I.B.I.S (lore)

I.B.I.S Image Gallery | Return to Country

  • Torres Strait Islands, Thursday Island, Murray Island
  • Choreography, Stories, Highlights, Performance, Behind the Scenes

In 2017, Bangarra travelled to Thursday Island and Murray Island in the Torres Strait, to return the work I.B.I.S to Country. As well as performing I.B.I.S, the Artists spent time with the people of these communities whose stories and generosity inspired the work.

View some special moments from the Return to Country tour, including the company leading dance workshops, and rehearsing and performing on an outdoor stage for the community.

The Bangarra Ensemble rehearsing for the I.B.I.S. Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Waangenga Blanco and Deborah Brown directing rehearsals for the I.B.I.S. Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Waangenga Blanco rehearsing for the I.B.I.S. Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Leonard Mickelo and Yolanda Lowatta rehearsing for the I.B.I.S. Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Jasmin Sheppard and Kaine Sultan-Babij rehearsing for the I.B.I.S. Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Jasmin Sheppard leading a Bangarra workshop - Waybeni, Buway, Ngurpay and Mudh students, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Tyrel Dulvarie leading a Bangarra workshop - Waybeni, Buway, Ngurpay and Mudh students, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Beau Dean Riley Smith leading a Bangarra workshop - Waybeni, Buway, Ngurpay and Mudh students, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Cultural Consultant Aunty Betty Tekahika teaching a weaving technique to Tara Robertson, I.B.I.S Return to Country, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Cultural Consultant Aunty Betty Tekahika teaching a weaving technique to the Bangarra company members, I.B.I.S Return to Country, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Spacing I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Composer and Sound Designer Steve Frances working with Matthew Schubach to get the sound set up perfectly for the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Stephen Page, Anton, Deborah Brown and Waangenga Blanco directing spacing of I.B.I.S under the shade of the trees, prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Spacing I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Spacing 'Gathering' from I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Waangenga Blanco spacing 'Ni Ngoe Dhe Goiga (You are My Sunshine)' from I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
The Bangarra Female Ensemble spacing 'Baskets' from I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Yolanda Lowatta and the Male Ensemble spacing 'Turtle Egg' from I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Yolanda Lowatta and the Male Ensemble spacing 'Turtle Egg' from I.B.I.S. on stage prior to the Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Tara Robertson, Yolanda Lowatta and Tara Gower performing 'Gathering' during the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Yolanda Lowatta and the Male Ensemble performing 'Turtle Egg' during the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Yolanda Lowatta and the Male Ensemble performing 'Turtle Egg' during the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Tara Robertson and Luke Currie Richardson performing 'Crayfish' from I.B.I.S Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Tara Robertson and Luke Currie Richardson performing 'Crayfish' from I.B.I.S Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Tara Robertson and Luke Currie Richardson performing 'Crayfish' from I.B.I.S Return to Country performance, Thursday Island, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Elma Kris performing 'Company Rice' at the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
The Bangarra Ensemble performing 'Company Rice' at the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Elma Kris performing 'Ooura (Kir Kir Keber Dance)' at the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
Waangenga Blanco and Deborah Brown performing 'Ooura (Kir Kir Keber Dance)' at the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
The Bangarra Ensemble performing 'Ooura (Kir Kir Keber Dance)' at the Return to Country performance of I.B.I.S, Photography Tiffany Parker, 2017
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Cultural exchanges are at the heart of Bangarra's practice. Not only do they connect us with the communities who inspire our repertoire, they provide a much-needed spiritual rejuvenation for our dancers and creatives. It’s an opportunity for our Bangarra clan to learn from and share with our communities and Elders on Country and to give back by providing workshops and bringing our performances back to the land and people who inspired them.

Exchange activities included dance workshops with more than 150 young people on Thursday Island, and a cultural day with I.B.I.S Consultant and Thursday Island local Elder Aunty Betty Tekahika at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre. Four Bangarra Dancers also travelled to Murray Island (Mer Island) to hold workshops with the school and connect with the community.

Dancers Elma Kris and Nicola Sabatino also used the exchange to research their 2017 work Whistler, which was performed as part of the ONES COUNTRY – the spine of our stories season at Carriageworks in Sydney, 2017.

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