Awakenings

Part of the 2008 Next Wave Festival

Oct 21, 23—25 at 7:30pm

Bangarra Dance Theatre
Choreography by Stephen Page

"They make it look so effortless, so beautiful. Gripping and lifting each other with a seemingly feather-light touch, the men and women of Bangarra Dance Theatre flow and whip around, above and below each other."—The Age (Australia)

Bridging mythic narratives and modern forms, Australia's Bangarra Dance Theatre has forged an international reputation for their inimitable and imaginative dances, drawing from the rites and spirituality of Aboriginal culture to tell stories for the new century. Following the success of Bush (2004 Next Wave Festival) and Corroboree (2001 Next Wave Festival), Bangarra returns to BAM with the extraordinary, two-part Awakenings (Boomerang and Brolga).

With Boomerang, Bangarra returns to the mesmerizing rituals of Aboriginal heritage, remembering through movement and song the age-old wisdom of elders and their spiritual connections to the earth. In Brolga, the dancers recount a young girl's initiation into womanhood, revisiting her vivid transformation at a sacred site where the river meets the sea. Foreign yet familiar and always deeply affecting, Awakenings offers an arresting vision of the world seen through the eyes of a vital indigenous culture.

BAM Harvey Theater
Running time: 100min with intermission
Tickets: $20, 35, 45


Composed by David Page and Steve Francis
Set Design by Peter England
Lighting Design by Nick Schlieper and Joseph Mercurio
Costume Design by Gabriela Tylesova and Jennifer Irwin

Bangarra Dance Theatre Site
Watch videos, read history, and learn more about Awakenings at the web home of Bangarra. More

Biography of Stephen Page
Read more about the Brisbane naitive and Bangarra choreographer. More

Interview with Stephen Page
The Awakenings choreographer talks about maintaining his culture and choreographing the Olympics. More

Dreamtime Stories: Brolga
One of the Awakenings dances references this traditional Aboriginal story about a girl's initiation into womanhood. More

Dreamtime on Wikipedia
Awakenings takes much of its inspiration from this aboriginal concept of a "time before time." More

The New York Times Review of Bush
The "potent and affecting" work marked Bangarra's most recent appearance at BAM during the 2004 Next Wave Festival. More

The New York Times on Australian Art
How art is helping to transform Australia "into a major player in the new world dynamic." More