An exciting double bill that reunites the creative
energies of two of Australia's most extraordinary performing
arts companies - Bangarra Dance Theatre and The
Australian Ballet
Rites
In 1997 Bangarra was invited by The Australian
Ballet to participate in an historic collaboration. Rites,
a new version of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring
was created by Stephen Page for the 1997 Melbourne International
Festival of the Arts. The production received great acclaim, including
during its tour of New York.
In 2006 Bangarra and The Australian Ballet cOme
together once again to perform Rites along with
a new work Amalgamate choreographed by Stephen Page.
"Rites is an exploration of
the natural forces which determine our ancient landscape. I have
not tried to harness nature's elemental forces - this human need
for control is futile and meaningless. Rather, I have tried to
capture the spiritual or flashpoints. Each of the elements - Earth,
Wind, Fire,
Water - have their own ritual,
their own spiritual characteristics. They are complex ephemeral
moments occurring simultaneously in a nonlinear time frame. Beginning
with Awakening and completed by Dreaming,
these elements are part of a great cyclic universal force: our
spiritual essence, our Dreaming." Stephen
Page
Choreography
Music
Costume Design
Set Design
Lighting Design
"Amalgamate takes its inspiration
from the process of bringing these two companies together. Amalgamate
explores the notions of exchange and fusion - be it emotional,
spiritual or cultural. The roots of the work are in the extraordinary
collaboration of composers David
Page and Elena Kats-Chermin. A weaving together of traditional
Aboriginal sounds and songs with western orchestral music. From
this foundation the rest of the work grows. It is an organic process
and a journey of discovery. The Australian Ballet dancers'
discipline is the western classical form, and I suppose you could
say Bangarra's 'discipline' is what we inherit
culturally. The challenge is to channel the individuality of each
of these amazing dancers onto one common, sacred ground."
Stephen Page
Choreography
Music
Costume Design
Set Design
Lighting Design
