Welcome to the April 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:
  BUSH UK tour - new dates and venues

  Patrick Thaiday wins Greenroom Award

  Message Sticks Festival

  Reeldance - International Dance on Screen Festival

Gathering

Gathering has proven to be an outstanding success for both Bangarra and The Australian Ballet. The show has been one of the best selling contemporary works for The Australian Ballet and many new people have been introduced to the beauty of Bangarra. A special thanks to all our Bangarra friends who came along to see the show in Sydney and Melbourne.

On a creative and personal level, Gathering was also a huge success for the dancers of both companies who have learnt a lot from each other and made some strong friendships along the way. Read on as Bangarra dancer Jhuny Boy Borja (and Bangarra photographer/archivist!) gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration.

Behind the scenes of Gathering
By Jhuny Boy Borja

"The rehearsals for Amalgamate (the first half of the Gathering double bill) were a five-week whirlwind of choreographing and getting-to-know-each-other. By the end of the process a tight-knit cast of Australian Ballet and Bangarra dancers was formed, relying on our common experience of being dancers and using movement to create, but working with strikingly different styles. In many ways the choreography reflected the process that the companies went through to create the eventual piece.

"Initially the difference in styles was used to set up a kind of confrontation, the long elevated lines of the Australian Ballet dancers were juxtaposed with the grounded movements performed by Bangarra dancers. These pictures show us rehearsing Observation, the first section of the work.

"Eventually dancers from both companies were mixed up, as the Australian Ballet dancers began to learn and digest our style. In these pictures, AB dancer Paul Knobloch takes on Bangarra's Elma Kris in the section Poisoned Skin.

"Throughout the process, the choreography is modelled on the first cast of dancers but learnt by others. Injuries can and do happen (trust me!) and it's important that the various roles can be covered in case of emergencies. Learning other people's roles is also a good way to perfect the different ways our style can occur.

"Here AB dancer Danielle Rowe is observing Bangarra's Deborah Brown as Stephen Page creates her Oyster Girl solo.

"Dancers from the first and second cast perform the fourth trio of the section Poisoned Skin.

"Though our schedule was quite hectic, having to create a new work in such a short time, there was still time to have fun. For some of the Australian Ballet dancers, a weekly post-rehearsal ritual is to go bowling. Some of us tagged along and we experienced varying degrees of success on the floor.

"By the time we opened in Sydney we had formed many new friendships. Here's a mix of Australian Ballet and Bangarra dancers at the Unified post-show drinks where we performed an excerpt of Rites."

More about Gathering

Clan tours Australia

A reminder that Bangarra's biggest ever tour of regional Australia is about to kick off (May 24 - Aug 10). Tickets for Clan are on sale through the various venues. We may be coming to a city or town near you so don't miss out!

Tara Gower
Songlines star

Tara joined Bangarra at the beginning of the year. She is a Yawuru woman of Lake Idarr from the Broome area of the Kimberleys in North Western Australia. She also has English, Irish, Spanish and Philipino bloodlines.

When did you first decide you wanted to be a dancer?
I first thought about being a dancer when I started high school and was told to select my subjects towards what career I wanted. I thought about what I enjoyed most and could see myself doing for the rest of my life.

Then when I was 15yrs I saw excerpts of Bangarra's production Fish on an Indigenous performing arts documentary and I was completely captured from that moment. I became determined even more so to reach my goal of becoming a professional dancer.

Who inspires you in your everyday life?
Without my family's support and encouragement I know I would not hold such a strong desire within my lian (spirit) to achieve my goals.

What have you learnt by working with Bangarra?
I've had the opportunity to be exposed to the protocols of professionalism within dance. I've also realised the importance of the strength of family and knowing your identity when faced with challenges. It's about confidently believing you have the power to fulfill anything you aim for.

What is one of your best/worst/funniest moments as a performer?
So far this year has been full of my best moments as a performer. To dance alongside people I have looked up to for so long. These include Sidney Saltner, Yolande Brown, Elma Kris and Patrick Thaiday. I continually have to pinch myself as a reminder that my dream is now a reality!

What would you like to be doing in ten-years time?
I'm planning to be back in Broome starting my own family. I'd also like to teach dance and provide the opportunity for local children to build self-esteem through goal setting and broadening their minds.

What challenges have you faced in your life and how did you cope with them?
My studies up until now have challenged me to live outside of my comfort zone of 'old Broome town'. By looking at situations like this or any other difficult circumstance, I find focusing on the positive aspects and keeping the broader picture in mind is the best perspective to take.

My grandmother always reminds me the best way to get something done is to begin!

What is your favourite way to relax?
Going to the beach or having a cup of tea in front of an entertaining movie!

More about Tara

Win Tickets!

Ballets Russes is a dazzlingly entrancing ode covering more than fifty years in the lives of a group of revolutionary artists. It tells the story of the extraordinary blend of Russian, American, European and Latin American dancers who transformed ballet, in collaboration with the greatest choreographers, composers and designers of the first half of the 20th century.

Balanchine rehearses Ballet Russe in 1945

An electrifying documentary that lovingly and authoritatively brings to life an era of unequalled artistic excitement, it's spun out like a historical thriller, laying bare the politics, rivalries, romances, tremendous egos and creative appetites that ultimately produced two warring troupes devoted to their art with truly fanatical passion. Ballets Russes takes you on a fascinating journey through the lives of characters whose innovation changed our social fabric.

Opening May 18th at cinemas in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Thanks to Hopscotch Films we have 50 double passes to giveaway to the advance screenings valid over the weekend of May 12th, 13th and 14th.

To win tickets: Email songlines@bangarra.com.au with the subject 'Ballets Russes' and your postal address. The first 50 to enter will have tickets posted to them.

Bush to Britain!

We are thrilled to announce the addition of two new venues on our September UK tour of Bush - The Lowry in Salford and Snape Maltings in Aldeburgh.

Full tour details

Patrick Thaiday

Congratulations to Patrick Thaiday for winning a Green Room Award for Best Male Dancer for his outstanding performance in Boomerang.

Peter England, Nick Schlieper and Gabriela Tylesova (Set, Lighting and Costume Design) also won the Greenroom Award for Design for their work on Boomerang.

Congratulations also to Bangarra composer David Page whose one man show Page 8 won the award for Best New Play.

Full details

Sing Sing featuring George Telek

Message Sticks Indigenous Arts, at the Sydney Opera House celebrates contemporary Indigenous culture including film, performance, music and art.

This years highlights include the annual Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival, the return of Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach in Ruby's Story, a video installation gins_leap/dubb_speak by award winning artist r e a and the first stage of the remarkable Ngapartji Ngapartji. In the Concert Hall, Sing Sing features contemporary music and dance from Papua New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands and mainland Australia.

Reeldance 2006

May 4-7, The Studio, Sydney Opera House

ReelDance 2006 is the fourth festival since 2000 celebrating the art of dancefilm, from the rich cinematic history of the film musical through popular dance forms and experimental video techniques featured in music clips, to the poetics of the world's greatest contemporary choreographers.

Dancing Wizard directed by Caroline Kamya

Santa Maria (Gotan Project) directed by Thomas Napper & Dom Leung

A highlight is the ReelDance Awards Finalists 2006 showcasing the best local work with shorts from Australia and New Zealand. The announcement of the winners in this category will close the festival's premiere event at The Studio, Sydney Opera House. The winner of the ReelDance Award for Best Dance Documentary, Black Grace, will share a bill with a short documentary about a legendary ballroom dancer in Uganda.

Sydney program Tour Info

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