Welcome to the September 2004 edition of Songlines, Bangarra's email newsletter, a bi-monthly update of the company's work, as well as giveaways and offers.

Also in this Edition:
  Success at the Helpmanns
  Bangarra welcomes new Sponsorship Manager
  Christine Anu: intimate and deadly
  Special offer - Berkelouw Books

By special invitation Bangarra is heading to The States with Bush to perform at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival - one of the leading showcases of contemporary performance in the U.S.

The Next Wave performances form part of Bangarra's larger tour across the U.S. in October; taking in 8 cities including Washington DC, where Bangarra will perform Bush at the Kennedy Centre just two days after the Presidential election.

Not to be confused with the President of the same name, Bush is a contemporary celebration of ceremony, music, and nature spawned by the Dreamtime creation stories of Arnhem Land. It first premiered in Brisbane at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in 2003 and has been described as "sheer poetry, simplicity and spiritual power."

Bush: US tour dates and venues

Frances Rings

Bangarra's own Frances Rings is one smart cookie. In fact she's just been named on Bulletin Magazine's Smart 100. As one of ten finalists in the Arts and Entertainment category, Frances has been recognised as "particularly innovative, particularly exciting, particularly promising - particularly smart!"

The Smart 100 are the "wheelers and dealers" - the people who have made an impact on Australia's cultural life. They have been chosen for producing work that is daring and progressive and for the scope and range of their abilities.

Frances - dancer, choreographer and actor - is best known as the Associate Artistic Director of Bangarra. Her credits for 2004 include: the world premier of her work Unaipon; her debut screen performance in The Widower; and her work with Legs on the Wall for Sydney Festival. In 2003 she won the Deadly Award for Female Dancer and the Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work.

The winner of each Smart 100 category will be announced on 6 October in Bulletin Magazine.

Well the slogan said it: sharing the spirit... And last month Bangarra's dancers took time out the regional tour to spend time with the local kids in a series of dance workshops.

"The kids had an absolute ball," said Brian Cooper Country Arts SA. "The whole town is still buzzing."

...And the tour was a stunning success, wowing regional Australia with Spirit and taking Bangarra to new and enthusiastic audiences.

Bangarra dancer, Deborah Brown, believes it's important to give more people a chance to see the shows. "We need to carry on these traditions so that they don't get lost," she says. "And I think Spirit was able to take people on a real journey."

Strutting his stuff on the Spirit tour

A graduate of NAISDA Dance College, Tim Bishop joined Bangarra in 2003 during its successful season of Bush. His career highlights include performing in Indonesia for the JAKART International Arts Festival (2001 & 2002) and being nominated for Deadly Vibes' Male Dancer of the Year (2003).

When did you first decide you wanted to be a dancer?
I was at a night club and I saw some women dancing on stage... performing with the live act... They were better than the Kahlua dancer! I thought I can do that... I want to do that!

Who inspires you in your everyday life?
Friends and family... they are where I get my strength . Without their love and support there is no way I could be the person who I am today.

What is one of your best/worst/funniest moments as a performer?
The funniest was at NAISDA... During a performance of Murray Island dancers my calico (sarong) fell off. It was lucky I had my support underneath!

What have you learnt by working with Bangarra?
How to pick up choreography quicker... I'm still learning. I've also learnt a lot about myself, which has added to the strength of my dancing.

What would you like to be doing in ten years time?
I'd still love to be dancing if my body hasn't packed it in by then. Otherwise somewhere in the arts or doing voices for cartoons.

What challenges have you faced in your life and how did you cope with them?
I do stress a lot, maybe that's why I'm going bald! But I think the biggest challenge is trying to remain positive.

What is your favourite way to relax?
Good music, good company and a bottle of red - or two.

As regular readers of Songlines will know, last August Bangarra was up for five Helpmanns... and we are proud to say that at the end of a big night at Star City we took home three major awards: Best Lighting Design for Bush (Nick Schleiper); Best Scenic Design for Unaipon (Peter England); and Best Ballet/Dance Work for Bush.

Bangarra's Artistic Director, Stephen Page, who accepted the award for Bush, said:

"It's wonderful to receive this recognition for our work... the Helpmann Awards play an important role in the Performing Arts, and they've always given Bangarra a lot of support."

The other big winner on the night was The Lion King which scored 4 Helpmanns for best musical, best director, best choreography and best costume.

We are very pleased to welcome Paul Stuart into the Bangarra fold as the new Sponsorship Manager. Highly recommended by the Brandenburg Orchestra, where he played a key role in sponsorship and development, Paul says he is looking forward to helping Bangarra push ahead into its exciting next phase.

Contact Paul on paul@bangarra.com.au

Former Bangarra dancer
Christine Anu

When she exploded onto the music scene in 1995 with her debut album Stylin' Up, Christine Anu became a household name. her beginnings as a dancer with Bangarra, to her critically acclaimed portrayal of Mimi in Rent, to her role as Arabia in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge - Christine is a unique talent.

For the first time ever get intimate with Christine Anu as she shares her amazing career and heritage in this very special wanem time Kabarett show.

Intimate and Deadly
Kabarett Voltaire @ The Seymour Theatre Centre
Preview performance 30 September
Main season 2, 7, 8, 9 October @ 8:15pm

Exclusive offer: Bangarra supporters who book before 7 October can purchase tickets at the special discount price of $30 ($5 saving). Call 02 9351 7940 and quote Bangarra Offer. Limited to 4 tix per person.

Our friends at Berkelouw Books have created a new and enticing gift, which combines the beauty and romanticism of books with fine food - the Berkelouw Book Hamper.

Combining the latest fiction and non-fiction releases with fine stationery items such as leather-bound journals and bookmarks, the Hamper also includes chocolates, fragrant teas and freshly roasted coffee. Tickets for the theatre, concerts, art exhibitions and the opera are also available on request.

Bangarra Friends will receive a free set of beautiful gift cards the Berkelouw stationery range with every hamper.

For more information please visit www.berkelouw.com.au/hampers or call Robert Van Geest on 02 9982 9851.

Message Telstra
Bangarra and Telstra celebrate a partnership that is helping to increase community understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture. I am pleased to announce that Telstra will continue as the principal sponsor of Bangarra for another three years.

Like Bangarra, Telstra is committed to working with Indigenous communities to help develop and support programs that foster a sense of understanding and cultural pride in all Australians and we look forward to working with Stephen and the team for another three years.

Our sponsorship of Bangarra also delivers on Telstra's commitment to regional Australians by providing increased access to one of Australia's leading dance companies. We will continue to help develop on-line initiatives and to support Bangarra as the company tours regional Australia.

Ted Pretty
Group Managing Director
Telstra Technology, Innovation and Products

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Bangarra Dance Theatre
Pier 4/5 Hickson Road,
Walsh Bay, Sydney, NSW 2000
phone: (02) 9251 5333
email: bangarra@bangarra.com.au
web: www.bangarra.com.au