Dance Stories of Land and Sea. Bangarra Dance Theatre. The Canberra Theatre Centre. 11 Jul 2015

 

If the only exposure you had to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was the mainstream media, you would be forgiven for thinking that they are one big amorphous mass; completely indistinguishable from each other. Of course, there is nothing further from the truth, with great variations in their cultures as you move across the country.

 

Bangarra Dance Theatre’s (featuring Elma Kris, Yolande Brown, Tara Gower, Leonard Mickelo, Jasmin Sheppard, Tara Robertson, Kaine Sultan-Babij, Luke Currie-Richardson, Nicola Sabatino, Beau Dean Riley-Smith, Rikki Mason, Yolanda Lowatta, Rika Hamaguchi and Kyle Shilling) latest offering, Lore, is a case in point – it is not often you see a production where the content features commonalties but is also worlds apart.

 

The first half (choreographed by Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco), entitled I.B.I.S. (the acronym for the Island Board of Industry and Services) is a bright and exuberant sequence of dance pieces set around a local supermarket in the Torres Strait Islands. The second, Sheoak, has a less specific Indigenous context and is based on metaphor and abstract concepts rather than the celebration of the everyday.

 

Not being naturally drawn to abstract contemporary dance, and given that it is cold and grey outside, I find myself much more engaged with the colour, movement and overall sunniness of I.B.I.S. Highly infused with an islander vibe, each creation takes an ordinary aspect of life in the Torres Strait and completely immerses itself in it - giving it a really sweet and quirky spin.

 

From hunting adventures on the seas and stirring traditional group dances, to a languid gathering at the store freezer to cool off from the heat and tender moments of intimacy among lovers, I.B.I.S is entirely transporting (the part where the turtles appear out from under a row boat is particularly enchanting). I especially love the emphasis on respect and care for Elders and the importance of keeping culture alive by sharing and practicing it with community.

 

Equally as glorious as the dancers themselves are their delightful costumes (by Jennifer Irwin) which audiences have come to expect from Bangarra; the women with hibiscus flowers perched in their hair and dressed in vibrant floral frocks, and the men free and easy in their breezy cut off shorts. The wonderfully creative set design by Jacob Nash is also outstanding, transitioning so seamlessly you don’t even notice until it’s right there in front of you.

 

Sheoak (choreographed by Frances Rings), meanwhile is a much more serious exploration of the threats and connection to broader Indigenous culture, utilising the endangered sheoak as a symbol of the potential loss of languages, customs and lore.

 

While the dance styles of both I.B.I.S. and Sheoak are instilled with Bangarra’s trademark fluidity, Sheoak is much more so in this case. Each piece flows subtly into the next, with some majestic group formations and beautifully intricate duets along the way. Dance veteran Elma Kris also features as soloist in both acts, leading the production with her unique and grounded form.

 

This is where the Bangarra dancers showcase the more technical side of their talents – however, what I enjoy about this company’s style is that it is not crisp, severe and in North Korean-style synchronicity, but rather, movement that comes together in an organic, unforced kind of way.

 

The costumes for Sheoak, complemented by the sombre lighting (By Karen Norris) are intensely rich and sumptuous, and the set is a minimalistic brand of genius that serves a second purpose as props for the dancers – it’s really quite inspiring how a little can go such a long way. David Page also brings his immense talent to the production with his compositions in Sheoak an electrifying fusion of avant-garde industrial beats with subtle traditional sounds.

 

Lore is a stunningly crafted and polarised set of works that gives you two very different experiences and perspectives in the one sitting. Even if you’re not that into abstract contemporary dance, there is always an abundance of aesthetics and sounds to absorb. There is no doubt though that Lore will leave people with a deeper appreciation of the rich variety in Indigenous cultures that exist today and just how much Australia as a whole has to lose if they were to disappear.

 

Deborah Hawke

 

When: 9 to 11 Jul

Where: Canberra Theatre Centre

Bookings: Closed