Welcome to the February 2006 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:
  Win tickets to Woody Allen's film Match Point

  Unified - Australia's best dance companies get together for a fundraising spectacle!

  Bangarra features in the new Tourism Australia campaign

Gathering

Bangarra and The Australian Ballet first worked together in 1997 on the highly successful Rites set to The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, one of the ballet world's most fascinating and challenging scores. Rites was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike on its 1997 debut at the Melbourne Festival and as well as during its tour to New York. Bangarra dancers Sidney Saltner and Yolande Brown performed in the original 1997 Rites so we hope to hear from them how things have changed in future editions of Songlines.

Rites will return in 2006 as part of Gathering along with a new work choreographed by Stephen Page, Amalgamate.

Special Discounts for Songlines Subscribers!

Melbourne Season (Tickets now on sale)
March 17 - 29. State Theatre, the Arts Centre

Melbourne Option One*
Receive 20% off tickets to Gathering. To take advantage of this special offer call Ticketmaster on: 1300 136 166 (quote Page to receive discount).

*Valid for these performances only: Mon 21, Tues 22, Wed 23, Tue 28, Wed 29 March. Ticketmaster fees apply.

Melbourne Option Two
See 3 extraordinary contemporary works

Receive 50% off your ticket to Gathering when you buy it as part of The Australian Ballet's special Choose Three package, tailored specifically for Bangarra Friends. Package includes Gathering, the World Premiere of Raymonda and the Triple Bill Trinity. Book now by calling the Australian Ballet on: 1300 369741 (Quote this offer when booking).

Sydney Season (Tickets on sale Friday March 3)
April 7 - 29. Opera Theatre, Opera House.

Composers David Page and Elena Kats Cherin Photo Branco Gaica

Sydney Option One*
Receive 20% off tickets to Gathering. To take advantage of this special offer call Sydney Opera Box Office on: 02 9250 7777 (quote Page to receive discount).

*Valid for these performances only: Mon 10, Tue 11, Wed 12 April. Fees apply

Sydney Option Two
See 3 extraordinary contemporary works

Receive 50% off your ticket to Gathering when you buy it as part of The Australian Ballet's special Choose Three package, tailored specifically for Bangarra Friends. Package includes Gathering, the World Premiere of Raymonda and Bodytorque. Book now by calling the Australian Ballet on: 1300 369741 (Quote this offer when booking).
More about Gathering

CLAN to hit the road

Locations on the Clan tour include Geraldton, Griffith, Canberra, Toowoomba, Townsville, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Cairns, Lismore, Gosford, Hobart, Ballarat. Many thanks to Playing Australia and Arts On Tour for making this tour possible.

A scene from Rations

Tickets now on sale! Click on following link for booking details.
More about the 2006 Clan tour

We are thrilled to announce that Bangarra has welcomed two new dancers into the Company in 2006 - Leonard Mickelo and Tara Gower. Leonard tells us a bit about himself below, Tara's turn next edition.

Leonard Mickelo - Songlines star

Born in Ipswich, Queensland in 1987 Leonard is from the Waakka Tribe and a descendant from the Darimbandi, Kulalie and Bidgera Tribes from Charliville and St George. His parents are from Cherberge and Barcaldine.

Tara and Leonard, Bangarra's two lovely new dancers

When did you first decide you wanted to be a dancer?
I decided to start dancing at the age of 10.

Who inspires you in your everyday life?
My foster mum would be my number one inspiration in my everyday life. As well as my friends, family, dance teachers and school teachers. Also movie actors Jim Carey, Whoopi Goldberg and Magda Szubanski.

What have you learnt by working with Bangarra?
That by working hard 24/7 I can achieve my personal goals and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I have learnt to never say "no" or "I can't", to always remember there is a tomorrow, never give up and give it your personal best. I have learnt to jump in the deep end.

What is one of your best/worst/funniest moments as a performer?
My most memorable moment was when I did a triple pirouette in a jazz group and managed to fall off the stage. Most humourous and embarrassing was when I did a jazz split "cat leap" and fell on my face after landing because my right foot got caught in my pants!

What would you like to be doing in ten-years time?
I would love to be dancing in a professional dance company overseas, travelling or doing musical theatre productions.

Leonard as a littl'un

What challenges have you faced in your life and how did you cope with them?
Not knowing my biological father. Facing the fact that he died when I was six. It makes me stronger and train harder when I am dancing.

What is your favourite way to relax?
Get a massage, go to the beach or just lie on my bed and listen to my favourite music on my ipod.

More about Leonard

"Dispossession Series: Patrick" by Julie Dowling

Dancelines is a fantastic new exhibition featuring contemporary Indigenous visual art inspired by Bangarra.

"Dispossession Series: Elma" by Julie Dowling

Six contemporary Indigenous artists; Vernon Ah Kee, Julie Dowling, Leah King-Smith, Clinton Nain, Christian Thompson and Judy Watson, were invited by the Arts Centre, Melbourne to view Bangarra's performance of Boomerang last year. The artists also came up to Sydney to see the company in rehearsal. Each artist then went away and created these beautiful artworks in response.

Dancelines Curator, Marita Smith says "We wanted to keep the criteria for the artists as open as possible and we have been rewarded with an incredibly powerful and diverse exhibition of works. The works cover a multiplicity of styles including multi-media installations, photography, socio-political abstracts, narrative drawings, intricate portraiture and more, creating a deeply moving exhibition through a variety of interpretations."

"Embark on this journey / into acid reign" by Clinton Nain

If you are in Melbourne go along and see the exhibition at the Arts Centre's George Adams Gallery as part of Festival Melbourne 2006 from 4 February to 2 April 2006. The exhibition is open seven days a week, until late most nights. A series of public programs has also been scheduled.

Win a catalogue of the Dancelines exhibition
Thanks to the lovely people at the Arts Centre we have 5 beautiful exhibition catalogues to give away.

The first 5 people to email songlines@bangarra.com.au with the subject "Dancelines" and your postal address will get a catalogue sent to them.

More info at the Arts Centre website

Win tickets to see Woody Allen's new film

MATCH POINT is a drama about a young man's rise in society and the terrible consequences of his ambition. The protagonist is torn between two women, and finding no way out, resorts to extreme action. It is set amongst the English upper class with Scarlett Johansson playing the beautiful American girl who comes between Jonathan Rhys Meyers and his wife Emily Mortimer. Matthew Goode is Emily's wealthy brother who initiates the tragic events.

Match Point opens nationally March 2.

Thanks to Icon Films we have some Match Point tickets to giveaway.

To be in the running email songlines@bangarra.com.au with the subject "Match Point" and your postal address. First in, first served!
NB: Tickets are ADMIT ONE only

More info about Match Point

See the cream of Australian Dance in one night!

The Australian dance community is coming together for one night only in a celebration of the art of dance and to raise funds for UNICEF the world's largest children's health, education, and protection organization.

Called UNIFIED, the night will feature performances by

• The Australian Ballet
• Australian Dance Theatre
• Bangarra Dance Theatre
• Chunky Move
• Lucy Guerin Inc
• Sydney Dance Company

Don't miss this unique opportunity to witness Australia's top dance and choreographic talents while supporting the world's largest advocate for children.

Opera Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Sunday 9 April 2006 7.00pm
More info and bookings

Frances Rings in the new ad

Bangarra dancers on the clay pan

Bangarra Dance Theatre and choreographer Frances Rings feature in Tourism Australia's fantastic new campaign. The 'A Uniquely Australian Invitation' campaign, launched last week, invites prospective travellers to experience Australia first hand. The new campaign, which builds upon the successes of past campaigns, aims to increase the economic benefits of tourism to Australia and Bangarra are proud to be a part of it.

Bangarra dancer Deborah Brown describes the experience "We travelled to a stunning place called Rainbow Valley to film. It was breathtaking! Red earth, massive clay pan with this amazing rock serving as the powerful background. A highlight was when when they brought out the chopper for the aerial shots. We were out on this massive red clay pan, dancing. Along comes the helicopter riding so low above our heads... it was wild! The adrenalin that pumps through you!"

Aerial shot

Message from Telstra
Bangarra and Telstra celebrate a partnership that is helping to increase community understanding and respect for Aboriginal culture.

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.

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.

David Moffatt
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