Bulnuruwanha - Taking Flight gives bird’s eye view of Dreamtime magic
Dreamtime stories of the magpie, willy wagtail, kookaburra and cockatoo and their roles in the creation of the land come to life in Bulnuruwanha - Taking Flight.
Three figures dressed in black cut across the floor as lights cast a neon glow around the dark room. Dancing to music composed by the choreographer’s sister, Amy Flannery, they move in and out, enacting Dreamtime stories of the magpie, willy wagtail, kookaburra and cockatoo and their roles in the creation of the land.
Bulnuruwanha - Taking Flight is an Indigenous dance work choreographed by First Nations dancer Emily Flannery. Composed of dance and dialogue, Bulnuruwanha is an immersive performance aimed at children aged five and above which will lead the Autumn program at the Opera House’s newly opened Centre for Creativity, beginning in May.
The three performers, Tamara Bouman, Jye Uren and Flannery’s sister and composer, Amy, embody the roles of their given bird, taking on its characteristics in a mix of sharp and synchronised movements blended with spoken word.
Flannery, a Wiradjuri woman from Forbes in central west NSW, began working on the idea in September 2019, but never thought it had the potential to come to life as a performance.
“It makes me very happy that I get to share something that is mine and also my community’s,” the 28-year-old says. “Doing the right thing by them and making sure they have input in it has been really important … I feel excited that the smaller people still have a voice as well.”
The emerging dancer and choreographer says it was important for her to maintain the integrity of traditional Indigenous practices while she was making the piece. It is customary to seek the advice of elders.
“Some things can be shared and some things shouldn’t be shared, so it’s just a way to know where that line is,” she says, adding that she sought the help of an elder from her community.
“I had one uncle from Forbes who has just been instrumental in helping us with the language and giving us permission to be able to use words and to teach the traditional names of the birds,” she says.
“I would tell him my ideas for him to say, ‘I don’t really get contemporary dance’,” she laughs. “It was good in the way that he was real about it. He did say I probably shouldn’t be teaching some of the words … but would give me the permission and reassurance to forge ahead with it.”
Bulnuruwanha is Flannery’s first production as the sole choreographer. The Bangarra dancer joined the company in 2018 after 16 years of dancing, starting at McDonald College before attending NAISDA Dance College in NSW. She has performed with Opera Australia, Phunktional Arts and Karul Projects, but she says no amount of training can prepare you for the world of choreography.
“You go through all of your training and have all of these amazing teachers who are sharing their knowledge with you and their style,” she says.
“When you get into your own space you have the opportunity to make something that’s your own, to actually be authentic and to think about what that is.”
Her original idea for Bulnuruwanha was to make a contemporary Indigenous dance work. As it evolved it became a show accessible to children. It includes workshop elements where the audience will learn parts of the choreography and listen to traditional storytelling from dancers wearing costumes inspired by rough sketches Flannery drew up herself.
“Aunty Peta Stachan made these beautiful mesh shirts and pants that create such a beautiful silhouette of the dancers while they’re moving.
“Each bird we explore has a different element added or taken away from the costume to match the species’ characteristics.”
Buoyed by the fact her first production will lead the Centre of Creativity’s next season, Flannery says she loved being involved in a project to make the Opera House accessible to new audiences.
“I’m just a girl from Forbes who had an idea, so I’m really excited that (Bulnuruwanha) is finally out there,” she says.
Bulnuruwanha – Taking Flight is at Sydney Opera House’s Centre for Creativity, 31 May - 13 Oct.
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