gerald jenkins 04/11/2004 gerald jenkins 04/11/2004

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Djakapurra Munyarryun ‘Black Vine’ performance Sydney Town Hall 1995

In 1995 Bangarra Dance Theatre were given a grant to produce a book about their fledgling history and origins but most importantly it was to be about the future where the objectives were to break down the mainstream conditioning of the perceptions of Indigenous Australian cultures by producing a juggarnaut of contemporary and traditional dance - art - music performances that served to irreversibly destroy ignorance.

Francis Rings, Gina Rings, Bernadette Walong and Marilyn Millar - Leichardt 1995

Gina Rings - for the production ‘Ochres’ 1995

Bernadette Walong - for the production ‘Ochres’ 1995

Albert David - rehearsals ‘Black Vine’ Sydney Town Hall 1995

Not long into production of the book the funding grant was removed via government bureaucracies-undeterred we continued to produce work together for the next five years.

Bernadette Walong, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Albert David and Russell Page - La Perouse 1995

Russell Page and Francis Rings ‘Fish’ session 1997

Russell Page and Francis Rings - ‘The Dreaming’ Grove Farm 1997

Francis Rings ‘Movement Study’ Grove Farm 1997

Janet Munyarryun ‘Movement Study’ Dance Clan III 1999

Elma Kris and Russell Page ‘Skin’ session 1999

Djakapurra Munyarryun ‘Skin’ rehearsals Enmore Theatre 1999

Archie Roach ‘Skin’ Sydney Opera House 2000

‘May Numbakul’ Reach to the stomach of the sky - the earth is the stomach of the sky.

For Western Man, the destruction of wilderness and the extension of fixed or structured space is the foundation of our time measured civilisation and personal identity. Both wilderness and the unconscious threaten the bases of our sense of self and … — For Western Man, the destruction of wilderness and the extension of fixed or structured space is the foundation of our time measured civilisation and personal identity. Both wilderness and the unconscious threaten the bases of our sense of self and our culture. For Indigenous cultures, the loss of wilderness is not only the loss of identity, but also the loss of contact with the eternal truth and meaning of existence.

gerald jenkins 05/10/2004 gerald jenkins 05/10/2004

A Journey Without End

In mid October 1995 I was invited to attend the ‘Strength Through Unity Reconciliation Festival’ in Brewarrina - a ten thousand year old gathering place on the bend of N.S.W.’s Barwon river.

George Burarrwanga of the Warumpi Band and friend

You could feel the oppression of Brewarrina and the peoples living there. An unrelentless devastation.

Ruby Hunter with her husband Archie Roach

Social changes are desperately needed in Australia and the Indigenous peoples deserve more freedom. To this day I can still recall the emotions I experienced being in this place..a place where your every move is observed and challenged.