The Australian Ballet: Flora
at the Regent Theatre, Melbourne
The Australian Ballet x Bangarra Dance Theatre
With Orchestra Victoria
Beneath the cracked clay, a seed unfurls. Leaf. Bloom. Life. Promise. Crossing time and space.
The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre present Flora, an exciting and bold new dance collaboration.
Flora marks the fourth time the companies have joined forces, and in this first full-length collaboration, Bangarra’s signature storytelling style takes you on a journey through the evolution of Australian flora. An unmissable new work, Flora traces the profound influence of major historic and environmental events on both the landscape and its people.
From the sleeping yams beneath the earth, to the gums that breathe our air and stand proud over generations, flora is living witness to Australia’s unfolding history.
When the ships brought animals that trample and weeds that choke, flora endured. Through fire, flora renews and regenerates. The resilience of flora parallels the resilience of Australia’s First Peoples.
With distinctive choreography from Mirning woman Frances Rings, Bangarra’s Artistic Director and Co-CEO, an original score composed by Kalkadungu man and internationally renowned composer William Barton, dynamic costumes from Meriam Samsep woman Grace Lillian Lee, set design by Elizabeth Gadsby, lighting design by Karen Norris and Cultural Consultancy from Matthew Doyle, a descendant of the Muruwari Aboriginal nation.
Their most significant collaboration to date, with an ensemble of over 35 dancers drawn from both companies, Flora is a new chapter in Australian performance.
“There is no dance without music, no dance without rhythm or a pulse, and to be at the (heart) of bringing those elements together is a huge honour,” William Barton, The Australian Culture
“What’s being created is something Australia will be very proud of, and something people can relate to.” Grace Lillian Lee, The Australian Culture
“The meaningfulness of this collab is that we are two very different voices coming together. Above all this is a piece of art that has been created by the companies, in their own cities, and it all comes from the seed of an idea created long ago. Everything from the design, the production, the costumes, the music is made here. Nothing is shipped in from overseas, every element is Australian. And there is a power in that. Like the flora itself.” David Hallberg, Spectrum
"I chose flora as a subject because it does connect back to my past and to growing up on country and in those regional and remote areas. But also, for all of us here who share this country, there's such a uniqueness to our flora, the power and beauty of it. I thought it was something that we can all connect with and appreciate. It's about beauty." Frances Rings, Spectrum