Bangarra Dance Theatre Australia Limited
ABN 96 003 814 006
Pier 4/5 Hickson Road,
Walsh Bay, NSW, 2000
Australia
web: www.bangarra.com.au
Ph: 61 2 9251 5333
Fax: 61 2 9251 5266
email:
bangarra@bangarra.com.au
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONTACT
EMMA COLLISON, Emma Collison Publicity
TEL 02 9699 5199 or 0418 584 795, mmsemmac@bigpond.net.au
BANGARRA BRINGS DREAMTIME TO THE STAGE IN IT'S NEW WORK BUSH
Bangarra Dance Theatre will tour a new work choreographed by Stephen Page and Frances Rings titled Bush to Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney from May 21, 2003.
The dynamic new work from Bangarra, Australia's most prolific Indigenous contemporary dance company, will have its premiere season in Brisbane, May 21 to 24 at the Optus Playhouse, QPAC and will then show in Melbourne at the Playhouse, The Arts Centre, June 12 to 21 and concludes in Sydney at the Theatre Royal, July 23 to 26.
Artistic Director and choreographer, Stephen Page will once again team up with senior dancer Frances Rings to create Bush. Rings had her choreographic debut for the company last year with Walkabout and received great critical and popular acclaim for her work. This spellbinding new work is inspired by the Dreamtime creation stories from North East Arnhem Land. Kathy Marika, a traditional elder from this area, is acting as cultural consultant for Bush and will also feature in the production. Kathy has spent the last four years tutoring students in Aboriginal Dance and Culture but her work with Bangarra is her first foray into contemporary dance.
As artistic director Stephen Page points out, "The more I hear these creation stories and the older I get, the more I digest. It's the longest university degree you can ever have. It is a great honour to be trusted to interpret these traditional stories and put them in the public domain. This new work is a bush galaxy of the poetic imagery and stories that make up our history. It is about letting the audience into the spiritual glory box of what is sacred and communicating how special this land is to us. It is about maintaining an honest respect for land creations and peoples."
Set to a beautiful and haunting score composed by David Page and Steve Francis, Bush is a lush and hypnotic celebration of dance, ritual and music. From the last breath of sunset to the first finger-light of dawn, the audience enters a mysterious and secret space - reptilian creatures slither from dark caves, a moth wriggles from its cocoon, the land erupts pushing up mountains and carving waterholes - the world is being born.
In addition to this new work Bangarra Dance Theatre has welcomed some exciting new young talent to the company. Timothy Bishop (ACT), Jhuny-Boy Borja (NT), Deborah Brown (QLD), Chantal Kerr (NSW), Joel Blanco (QLD) and Rheannan Port (QLD) will join current company members Sani Townson, Elma Kris, Peggy Misi, Desley Roberts, Sidney Saltner and Patrick Thaiday.
"This year ushers in a another cycle for Bangarra with new blood," says Artistic director Stephen Page. "It's very inspiring for me to go back into the nurturing process with the new dancers - to teach them the Bangarra repertoire, to draw out that unique Bangarra essence and to create a new work with fresh sparks lighting the fire."
Bangarra Dance Theatre is one of Australia's most exciting dance companies, combining contemporary dance with Indigenous story-telling and tradition. A major force in Australian contemporary dance, the company has also gained an outstanding international reputation following sell out tours to New York, Washington and China.
BUSH Artistic Director Stephen Page Choreographers Stephen Page and Frances Rings Composers David Page and Steve Francis Set Designer Peter England Costume Designer Jennifer Irwin Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper Associate Lighting Designer Glen Hughes Guest Performer and Cultural Consultant Kathy Marika
Thanks to Bangarra's Principal Sponsor, Telstra, footage excerpts of Bangarra's work can be accessed through www.bangarra.com.au
BUSH - VENUE AND TICKET INFORMATION
BRISBANE (6 shows only!)
Venue: Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre
Dates and Times - May 21 to 24
(Evenings) Wed 21 May, Thur 22 May, Fri 23 May, Sat 24 May at 7.30pm
(Matinees) Fri 23 May at 12.30pm and Sat 24 May at 2pm
Bookings
Qtix 136 246 www.qtix.com.au
Groups and School Bookings: 07 38407466
Prices
Adult $40/$35 (matinees)
Concession $33/$28 (matinees)
Youth under 25 years $22
MELBOURNE (10 shows only!)
Venue: Playhouse, the Arts Centre
Dates and Times - June 12 to 21
(Evenings) Thur 12 June, Fri 13 June, Sat 14 June, Tue 17 June, Wed 18 June, Thur 19 June, Fri 20 June,
Sat 21 June all at 8pm
(Matinees) Sat 14 and 21 June at 4pm
Bookings:
Ticketmaster7.com 1300 136 166 or www.vicartscentre.com.au
Prices:
Adult $51.90
Concession $45.90
Youth under 30 years $29.90
Groups of 6 or more $45.90
Free Ausdance Forum Thursday 19 June following the performance
SYDNEY (6 shows only!)
Venue: Theatre Royal, MLC Centre, Sydney
Dates and Times - July 23 to 26
(Evenings) Wed 23 July, Thur 24 July, Fri 25 July, Sat 26 July all at 8pm
(Matinees) Thur 24 July at 12:30pm, Sat 26 July at 2pm
Bookings:
Ticketek 9266 4800 www.ticketek.com
Groups and School Bookings: 02 8512 9933
Prices:
A Reserve $52/ Conc $42
B Reserve $46/ Conc $40
C Reserve all $30
Matinees: all concs $36