Bangarra

Bangarra Dance Theatre was established in 1989 as a dance company that embraces, celebrates and respects Australia’s Indigenous peoples and their culture.   Under the artistic direction of Stephen Page since 1991, Bangarra has emerged as Australia’s only national premier Indigenous performing arts company.

As Artistic Director, Stephen Page has developed an extraordinary signature body of work that has secured the company’s reputation as a national and international dance phenomenon. Stephen is also committed to developing the next generation of Indigenous storytellers by mentoring emerging artists. In 2008, Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year.

Each year, Bangarra performs to approximately 50,000 people around Australia and the world and its productions are regularly sold out.

The Sydney-based multi award-winning company, with 14 dancers, is chaired by Aden Ridgeway and led by Executive Director Catherine Baldwin.  Actor Hugh Jackman is Patron. 

At the heart of all of Bangarra’s productions is the musical creativity of award-winning David Page, who is one of the most successful Aboriginal contemporary composers in Australia. David’s music is the inimitable soundscape of Bangarra that lures audiences year after year.

Bangarra bases its creative spirit on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and stories producing a powerful new language that combines the traditional and the contemporary.  This potent, original and distinctive style tells the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples unifying the past and the present.

Bangarra’s influence continues to resonate throughout the world with the company earning a prominent place on the international touring circuit.  A 16-city sell out tour of the USA in 2001 established the company as a global dance phenomenon. Since then, the company has performed in Monaco, returned to the US twice – performing in New York City and in Washington, and performed in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and New Zealand. In 2006, the company toured the UK, performing at London’s prestigious Sadler’s Wells Theatre.  In 2008 & 2009, the company mounted successful tours to London, Paris, Canada, Hungary, Austria and Germany.

Bangarra travels the world, performs at private functions, for major arts festivals and special events such as the opening and closing of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and in regional Australia as well as capital cities annually. Underpinning all of its performances is the strong connection with the communities and people which remain its core inspiration.

In 2009, Bangarra Dance Theatre celebrated 20 years of bringing Australia and the world its original, evocative and inspirational dance theatre and eagerly anticipates the potential of the next 20 years. 

Bangarra Dance Theatre was established in 1989 as a dance company that embraces, celebrates and respects Australia’s Indigenous peoples and their culture.   Under the artistic direction of Stephen Page since 1991, Bangarra has emerged as Australia’s only national premier Indigenous performing arts company.

As Artistic Director, Stephen Page has developed an extraordinary signature body of work that has secured the company’s reputation as a national and international dance phenomenon. Stephen is also committed to developing the next generation of Indigenous storytellers by mentoring emerging artists. In 2008, Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year.

Each year, Bangarra performs to approximately 50,000 people around Australia and the world and its productions are regularly sold out.

The Sydney-based multi award-winning company, with 14 dancers, is chaired by Aden Ridgeway and led by Executive Director Catherine Baldwin.  Actor Hugh Jackman is Patron. 

At the heart of all of Bangarra’s productions is the musical creativity of award-winning David Page, who is one of the most successful Aboriginal contemporary composers in Australia. David’s music is the inimitable soundscape of Bangarra that lures audiences year after year.

Bangarra bases its creative spirit on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and stories producing a powerful new language that combines the traditional and the contemporary.  This potent, original and distinctive style tells the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples unifying the past and the present.

Bangarra’s influence continues to resonate throughout the world with the company earning a prominent place on the international touring circuit.  A 16-city sell out tour of the USA in 2001 established the company as a global dance phenomenon. Since then, the company has performed in Monaco, returned to the US twice – performing in New York City and in Washington, and performed in China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan and New Zealand. In 2006, the company toured the UK, performing at London’s prestigious Sadler’s Wells Theatre.  In 2008 & 2009, the company mounted successful tours to London, Paris, Canada, Hungary, Austria and Germany.

Bangarra travels the world, performs at private functions, for major arts festivals and special events such as the opening and closing of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and in regional Australia as well as capital cities annually. Underpinning all of its performances is the strong connection with the communities and people which remain its core inspiration.

In 2009, Bangarra Dance Theatre celebrated 20 years of bringing Australia and the world its original, evocative and inspirational dance theatre and eagerly anticipates the potential of the next 20 years.