Dark Emu

Bangarra Dance Theatre’s latest production lives up to their reputation for creating compelling contemporary dance. The talented athletes making up the cast of 18 indigenous dancers should be applauded for their focus, passion and skill. These amazing artists under the guidance of Artistic Director Stephen Page are presenting enlightening history straight from Bruce Pascoe’s prizewinning book Dark Emu, Black Seeds: agriculture or accident? It’s wonderful to see such a unique work, telling the stories of Australia’s first people.

The narrative’s mood is perfectly set right from the start. There is a distinctive connectivity and flow between each dance and indeed each dancer. Many Australians may not know the history of indigenous agriculture that existed prior to English invasion. Bruce Pascoe’s voiceover narrates the dance and the tale of how settlers conveniently ignored Aboriginal land cultivation to exploit a loophole in the British Empire’s rules for claiming a land as terra nullius (Latin for ‘nobody’s land’).

All throughout the show, chalk dust is used to glorious effect. It’s like another dancer onstage. It creates an unforgettable atmosphere as the superb lighting by Sian James-Holland hits particles mid air. The costuming by Jennifer Irwin is really stunning, like artworks: hand woven pieces that float and flow, some like delicate paper, feathery pieces, organic, red chunky knitted skirts. All feel connected to the earth in their hue and construction. The large, imposing banksia seed that descends amid smoke and dust is one of the most impressive design moments from Jacob Nash.

Naturally the star of the show, amid all the technical and design brilliance, is the dance. It leaves you breathless in awe. These performers are powerful, beautiful and show amazing cohesion. There’s really effective layering of choreography, repetition and use of canons and patterns. Your eyes are constantly drawn across the stage, flowing with the focus of the story. The music by Steve Francis, pounding in your chest as the climactic denouement plays out is visceral.

This is important, contemporary dance cultivated from 65,000 years of culture. Dark Emu challenges Australia’s whitewashed history books in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible. It’s a moving and thought-provoking performance, capable of inspiring real change. The 2018 season has already played to enthralled crowds in Sydney, Canberra and Perth. It’s now playing in Brisbane (with almost all shows sold out at time of writing); after which it moves on to Melbourne Arts Centre (6 – 15 September).

Kiesten McCauley 

Photographer: Daniel Boud.