Waangenga is a descendant of the Mer Island people, and of the Pajinka Wik people, Cape York.

Waangenga is a descendant of the Mer Island (Murray Island) people and of the Pajinka Wik people, Cape York.

After studying at NAISDA Dance College, Waangenga was invited to join Bangarra in 2005. His career highlights include the company's visit to the Torres Strait Islands and performing Emeret Lu by the ocean, and also dancing on the football field in Yirrkala for the community.

He won both Australian Dance and Green Room Awards for his performance in 2014’s Patyegarang, and was nominated for both Helpmann and Greenroom Awards in 2012. Waangenga won the Helpmann Award for Best Male Dancer in a Ballet, Dance or Physical Theatre Production in 2019 for his performance in Dark Emu.

In 2015, he made his choreographic debut with I.B.I.S as part of the lore program.

Waangenga appeared in films Bran Nue Dae (2009), The Turning (2013), dive (2013), Stephen Page’s Spear (2016), and Dan Sultan’s music video Under Your Skin.

He aims to inspire through his deep love and connection to Country and culture, and draws strength from his family and his childlike curiosity to look, listen and learn from our rich tapestry of stories.