Australia Dancing - Dance Clan (1998

Dance Clan (1998 - )

Webster, Tim: The Munyarryun family with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 'Laka Bunkul' from the Dance Clan season, 1998

The first production called Dance Clan was a double bill presented by Bangarra Dance Theatre in association with the City of Sydney's Streets Alive program. It opened on 10 November 1998 and consisted of two works, Laka Bunkul (Evening Star) and Bipotim (Before Time).

Laka Bunkul was directed by Djakapurra Munyarryun and his sister Guypunura. They also performed in the work along with five other members of the Munyarryun family and Boniyi Garrawurra, Jasmine Gulash and Russell Page. The work took the audience on a seven part spiritual journey through family territory and experiences. Program notes said:

'Like the river, tonight we follow the passage of Dreaming from its source to the ocean. We trace the Songline under the light of the evening star.'

Laka Bunkul was danced to a backing of traditonal songs and didgeridoo and was performed outdoors on a specially prepared area of Pier 4, Walsh Bay, Sydney.

Bipotim was choreographed by Albert David using Torres Strait Islander traditions as inspiration. In five parts - 'Roots', 'Tide', 'The Calling', 'Feasting Rhythms', and 'Bipotim (the Club dance)' - the work was danced to music composed by David Page and Stephen Francis and had costume designs by Jennifer Irwin. Performers included Albert David, Victor Bramich, Lea Francis, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Elma Kris and Sidney Saltner.

Since this inaugural Dance Clan season, other productions in the Dance Clan series have continued to give Bangarra dancers the opportunity to choreograph and to work in collaboration with Indigenous artists. Dance Clan 2 was again a two part program, which was devised by Frances Rings and presented in the Bangarra studios, Sydney, in December 1999. The first part consisted of Minymaku Inma (Women's Dance and Song), choreographed by Rings to an original score by Peter Lawler, while the second part was Munikghay (Singing) and featured music from the Torres Strait Islands and songs in a contemporary mode sung by Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, Jimmy Little, Lou Bennett, and the all female group the Stiff Gins.

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