Welcome to the December 2007 edition of Songlines, Bangarra's email newsletter, presenting updates of the company's work, as well as giveaways and offers.

Also in this Edition:
  Sydney Festival 2008 - ticket offers
  Ngapartji Ngapartji - Company B - ticket offers

Stephen Page

We are absolutely delighted that our Artistic Director has been recognised for his contribution to Indigenous art and culture at the recent NSW Australian of the Year Awards!

At the Art Gallery of NSW on 27 November, Stephen received the title from among a field of the business and community elite in NSW. The award is a welcome recognition of the importance of Indigenous heritage for people of all backgrounds. Stephen has been a key player in raising Bangarra’s stature to one of the most well known and respected Australian performing arts companies not only around Australia but throughout the world.

Bangarra was certainly well in evidence at the awards with Larissa Behrendt, one of our tireless Board members, also honoured as a finalist on the evening. Larissa is an Indigenous lawyer and writer and a great supporter of our company.

Followers of the company will recall that in early 2007 Stephen directed the spectacular traditional smoking ceremony which marked the 75th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour bridge. 2008 will be a busy year for the company with Stephen preparing a new full length work ‘Mathinna’ inspired by a young Tasmanian girl’s journey between her traditional culture and western culture in the 19th century.

The national finals of the Australian of the Year awards will be announced in Canberra 25 January 2008.

GOOD LUCK STEPHEN!

True Stories

After a successful season in 2007 of True Stories we will be bringing it to SA, NT and Far North Queensland in February/March 2008.

Check out the dates and venues below.

Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide 8 pm
Thursday 7 February to Saturday 9th February
+ Friday 8 February matinee 1pm
Online Bookings

Araluen Theatre, Alice Springs 8 pm
Tuesday 12 February + Wednesday 13th February
Bookings: telephone box office (08) 8951 1122

Darwin Entertainment Centre 8 pm
Saturday 16th February
Bookings: www.darwinentertainment.com.au

Cairns Civic Theatre 8 pm
Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st February
Bookings: www.ticketlink.com.au

Civic Theatre, Townsville 8 pm
Wednesday 5th March
Bookings: TicketShop (07) 4727 9797

Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton 7.30 pm
Saturday 8th March
Bookings: www.pilbeamtheatre.com.au

Mackay Entertainment Centre 8 pm
Wednesday 12th March
Bookings: www.mackayentertainment.com.au

Gladstone Entertainment Centre 8 pm
Saturday 15th March
Bookings: Box Office (07) 4972 2822

Elma Kris

It's fair to say that each year, Bangarra expands its touring and reaches more and more audiences in more and more places. This year, we kicked off the year with a short season at Glen St Theatre in Sydney's north to sellout crowds.

Later in the year, after 62 performances and close to 35,000 patrons, the curtain came down on our production True Stories for 2007.

This year was the first time our national tour visited Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle with our main stage production to much acclaim. Those seasons were so successful that we will be returning in 2008 to the same theatres with our brand new show: Mathinna. More on that in the first Songlines in 2008!

In September, October and November, we completed a seven week tour of Clan to Regional Centres as widespread as Launceston in Tasmania to Orange in NSW. The highlight, as always, is the opportunity to engage with young people and present dance workshops with Dance Students and share our culture through Contemporary Dance along the way.

Into

INTO

Two intimate, personal and poignant works, both featuring one of Australia's most talented dancers, Kathryn Dunn. Celebrating one woman's return to country, Belonging is Frances Rings' evocation of the innate connections between the body and nature. A heartfelt hymn to the timeless power of intuition and kinship, from one of Bangarra Dance Theatre's acclaimed resident choreographers.

In Figment, Narelle Benjamin fearlessly tackles the fractured mental landscape of schizophrenia, inspired by the startling insight of her sister's deeply personal experience.

Into is playing Riverside Theatres, January 8 - 12 and Sydney Opera House, January 15-20. Check out www.sydneyfestival.org.au for more info and bookings.

Sydney Festival are giving away two double passes to Into for Bangarra subscribers.

Simply email songlines@bangarra.com.au with your name and address to go in the draw.

Murundak

MURUNDAK

Murundak - Woiwurrung for 'alive' - is an historic event that celebrates music as an instrument of identity, resistance and resilience as well as being a call to freedom. In sweeping multi-media staging, it brings together, for the first time in Sydney, The Black Arm Band, a 28 piece ensemble featuring a line-up of exceptional soloists performing works from the inspirational songbook of contemporary Aboriginal life.

Gracing the stage are some of Australia's most respected musicians including Ursula Yovich, Bart Willoughby, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Emma Donovan, Shane Howard and Jimmy Little. The soundtrack to Australian Aboriginal life is alive with songs that express joy, hope, struggle and compassion.

NT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are warned that this production may contain images and voices of people that have passed away and that could cause sorrow.

Murundak will be performed at Sydney Opera House on January 22 and 23. Check out www.sydneyfestival.org.au for more info and bookings.

Sydney Festival are offering Bangarra subscribers a special discount of 15% off A Reserve tickets to Murundak (transaction fees apply, subject to availability). To take up this offer click here. Offer is valid until December 14th.

Ngapartji Ngapartji

NGAPARTJI NGAPARTJI

Belvoir St Theatre
9 January - 10 February 2008

"A MAGICAL PIECE OF THEATRE" Herald Sun

Ngapartji Ngapartji means 'I give you something, you give me something.' This acclaimed theatre event is a very special exchange; a groundbreaking, joyous and deeply moving experience in which audience and performers come together to celebrate the language, songs and stories of one of the world's oldest cultures.

See Company B website for further details.

"...a lament for the dead, a joyous celebration of survival and an extraordinary expression of reconciliation... A PURE GIFT" Theatre Notes

SPECIAL TICKET OFFER FOR BANGARRA SONGLINES READERS - SAVE $9!

See Ngapartji Ngapartji for just $45 (that's $9 off adult tickets!) for performances on Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 January at 8pm. To book, call the Company B Box Office on (02) 9699 3444 and quote 'Bangarra Offer'.

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