HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO THE BALLET?

Have you ever been to the ballet? I’m going to assume most of you haven’t. You might think theatre experiences are more for dancers and retirees, or cultured theatre enthusiasts. Maybe you’ve never really considered going, I can understand why but I’m hoping that after this read you might look at it a bit differently.  I grew up a dancer, and a few of us on the Wanderer team are those aforementioned enthusiasts, so these kind of shows have always been something we’re here for. Whether you’ve been to the ballet before or not though, if you’re a fan of storytelling and expression, we reckon you will love Bangarra. 

Bangarra Dance Theatre is a company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers who offer an entirely unique experience. At the core of their work there’s technique, tradition and artistry, similar to what you’d expect from a ballet. But their makeup consists more of body paint and their costumes are designed to echo the natural elements of our landscape rather than classical tutus. 

Attending a Bangarra show offers us the chance to step into the culture of our First Nations People who have cared for this land for over 65,000 years. Bangarra is finally making its return to Wollongong with their new work, The Light Inside, at the IPAC for three nights this February. They don’t come around often, so you really don’t want to miss it.

Deborah Brown, a proud descendent of the Wakaid Clan and Meriam people of the Torres Strait, has collaborated with the renowned Māori choreographer and Arts Laureate, Moss Te Ururangi Patterson, to create The Light Inside—the first cross-cultural work Bangarra have set onto the stage and into the world. The piece explores ‘a sacred realm…between sea and sky’ and dives deep into the connections shared by the first peoples of the Oceania region that stretches from the land we now call Australia all the way across to our southern neighbour, Aotearoa. Seeing not only the choreographic and directorial skill of these two talented creators come together, but to witness the intersection of their cultures too, will be a super special experience.

Bangarra pieces are immersive, striking and dynamic, with lighting and audio visual effects intertwined with their choreography which is stylistically unique to the company. Not only are their performances bringing us narrative entertainment, but they are a vital platform for the stories of this land and its rich cultural heritage—stories that have too often been overlooked. The Indigenous people of this land embody a storytelling culture, and to bear witness to the talent of the members of Bangarra will be something to remember.

So, thinking back to our opening question—maybe you haven’t ever been to the ballet. I hope we might have swayed you to think about it though, and that you might head into the IPAC this February to catch Bangarra in action. We haven’t mentioned a lot of dance events on here before but we feel honoured to share this one with you all.