Welcome to the August 2005 edition of Songlines, Bangarra's email newsletter, a bi-monthly update of the company's work, as well as giveaways and offers.

SPIRIT:
regional tour

Bangarra is all set to go bush again with a regional tour of NSW, QLD, VIC and TAS starting in late August and continuing throughout September.

Spirit features highlights from Bangarra's sell-out 2003 production Bush, as well as treasured moments from Bangarra's vast repertoire.

For full list of venues, dates and booking details click here

Sani Townson

Sani Townson is a descendant of the Saibai Kadal clan from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait. Sani was born in Townsville but he also spent part of his childhood on Badu Island and is glad to have tasted both life in the Torres Strait and mainland Australia.

Sani joined Bangarra in 2001 and most recently has received great reviews for his powerful solo Gularray in Bangarra's latest work Boomerang.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a dancer?
I have always been a person who cannot waste good music and I have always wanted to stay a traditional Torres Strait Islander dancer so I guess I have always wanted to be a dancer.

Sani performing his solo in Boomerang

Who inspires you in your everyday life?
My family inspires me and gives me a lot of determination to be who I am and who I can be. I have sacrificed a lot, such as absences from family milestones and traditional ceremonies, and that kills me deep down but spiritually I am there with them and they can see I am on a good path for all of us.

What have you learnt by working with Bangarra?
I have learnt a whole lot of things by being part of the company. I am a firm believer in traditional Indigenous rites, values and dances and giving these stories to a wider Australian and international community. Working with Frances Rings and Stephen Page has ignited my own creativity. I have a deep respect for those who have built this company into a household name in Australian Dance and to be a part of something so unique gives me buzz. I can't wait to make my mark.

What is one of your best/worst/funniest moments as a performer?
Best - Being a part of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympics. Funniest - When Yolande Brown ran into the lighting boom on my first trip to the US with the company and when Lewis Lampton (ex Bangarra dancer) slipped on stage in front of me. I couldn't stop laughing. Worst - I slipped on stage and fell over during a duet with Elma Kris.

What would you like to be doing in ten years time?
Enjoying whatever it is I am doing when I get there. Hopefully creating works and still being with my current partner.

What challenges have you faced in your life and how did you cope with them?
Being indigenous in this country is definitely a challenge and struggle of everyday life. How I cope with it is to remember that you should stand your ground and gain the respect and recognition that you deserve. I always surround myself with people of different cultural backgrounds so that I can understand what they are dealing with. This way I never judge people.

What is your favourite way to relax?
There is nothing like listening to Christine Anu sing. She is family and an inspiration - not a day goes by without her bringing me home to my roots. Oh and reading and movies and sport (touch football, basketball, beach volleyball).

More about Sani

Sani backstage at the Sydney Opera House

Boomerang goes gangbusters!

Boomerang, Bangarra's major work for 2005, has been hugely successful both in terms of box office and critical acclaim. The show enjoyed a particularly great run in Sydney where the entire season sold out within the opening weeks.

Boomerang rehearsals

Bangarra would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who came along to see the show. Your continued support of the company is invaluable.

More about Boomerang

Thanks to Hopscotch Films and The Deadlys we have some great special offers and giveaways.

2005 Deadlys Awards

As a supporter of Indigenous arts, we thought you might be interested in a very special evening to be held in the Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House on Thursday 22 October.

The 11th Deadly Awards, Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music, Sport, Entertainment and Community Awards, is shaping up to be another stand out night! It's been dubbed "The Black Oscars" due to the sparkling line-up of Indigenous Australia's greatest stars that attend the event.

To celebrate the Deadlys, an extravagant show is planned, hosted by Ernie Dingo, featuring performances and appearances by some of Indigenous Australia's biggest and brightest stars. With special performances by NAISDA, Shakaya, Australian Idol star Casey Donovan and Troy Cassar-Daley, this year's show is sure to be the most spectacular Deadlys yet.

A number of our dancers have been nominated (Patrick Thaiday, Elma Kris and Rheannan Port), along with David Page for composing Boomerang. Make sure you vote for them by picking up the latest issue of Deadly Vibe magazine or go to deadlys.vibe.com.au.

* The Deadlys team are pleased to offer 5 double tickets to the first to respond to this e-newsletter. Please email jb@jacquibonnermarketing.com with the subject 'Deadly Bangarra' to win.

We are also pleased to offer Bangarra subscribers a special ticket price of only $36 to see The Deadlys. To access this special offer, call the Sydney Opera House box office on (02) 9250 7777 and quote 'Bangarra' by September 9.

For more information about The Deadlys, please visit www.vibe.com.au

Scene from the new film Murderball

Featuring fierce rivalry, stopwatch suspense, and larger-than-life personalities, MURDERBALL, winner of the Documentary Audience Award and a Special Jury Prize at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, is a film about tough, highly competitive rugby players. Quadriplegic rugby players. Whether by car wreck, fist fight, gun shot, or rogue bacteria, these men have been forced to live life sitting down. In their own version of the full-contact sport, they battle each other in custom-made "Mad Max"-like wheelchairs, pursuing gold medals and proving to themselves and to anyone who sees them in action that there is life after disability.

From the gyms of middle America to the Olympic arena in Athens, Greece, MURDERBALL tells the story of indomitable, world-class athletes from Canada, US, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. It primarily follows the US teammates as they overcome unimaginable obstacles to compete in the Paralympic Games in 2004.

MURDERBALL takes you inside the hard-core world of quadriplegic rugby, at times violent, heartbreaking, wildly competitive, but always awe-inspiring, it is a film about family, revenge, honour, and the triumph of love over loss. But most of all, it is a film about standing up, even after your spirit, and your spine, have been crushed.
Thanks to Hopscotch Films, Bangarra has 50 free double passes to give away to see special previews of this amazing doco.

To enter:
Email sarah@bangarra.com.au with subject 'Murderball' and your postal address. We will post passes to the first 50 entrants. Please note passes are only valid weekend of September 10th - 11th in the following cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast.

Message from Telstra
Telstra is delighted to be Bangarra's Principal Sponsor, with 2005 marking the fifth year of this exciting partnership. We are proud of the contribution that Telstra makes in promoting Indigenous culture.

In the first year of the partnership, it was of particular importance to Telstra to provide to regional Australians with increased access to Bangarra's creative work. This was achieved by improving Bangarra's internet capabilities and by enabling them to tour more widely in regional areas.

While this early objective remains, the relationship has moved well beyond the initial expectation. Today, Telstra and Bangarra share a truly integrated partnership that is innovative, open and flexible. Telstra is involved in many areas of Bangarra's work from capital city performances to cultural outreach programs.

Telstra's sponsorship continues to give Bangarra the resources to perform to a greater audience. In 2004, the company performed to more than 40,000 people, including a regional tour which saw Bangarra perform to 10,000 people in 12 centres across Australia.

Telstra is committed to promoting a better appreciation and understanding of the diversity of contemporary Indigenous art. As Bangarra continues to inspire and captivate audiences across the country and around the world, Telstra is proud to take a leading role in helping bring Bangarra to more people.

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