Bangarra Dance Theatre

Dance, Shows and Attractions

Biography

Bangarra Dance Theatre is Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company producing  contemporary Indigenous dance theatre live performances. Weaving seamlessly the modern and ancient stories of Indigenous Australia, Bangarra celebrates the world’s oldest living culture with audiences across Australia and internationally.

Under the leadership of Stephen Page as Artistic Director since 1991, Bangarra invests in building and maintaining relationships with traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island elders and communities across Australia. Their ancient and contemporary stories, songs and dances influence Bangarra’s works in a process of rekindling and honouring language and customs.

Bangarra is committed to developing the next generation of Indigenous storytellers through mentoring and training young people. Established in 2013, the Rekindling Youth Program builds on Bangarra’s 20 years of experience working with young people and aims to inspire them in their role as future custodians of their culture. By reinvesting the company’s knowledge and expertise, and in collaboration with local Elders, Rekindling uses dance to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youths with their cultures.

As an exemplary employer of Indigenous people, Bangarra has supported the professional development of over 100 artists since inception in 1989. In 2011, a new Indigenous Employment Program commenced that has enabled young Indigenous trainees and interns to join Bangarra for professional experience and/or completion of formal education in the performing arts.

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Reviews

“Mesmerising beauty, sheer poetry and spiritual power.”

Dance Europe

“Bangarra Dance Theatre is a modern dance company unlike any other … remarkably imaginative and richly varied … the stage becomes a place of mystery.”

New York Times