Bangarra Dance Theatre's PATYEGARANG Heads to Arts Centre Melbourne, 8/28-9/6

Now close to selling out at the Sydney Opera House, Bangarra Dance Theatre's new show Patyegarang is on its way to Melbourne for a limited season of ten performances. Patyegarang will be presented at Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse from 28 August to 6 September 2014.

Bangarra's Artistic Director Stephen Page says, "The story of Patyegarang is one of the few positive encounters during Australia's first contact, one that should be celebrated and remembered. It is special to see how audiences are embracing this story, just like we embraced it during our rehearsals. I look forward to sharing this performance with Melbournians - an audience close to Bangarra's heart."

Patyegarang is a gift of Australian history in a remarkable dance experience about first contact, bringing to the stage the story of a young Eora woman who befriended one of the first settlers Lieutenant William Dawes, gifting him her culture and language. While this remarkable cultural exchange took place over 200 years ago it remains a timeless story about human curiosity, respect and learning.

Currently being presented in Sydney, Patyegarang will be performed in Canberra, Perth and Brisbane before arriving in Melbourne.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014, Bangarra Dance Theatre is Australia's premier national Indigenous performing arts company. Under the brilliant and inspirational artistic direction of Stephen Page, Bangarra has strived to maintain the cultural integrity and spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tradition, combining it with contemporary expressions of stories, dance and music. Bangarra creates dynamic, moving theatrical experiences and delivers these experiences to audiences across Australia and around the world.

Ticket prices: $29 - $89 plus transaction fees

Photo Credit: Jess Bialek