Mission
To create inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences that promote awareness and understanding of our cultures.
Company Profile
We are Bangarra Dance Theatre.
We are a company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers.
We are storytellers. We are fire makers.
As one of Australia’s leading performing arts companies, we share our culture with Communities and audiences across Australia and the world.
We are contemporary dancers, drawing on 65,000 years of culture.
We create powerful works of theatre with dance, music, poetry and design.
We tell the stories of our Elders, create works on Country and return the works we create to the place they were made.
Each of our dancers is a professionally trained, dynamic artist with a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. Together, they represent the best of Australian talent.
We have been making our indelible marks on the Australian theatre landscape for 34 years. We were born in 1989 from the energy of NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) founder Carole Y. Johnson, along with NAISDA graduates, and Rob Bryant and Cheryl Stone.
Today, Artistic Director and co-CEO Frances Rings and Executive Director and co-CEO Louise Ingram lead the company in our mission to promote awareness and understanding of our cultures.
Every year, we tour a world premiere work across the nation and embark on an international tour. We are at home performing on Country, in tiny venues in regional centres and on Australia’s most iconic stages. We run education workshops, programs and special projects to nurture the next generation of storytellers.
We are for the hundreds of First Nations Communities across Australia — and for anyone who wants to be a part of our story.
BANGARRA VALUES
Reciprocity and Mutual Obligation
The relationships we have with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are our precious resource and inspiration. They set the foundation for our work. With this comes the responsibility to give back to our communities.
Cultural Exchange & Collaboration
We understand that relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are important. We have a responsibility to facilitate cultural exchange through our company’s performances and activities.
Kinship
We are committed to supporting and nurturing the Bangarra clan.
Cultural Protocols
We acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have cultural protocols. It’s inherent in everything we do.
Cultural Integrity
We uphold the integrity of cultural storytelling.
Respect
We always show respect both culturally and creatively.
Connection and Care for Country
We have a responsibility for the connection to and care for Country, for our future generations and to enable our culture to thrive.
Excellence
We commit to create and present performances of exceptionally high artistic standards to Australia and the world.
