominees & Winners. Australian Entertainment Industry Association (AEIA). Helpmann Awards. 26 July 2022.