Kinship

Indigenous arts troupe, Bangarra, celebrates its 25th anniversary with this special double feature, which presents two of the company’s most enduringly popular dance theatre pieces.

The first half, “Brolga”, is set in North East Arnhem Land and delves deep into the totemic mythology of the region, telling the story of a young girl who becomes separated from her tribe and explores a Brolga feeding ground. On the course of her journey she comes to a deeper understanding of humanity’s connection with nature.

The second half, “ID”, is a series of vignettes that explore, what it means to be an Aboriginal in the 21^st century…there are stylized tableaux that represent the lives of high school students and prison inmates, as well as more abstract pieces that represent the encroaching industrialisation of the modern world in a more general sense.

The haunting score by David Page & Steve Francis seamlessly weaves modern techno and trance elements with traditional instruments, to form a rich tapestry of sound, just as Stephen Page’s choreography inventively blends contemporary and traditional indigenous dance techniques. Joe Mercurio & Matt Cox’s eerie lighting design co-ordinates nicely with the striking colour schemes of Jennifer Irwin & Emma Howell’s costumes to create an absorbing otherworldly atmosphere. None of the 14 strong dance ensemble put a foot wrong. There are no standouts, all bring breathtaking athletic finesse and intensely passionate charisma to their performances.

For dance aficionados, Kinship is a must see event.

Benjamin Orchard.