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Bangarra Tells 'True Stories'

A Review by Deborah Searle

Bangara Dance Theatre's True Stories was a double bill inspired by two diverse indigenous cultures and created by two unique indigenous choreographers.

Emeret Lu, indigenous for 'Very Old Things' was the choreographic work of Elma Kris. Elma Kris was raised on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait and used Emeret Lu to portray her people's love of the land, the sea and each other. A work strong in imagery and with simple themes, it was easy to understand and enjoyable to watch. Guest Artist Smilar Sinak started the performance, alone on a lit stage. Then dances presenting the hunt, harvest, gathering, rain, wind, desire and pleasure filled the stage throughout the program.

A dance titled 'Hunters' which featured the full ensemble of dancers was interesting and theatrically strong as the dancers used 'catcher' props. The choreography and energetic dancing built a powerful atmosphere. It made me feel as though I was actually in the Australian Outback, at an Indigenous dwelling, watching from behind a large rock or tree, being given a special and intimate peak into the culture and life of our land's people. Following this dance was my personal favourite, 'Harvesting', performed by the female dancers of the company. It was a soft lyrical piece and a great contrast to the bold, dynamic movements of the previous dance. The music was engaging and the dancers moved to meld themselves with the music and the theme, with a flowing, and inspiring dance.

Emeret Lu featured a pas de deux by talented dancers Jasmin Sheppard and Waangenga Blanco, suitably titled 'Trance'. Jasmin danced as if she was in a trance, bound by Waangenga, as he used a blue cloth to wrap around her body and make interesting pictures. It wasn't the usual loving pas de deux that we are so accustomed to, it was more animal like and instinctual, but it was powerful, clever and still intimate.

A sit down dance - 'Keriba Kolap Segur' featuring the full ensemble, was fun and lighthearted, as the dancers gathered to sing, slap their knees and play with a spinning top. This portrayed the fun side to the Torres Strait Islander people, as well as their strong sense of community and love for each other.

Emeret Lu, although simple in theme and idea, really was interesting and entertaining for a varied audience. I must have been enjoying it, as I was disappointed when it seemed to end quickly.

X300 on the other hand was confronting, depressing and heavy. Choreographed by renowned and very talented choreographer Frances Rings, X300 was based on the 1950's Atomic experiments conducted on Maralinga Tjarutja traditional lands.

Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco peform in X300

The work made clear to the audience that the so called 'safe' explosions were actually devastating. They caused contamination to desert assumed vacant and poisoned the people. The work asked two very important questions. What are we doing to our land? And most importantly, what are we doing to our people?

The first piece 'Waterhole' was a work of outstanding choreography. My eyes were fixed on the dancers as they lay squashed together on top of each other, with their feet to the audience, moving mostly only their lower legs and feet for several minutes. A piece then began titled '50's' which was fun and carefree, set in a dance scene with 50's costumes and party dancing. This dance showed how naive and carefree the people where, with little understanding of what their decisions/government decisions were doing to the Indigenous people.

'Guinea Pig' was a scary and harsh choreographic work, stared by Sidney Slatner. It turned Sidney into a freaky science experiment as he portrayed the atomic tests on the land with his body. The movement was thought provoking and powerful, and the green lights made one feel sick just watching it. A voice over, playing radio broadcasts from the time repeated: 'The atomic explosions will be conducted out at Maralinga where the winds will blow the radiation out into central Australia where NO ONE LIVES!' This was powerful and hard hitting, as I began to realize just what these so called 'harmless tests' actually did to the Indigenous people of central Australia.

The radio broadcast was followed by an engaging pas de deux by outstanding dancers Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco who danced and weaved amongst the radiation portrayed by beams of green light. This piece was the stand out dance of True Stories as the choreography was so beautiful, yet intense and heartbreaking at the same time.

Many dances followed this, which were performed well and technically strong, but I found my heart left the stage when Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco did, as their pas de deux was so astounding. I think the work could have very successfully ended then and the message would have 'hit home'. However, a large group piece finished the work, after three other dances, which included interesting partner work and did ultimately end X300 on a high note.

Altogether True Stories was a performance of contrasts and conviction that I really enjoyed and respected.

To watch some video footage of True Stories Click here

Banagara will peform their next work Clan regionally throughout October to December:

Clan Tour Dates:
Mt Gambier 5 Oct - 6 Oct
Launceston 10 Oct - 13 Oct
Shepparton 17 Oct - 19 Oct
Dandenong 22 Oct - 23 Oct
Sale 25 Oct - 26 Oct
Warragul 29 Oct - 30 Oct
Albury 1 Nov - 3 Nov
Wagga Wagga 6 Nov - 7 Nov
Orange 9 Nov - 10 Nov

To read about Clan Click Here

Visit www.bangarra.com.au

Print Version
Banner Photo: Coppélia by The Australian Ballet School, Dec 7th and 8th, Sidney Myer Musical Bowl. Photo: Jim McFarlane