Bangarra Dance Theatre marks anniversary with monumental three-part program

As Australia's only major performing arts company with its origins in the land, Bangarra is inspired by 65,000 years of culture and the continual evolution of Indigenous storytelling.

In partnership with QPAC, the company will deliver a three-part program comprising Frances Rings' Unaipon, Jiri Kylian's Stamping Ground and Stephen Page's to make fire, all conveying the breadth and diversity of this world-class dance ensemble.

Unaipon, a monumental work, celebrates the remarkable journey of Ngarrindjeri man David Unaipon (1872-1967) from the shores of Lake Alexandrina in SA to his place on the $50 note. It is an exhilarating exploration of a man fascinated with science and the great philosophies and cultures of the world.

Rings has choreographed a rich dance portrait of the man who made the connection between aerodynamics and the flight pattern of the boomerang, and between his own cultural traditions and those of all people.

For the first time, Bangarra will also present the work of an international guest artist with acclaimed Czech choreographer Kylian's Stamping Ground.

In 1980, Kylian - who was then artistic director of Nederlands Dans Theater - attended a gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tribes on Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The experience led to the creation of one of Kylin's defining ballets, last performed by the Dutch company in 1986.

Rounding out the program, the company will perform a powerful collection of dance stories in to make fire. Curated by Page and Bangarra head of design Jacob Nash, the performance draws on stories and songlines from all over Australia.

Bangarra: 30 years of sixty five thousand, Playhouse, Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank, Brisbane. Bookings qpac.com.au or 136-246.