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 MAY 30, 2003

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONTACT
EMMA COLLISON, Emma Collison Publicity
TEL 02 9699 5199 or 0418 584 795, mmsemmac@bigpond.net.au

BUSH COMES TO THE CITY

BANGARRA'S LATEST SHOW HEADS TO MELBOURNE AND SYDNEY
FOLLOWING A SELL OUT BRISBANE PREMIERE.

"Bush is testimony to the natural world, the human spirit and the power of creativity"
Courier Mail 23.5.03
"Deeply moving... Bush is one of those works where the content fills every last corner of the canvas" The Australian 26.5.03

Following it's sell out premiere season at Brisbane's QPAC in May, Bangarra Dance Theatre's latest show Bush, choreographed by Stephen Page and Frances Rings, heads to Melbourne for a season at the Playhouse, Victorian Arts Centre, June 12 to 21 and concludes in Sydney for six shows only at the Theatre Royal, July 23 to 26.

"Bush is a beautiful, engaging and spiritually infused work and a memorable tribute to the artistic legacy of Russell Page" Courier Mail 23.5.03

Artistic Director and choreographer, Stephen Page has once again teamed up with senior dancer Frances Rings to create Bush. Rings made her choreographic debut for the company last year with Walkabout which received great critical and popular acclaim. Walkabout won three Helpmann awards at the recent 2003 ceremony for BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK, BEST MALE DANCER - Russell Page and for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Steve Francis.

Set to a beautiful and haunting score composed by David Page and Steve Francis, Bush is a lush and contemporary celebration of beauty, ritual and music. From the last breath of sunset to the first finger-light of dawn, the audience enters a mysterious and secret space to witness nature's sacred poetry - reptilian creatures slither from dark caves, a caterpillar transforms into a moth, a cloud of feathers float down to coat a glistening body.

Bush is inspired by the Dreamtime creation stories from North East Arnhem Land. Kathy Balngayngu Marika, a traditional elder from this area, is acting as cultural consultant for Bush and features 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.

"Crucial to the success and the undeniably hypnotic power, of the production is the dominating presence of Marika." The Australian 26.5.03

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 this land and its people."

Bangarra Dance Theatre welcomes some exciting new young talent to the company for Bush. 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. Frances Rings also features as a guest performer.

"This year ushers in a another cycle for Bangarra with new blood," says Stephen Page. "It's very inspiring for me to go back into the nurturing process with the new dancers - 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 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 Glenn Hughes Guest Performer and Cultural Consultant Kathy Balngayngu Marika

Thanks to Bangarra's Principal Sponsor Telstra, footage excerpts of Bangarra's work can be accessed through www.bangarra.com.au

BANGARRA DANCE THEATRE Bush

MELBOURNE (10 shows)
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

SYDNEY (6 shows)
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 Adult $52/ Conc $42
B Reserve Adult $46/ Conc $40
C Reserve all $30
Matinees: Adult as above/ Conc $36
Groups (10+): $36 - $40
Schools (10+): $20