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Stephen Page Stephen Page i(A110202 works by)
Born: Established: 1965 Brisbane, Queensland, ;
Gender: Male
Heritage: Aboriginal ; Aboriginal Mununjali / Munaldjali ; Aboriginal Bundjalung ; Aboriginal Nunukul / Noonuccal
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BiographyHistory

'Stephen Page is a descendant of the Nunukul, Munaldjali and Yugambeh people of south-east Queensland, and one of a trinity of talented brothers David and Russell. With an international reputation as a leading artistic director and choreographer, he is a former dancer for the Sydney Dance Company, and has been the Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre since 1991. Bangarra's unique productions merge traditional and contemporary dance, oral traditions and social history, and have been acclaimed on the national and international touring circuits. His achievements include the Sidney Myer Individual Award as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Bank Festival of the Arts in 2004; the Matilda Award for Contribution to the Arts in Queensland in 2002; and two Helpmann Awards: Best Choreography for "Corroboree" in 2001, and Best New Australian Work and Best Dance Work for "Skin" in 2000.'

Source: apt5.asiapacifictriennial.com (Sighted 28/09/2007).

Most Referenced Works

Personal Awards

2022 recipient National Indigenous Arts Awards Red Ochre Award
2018 nominated Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work

For 'Bennelong'.

2017 recipient Order of Australia Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) For distinguished service to the performing arts and contemporary dance, through enriching Australia's cultural environment, and by presenting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts to the world.

Awards for Works

Bennelong 2017 single work drama Indigenous story

'Bennelong is a dance theatre production that explores the story of Woollarawarre Bennelong (Bennilong, Baneelon) (c1764-1813), a Wangul man of the Eora nation who lived in the Port Jackson area at the time of the British first settlement. Today, Bennelong is one of the most celebrated and mythologised Aboriginal individuals from the days of early settlement. His wide notoriety is remarkable - not only for the stories about his interactions and relationships with the British, but for the amount of primary source material that refers to him in notebooks and diaries of several first fleet officers, as well as Governor Arthur Phillip himself.

'Bennelong’s story has been told and re-told many times over by historians, novelists and screenwriters, and his image has been depicted by artists from early times to the present in paintings, drawings and other media. Numerous geographical locations around Australia are named in his honour. Perhaps the most well-known ‘place’ name is Bennelong Point, where the iconic Sydney Opera House stands.

'Bangarra Dance Theatre’s unique telling of Bennelong’s story is imagined through the perspective of Bennelong himself as well as other Aboriginal people of the time. The work explores his personal character, his conflicts, his relationships, his community, and his standing within that community.

'Bangarra’s production of Bennelong is not a historical recount, nor is it a literal translation of events. The work looks between the lines and layers of the narrative that has gathered around this one man, and beyond the common perceptions that have prevailed in regard to Bennelong the man and his unique place in our post-colonial history.

'We are mindful that we look back to Bennelong’s time through the filter of our contemporary consciousness - what we know now is always superimposed over what we read about First Contact times and how we imagine the reality of those times.

'We hope to ignite audiences’ imaginations and focus their thoughts on the enormous impact brought to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through European settlement.'

Source: https://bangarra-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/e-Resources/Bangarra%20Dance%20Theatre_Bennelong_STUDY_GUIDE_compressed.pdf

2019 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Regional Touring Production
2018 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Choreography in a Dance or Physical Theatre Work
2018 nominated Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Original Score
2018 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best New Australian Work
2018 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Ballet or Dance Work
y separately published work icon Our Land People Stories 2016 9249960 2016 single work drama Indigenous story

'Our land people stories is a new contemporary dance work showcasing the endless choreographic talents of the company and the infinite stories of Australia’s cultural heritage.' (Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website)

2018 winner Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Regional Touring Production
Blak 2013 single work drama Indigenous story

Blak is physical and edgy, drawn from the artists' urban perspectives, telling the stories of Indigenous Australia in powerful and moving dance theatre.(Source: Bangarra Dance Theatre website www.bangarra.com.au)

2014 shortlisted Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia Best Original Score
Last amended 26 Feb 2020 13:00:56
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