Memorable program as Bangarra looks back on three decades of dance

SPIRIT: A RETROSPECTIVE 2021
★★★★½
The Headland at Barangaroo, January 21

On a clear night with an energetic wind hitting the headland over Sydney Harbour at Barangaroo, Bangarra Dance Theatre returned from COVID-induced silence of nearly a year.

The cast of Bangarra Dance Theatre in Spirit - A Retrospective.Credit: Daniel Boud

Fittingly, we were outdoors to watch excerpts from three decades of the company’s repertoire, which is grounded in country and Indigenous traditions revolving around people, animals, birds and the cosmos.

The technology, of course, is 21st century and we had the rare treat of dance close-ups on giant screens at either side of a generous size stage. It was fascinating to switch your vision of the performers from long-range to intimate, with both views equally rewarding.

The dancers - an ensemble of 18 – are in top form, despite their months away from a stage. Led by the magnetic presence of Elma Kris as an ancient in two guises, they presented vivid recollections of past Bangarra works, including Ochres, Brolga and Spear.

Accompanied by the haunting music of David Page and Steve Francis and clad in the evocative costumes designed by Jennifer Irwin, the dancers conjured images of affection, aggression, discovery and despair in a world where nature and spirits prevail.

My only disappointment was the company’s lost opportunity to give their enthusiastic audience greater insights. A digital program note says: “Spirit invites audiences to connect with stories and songlines drawn from all over Australia.”

Yet the individual brought on stage to introduce the program told us nothing but the names of the three choreographers: Stephen Page, Bernadette Walong-Sene and Djakapurra Munyarryun. A few hints about the works and their content would have been illuminating for those who were newcomers and others who had been there first time around.

But the program itself was memorable.

Until Sunday