Bangarra Dance Theater

Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

In The Age, Jo Roberts talks to Stephen Page: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Reclaiming the heart of walkabout July 2 2002 Stephen Page cannot help but imagine how life could have been so different. He offers his preferred version of Captain James Cook's landing on Terra Australis more than 200 years ago."It's 1798, Captain Cook walks up to the first black man; `black skin, pink skin, you smell different, I smell different, where do we go from here?'. Imagine if he said `**** man, your land's rich, your art is your life! This is amazing, we're sitting on a pot of gold, Yes, teach me the language'.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><A HREF="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/02/1023864723843.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A> ****************************************Review in The Age: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Dance to the stories of time By Vicki Fairfax July 4 2002Were it to be shown on television, Bangarra's Walkabout might well come with the warning that people may find some of its images disturbing, even chilling. Though it comprises two works, Frances Rings' Rations and Stephen Page's Rush, the latter is actually a sequel to the former.These stories are also unravelling across the city at this moment. They recount the slow disintegration of a people and a culture, not so much as a consequence of brutality, but through disinterest, ignorance and a tragically misplaced trust.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><A HREF="http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/03/1025667005211.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A> [This message has been edited by Malcolm Tay (edited July 05, 2002).]

Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

In The Sydney Morning Herald: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Land rites July 5 2002The Aboriginal struggle for survival in city and country is explored in Walkabout, writes Judy Adamson.For Frances Rings, the history of her grandparents' struggles in outback South Australia was simply a story. As an urban Aborigine, growing up in Adelaide, the issues faced by previous generations were distanced from her not only by time, but by lack of personal experience.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><A HREF="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/04/1025667032938.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A>

Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

In The Sydney Morning Herald: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>She'll have rockets on the soles of her shoes By Debra Jopson July 6 2002"I'm 35, girlfriend. Beyond the use-by date," quips Ningali Lawford. Bangarra Dance Theatre does not think so. The gorgeously garrulous actor will be back on the Sydney stage next week as a guest artist, playing a role she describes as "a weaver, a spirit person" in the Aboriginal company's new production, Walkabout."Expect to be shocked. It's a very full-on, confronting piece," said Lawford, who admires Bangarra's ability to evoke provocative images through sheer physicality, "unlike a David Williamson play".<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><A HREF="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/05/1025667057676.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A>

Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

Review in The Australian: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Reclaiming the spirit (Review) By Lee Christofis July 05, 2002WITHOUT his longstanding cultural mentor Djakapurra Munyarryun and composer brother David Page nearby, Stephen Page is redefining Bangarra Dance Theatre.Walkabout is a magnificently danced new double bill that reclaims the regenerating journeys central to Aboriginal spirituality. Actor-dancer Ningali Lawford is featured guest artist, story-teller and spiritual guide, while composer Steve Francis provides a dense cinematic mix of indigenous instruments and voices, natural and electronic sounds.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><A HREF="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,4642568%255E16953,00.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A>

Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

Walkabout, Bangarra Dance Theatre By Jill Sykes July 12 2002 Sydney Morning HeraldBangarra Dance Theatre's new double bill is bold, affecting and a move in a fresh direction. With traditional dancer Djakapurra Munyarryun and composer David Page both departing on different tracks, there has been a shift of emphasis in thematic approach and character.While Aboriginal culture is still the central concern, Walkabout looks less at the distant past, more to relatively recent history and current events. Rations, by Frances Rings, explores the impact of white settlers on Aboriginal independence and Stephen Page's Rush looks at survival challenges in today's urban wildside.Together, they take a tougher line than most of Bangarra's work in the past. The raw edge has been there before in sequences about drugs, alcoholism, brutality and deaths in custody, but it hasn't dominated as it does here.<A HREF="http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/11/1026185086153.html" TARGET=_blank>More</A>

Stuart Sweeney · **Posted:** Tue Oct 15, 2002 1:10 pm

Steps back in time
By Deng Nanjun for China Daily

Dancers from down under who caught the eyes of TV viewers across the world two years ago are now set to thrill China. The Bangarra Dance Theatre of Australia shot to prominence when it
performed at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

Showcasing the culture of Australia's indigenous aboriginal people under the artistic direction of Stephen Page, the group is now set to perform in China to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Bangarra Dance Theatre draws on indigenous dance traditions. Yet the group itself is relatively young, having been founded in 1991. It prides itself on reflecting the lives and attitudes of
indigenous peoples there today.

All of its members are descendants of aboriginal tribes in Australia. Its primary objective is to
maintain the link between traditional indigenous cultures of Australia and new forms of contemporary artistic expression.The group proclaims itself keen to give voice to social and political issues relevant to all people.

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Stuart Sweeney · **Posted:** Thu Oct 24, 2002 7:20 am

Aboriginal moves
By CHEN JIE for The New China Daily

The performances at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games impressed the world with their elements of Australia's fascinating indigenous culture.
Now Stephen Page, director of those ceremonies, brings his Bangarra Dance Theatre performers to Beijing. They will perform Page's new triple-bill "Corroboree" at the Century Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday.

Last year, the Bangarra Dance Theatre premiered the new work "Skin" at the Sydney Opera House. The piece has since won Page and Bangarra the coveted Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work and best Dance Work of the year.

Early this year, Page was honoured with the Helpmann Award again, this time for Best Choreography for "Corroboree," which toured Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane and received great critical and popular acclaim.

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Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

Bangarra's fresh start
By Jane Albert
February 14, 2003
The Australian

The artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre and the 2004 Adelaide Festival caught pneumonia during a festival-based trip to New York last September. But it wasn't until Page suffered an allergic reaction to the antibiotics and became gravely ill that he had to give up the fight and rest.

It has been the toughest seven months in Page's life, following the suicide of his younger brother Russell last July. Not only did the community lose a talented dancer, family member and friend, Page lost a brother, a colleague and his inspiration.

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Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

Metaphor of the insecurity blanket
By Perrie Croshaw
May 20 2003
Sydney Morning Herald

Bangarra has been called the oldest and the newest dance company in the world.

Choreographer Frances Rings says this is because it carries the spirit of an ancient culture that lives and grows. "And at the same time it adapts to the new world, but still keeps the sacred elements that make it unique. And that's exciting because we grow with it and get to share that and pass it on."

Stephen Page, artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, regards Walkabout's six Helpmann nominations as "very gratifying".

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Malcolm Tay · **Joined:** Fri Aug 31, 2001 11:01 pm **Posts:** 962

Bangarra's earth mother
By Martin Buzacott
May 26, 2003
The Australian

THE Dreamtime world is red, yellow and brown, and as Arnhem Land elder Kathy Balngayngu Marika looks on, the creation ritual begins.

The stakes, and expectations, for this new Bangarra production are high, following the company's recent successes on the road with Corroboree and Walkabout. In delivering on the promise, Bush brings together a new-look Bangarra with an increasing air of artistic assurance and several young dancers making their company debuts.

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kurinuku · **Posted:** Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:13 am

Quote:

Clan

By NEIL JILLETT
The Age
June 13, 2004

The company's rising-star choreographer Frances Rings contributes a piece that is far more interesting in theory than in practice, and there is little evidence of the mystery and intensity that the dancers have brought to previous Melbourne performances.

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Quote:

Clan

By CHLOE SMETHURST
The Age
June 15, 2004

The format of the two works presented in Clan - a new piece by Frances Rings called Unaipon, and a retrospective by Stephen Page titled Reflections, touch on the artistic development of both choreographers, revisiting some wonderful moments.

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*************

Quote:

Family ties bring memories to life

By JO ROBERTS
The Age
June 11, 2004

Russell Page may be gone but his spirit lives on in Bangarra Dance Theatre. His brother and Bangarra artistic director, Stephen, says Russell's presence remains strong in the Aboriginal company of which he was a magnetic star for more than 10 years.

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kurinuku · **Posted:** Wed Nov 17, 2004 12:16 am

Quote:

From the Wilderness With the Wonders of Contemporary Stage Magic

by EVA YAA ASANTEWAA
the Village Voice

This tender, moving work [Bush] helped us foreigners walk fearlessly among spirits and slithering creatures of the bush — dancers of impressive pliancy and choral harmony...

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kurinuku · **Posted:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 12:34 pm

Quote:

Boomerang
by HILARY CRAMPTON for the Age

Stephen Page's latest full-length work, Boomerang, seems like a paring back, relying much more on references to cultural traditions and dance patterns than on the unique language that blends ancient and contemporary traditions.

published: June 13, 2005

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kurinuku · **Posted:** Thu Aug 04, 2005 1:52 am

Quote:

Boomerang
by JILL SYKES for the Sydney Morning Herald

Despite a note of optimism in the conclusion, Boomerang is a sombre piece. Thematically I found it very moving, powered by the close ensemble structure and the nature of the performance, which suggested it was more of a private occasion that outsiders happened to be watching than an event for an audience.

published: July 18, 2005

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