Bangarra dance clan crucial for new choreographers

In 1999, the young dancer Frances Rings took her first tentative steps into the world of choreography, creating her first work. Minimaku Inma it will be performed by her fellow dancers from Bangarra Dance Theater and eight women from APY Lands in South Australia. Her work debuted as part of the experimental choreographic program Dance Clan. This marked a turning point for Rings, the start of a long and successful career as an independent choreographer.

Today, as Artistic Director of Bangarra, she is keenly aware of the important opportunity Dance Clan provided, giving her the confidence, professional mentorship and support to move into choreography.

“It changed everything for me,” Rings says. Leaflet. “I was really obsessed with the female form, the way we move and describe ourselves through mannerisms, especially Indigenous women, a very subtle but powerful way of moving. (Dance Clan) gave me the opportunity to work with the women of Bangarra to hone that, making it my signature. That was the moment I made the conscious choice to pursue choreography as my next career move.”

Founded in 1998 by Bangarra’s then Artistic Director Steven Page, Dance Clan is an annual season of new dance work that gives aspiring Indigenous choreographers the opportunity to test their choreographic skills against world-class dancers. Performing at Bangarra’s headquarters in Walsh Bay, Dance Clan has provided opportunities for countless dancers-turned-choreographers.

Bangarra graduates with successful choreographic careers include Deborah Brown, who collaborated with renowned Maori choreographer Moss Te Ururangi Patterson in Light inside; Tara Gower, who will present new work with Western Australian Ballet in 2025; Jasmine Sheppard, who is mentoring Dance Clan dancer and choreographer Lillian Banks this year; and Sani Townson, whose production in 2023 Kulka was re-imagined for Bangarra’s main stage this year.

After a long hiatus caused by the company’s move to Barangaroo and further delays due to Covid, Rings brought Dance Clan back last year, determined to revive this unique opportunity for emerging Indigenous choreographers and creatives.

“You know it’s becoming a drought because when people don’t get those opportunities or don’t see new choreographers, it impacts programming and the diversity of creative people.”

Bangarra has long had opportunities to develop other creatives. The Russell Page Graduate Scholarship supports aspiring dancers, and the David Page Music Scholarship provides mentorship for Indigenous composers, supported by Bangarra-based composer-producer Steve Francis and David Page’s former fellow Brendon Boney.

This year Dance Clan presents two new works and a short dance film. Lilian Banks joined Bangarra in 2018 as part of the Russell Page program and created Yawuru Bururecognizing the importance of her connection to her home in Broome, Western Australia, by using her mother’s fabrics in the costumes.

“Lillian is a proud and quiet Yawaru woman – she admits it – and we know how strong she is on stage, but holding the room and being able to convey to the dancers what your vision for the work is is difficult. You talk to your peers,” Rings says. “We feel like it’s growing right before our eyes.”

Callum Goolagong, a proud Wiradjuri and Darkinjung man who joined Bangarra in 2019 on a Masters programme, presents Metamorphosisa personal story of his own growth as a young man. “It’s about facing all those demons that you have that are stopping you from taking the next step in your life, finding your path, accepting it and trusting it,” Rings says.

Gamilaroi Tongan Daniel Mateo, who joined Bangarra in 2021 on a master’s programme, combines his dance career with a part-time beatboxing job. He choreographed and stars in Brown boysco-directed by Sydney Dance alumna Cass Mortimer Eipper. “A great dance film that brings to life the words on paper, his personal truth,” says Rings.

David Page’s former teammate Leon Rogers scored Brown boysand Amelia Thompson and James Howard (also former colleagues) wrote the scores. Architect Annalize McCarthy and fashion designer Lillardia Briggs-Houston create sets and costumes under the direction of designer Elizabeth Gadsby.

“We see a shift in them, a maturity,” Rings says. “Dance Clan is challenging them, but we are ready to catch them. It can be scary, but we hope they embrace it. They trust us, they trust their team, and it really pays off. You’re investing in the next generation, but they do it their own way, using their own style, their own language, their own creativity.”

Dance Clan runs from November 29 to December 14 at The Studio Theater in Bangarra, Walsh Bay.

Bangarra.com.au