Bangarra Dance Theatre Embarks on Largest Regional Tour to Celebrate 25th Anniversary

In September 2014, Bangarra Dance Theatre will commence its largest ever regional tour of Australia as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. Following the highly acclaimed national tour of Patyegarang that was attended by over 36,500 patrons across Australia, Bangarra will visit regional areas of Australia and will spend time on country with Indigenous communities from September until November 2014 - performing in theatres, arts centres, on basketball courts and at beach amphitheaters.

Cultural residencies on country

From 17 September 2014, the company will spend time in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with cultural residencies in Broome (WA), Yirrkala (North East Arnhem Land, NT), Mutitjulu & Umuwa (Central Desert, NT), and Thursday Island (Torres Strait Islands). To conclude each residency, the dancers will perform Spirit, encompassing iconic Bangarra works, on outdoor make-shift stages from twilight into the night.

Bangarra's performances are inspired by the lives of the Indigenous people of Australia - both past and present. Spending time on country is a way of connecting with and giving back to the communities who have given their trust and their stories to the company to be told nationally and overseas. Their songs, dances and stories are at the heart of the company.

Kinship performances

From 3 October 2014, Kinship, a double bill of two acclaimed works choreographed by Artistic Director Stephen Page (Brolga and ID), will be performed at the Darwin Entertainment Centre, the Araluen Arts Centre in Alice Springs, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Cairns Civic Theatre and the Pilbeam Theatre in Rockhampton. Tickets for these performances are on sale now.

Artistic Director Stephen Page says of the impending regional tour, "On the occasion of Bangarra's anniversary, this regional tour is the time of year I've been longing for. Taking the dance ensemble to many of Australia's

remote Indigenous communities, spending time with them and performing our work to them is our way to say thank you for their trust. We are in awe of the First Nations people and my heartfelt appreciation goes to them."

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KINSHIP

Brolga

Choreography Stephen Page
Music David Page & Steve Francis
Costume Jennifer Irwin
Nesting Kulum Peter England
Original Lighting Joe Mercurio
Original Set John Matkovic & Stephen Page
Cultural Advisors Djakapurra Munyarryun, Kathy Balngayngu Marika

ID

Choreography Stephen Page
Music David Page
Set Jacob Nash
Lighting Matt Cox
Costume Emma Howell
Cultural Advisors Djakapurra Munyarryun, Kathy Balngayngu Marika

KINSHIP TOUR DATES:

Darwin Entertainment Centre

Friday 3 October, 8pm

www.yourcentre.com.au

Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs

Friday 17 October, 8pm

www.artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au

Adelaide Festival Centre

Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 October 8pm Friday 24 October 12.30pm (school show) & 8pm Saturday 25 October 2pm & 8pm www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au

Cairns Civic Theatre

Thursday 30 & Friday 31 October 7.30pm

www.cairnscivictheatre.com.au

Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton

Thursday 6 November 7.30pm

www.pilbeamtheatre.com.au

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Cultural residencies and SPIRIT
Spirit encapsulates Bangarra's most loved and iconic works of the company's repertoire, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures through contemporary dance. For these cultural residencies during the 2014 regional tour, Spirit will be performed on make shift stages for the communities.

Choreographers Stephen Page & Bernadette Walong-Sene
Cultural Advisors Kathy Balngayngu Marika, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Jensen Warusam & Isaac Waia Music David Page & Steve Francis
Costume Jennifer Irwin
Lighting Nick Schlieper, Jo Mercurio and Trudy Dalgleish

SPIRIT TOUR DATES:

Broome, WA, 17 - 21 September (Spirit performance at Cable Beach Amphitheatre on 20 September at 6:00pm ) Yirrkala, NT, 22 - 27 September ( Spirit performance at Yirrkala Oval on 26 September at 6:30pm )
Mutitjulu, Central Desert, 6 October - 10 October (Spirit performance at Yulara Amphitheatre on 10 October at 7:00pm )
Umuwa, NT, 11 - 14 October (No performance)
Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands, 7 - 12 November (Spirit Performance at ANZAC Park on 11 November at 6:30pm)

For more about Bangarra Dance Theatre, visit www.bangarra.com.au. Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bangarra. Watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/bangarradancetheatre,

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