FuturesPast | Bangarra Dance Theatre
A NOTE FROM BREC’S CREATIVE LEARNING COORDINATOR
Experience the extraordinary artistry of Australia’s Bangarra Dance Theatre in FuturesPast, a powerful celebration of First Nations culture, history and storytelling through dance. This retrospective brings together excerpts from some of Bangarra’s most celebrated works. Presented in three acts – Old World, People and Country – the performance explores the enduring connection to Country, the impacts of colonisation and the resilience and continuity of First Nations cultures.
Through the beauty and power of dance, students can engage with complex histories and cultural perspectives in a way that is immediate, moving and deeply human, bringing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures curriculum priority vividly to life.
DANCE | FIRST NATIONS
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 7+
PATRON ADVICE Please note that this production contains elevated sound levels, strobe lights, haze, smoke effects and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people who have passed.
CURRICULUM LINKS
Learning Areas: The Arts – Dance (Making and Responding); Humanities and Social Sciences – History; English.
Cross-Curriculum Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
General Capabilities: Intercultural Understanding; Critical and Creative Thinking; Personal and Social Capability.
The past walks beside us, following our footsteps. It carries the truth that shapes the path ahead — a future built on resilience and held together by our connections.
For over 65,000 years, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia have maintained an unceded connection to Country, deeply rooted in trade, kinship, lore, ceremony, languages, and customs. Interrupted by British rule, disease, and the settlement of traditional lands, colonisation threatened to extinguish the very existence of First Nations cultural life.
Drawing from Mirning woman and Bangarra’s Artistic Director and Co-CEO, Frances Rings, FuturesPast features choreography that draws from Bangarra’s 37 years of creative and cultural songlines. Blending dynamic lighting and costume design, FuturesPast carries you from the dawn of time, through a cycle of belonging that transcends generations. This is a showcase of Australia’s finest contemporary dance, rich cultural history, and is a transformative experience for all.
The work structured in three acts — Old World, People, & Country — journeys through the significant impacts that have challenged First Nations people, honouring the spirit of resilience that has shaped their survival.
About Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre is a company of professional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performers. One of Australia’s leading performing arts companies, Bangarra shares its culture with communities and audiences across Australia and the world.
Drawing on 65,000 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture, Bangarra creates powerful works of contemporary dance theatre, integrating music, poetry and design. Each Bangarra dancer, is a professionally trained, dynamic artist with a proud Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background. Ignited by an obligation to Country and Community, Bangarra nurtures the transmission of First Peoples’ Story, knowledges, history and experiences to effect change and create lasting impact.
Bangarra was founded in 1989 by Uncle Rob Bryant, Cheryl Stone and Carole Y. Johnson, born from the energy of NAISDA, the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association. Between 1991 – 2022, Bangarra was led by Artistic Director Stephen Page. A creative icon, Stephen’s vision and tenacity have made Bangarra one of the most successful First Nations performing arts companies in the world. Long-standing Bangarra company member and award-winning choreographer, Frances Rings, became Artistic Director and co-CEO of Bangarra in 2023, leading the company with Executive Director and co-CEO Louise Ingram. Today, Frances and Louise lead the company in Bangarra’s mission to promote awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Bangarra tours major performances across Australia from capital cities to regional towns, delivers its Rekindling youth program to nurture the next generation of storytellers, offers career and development pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and regularly tours internationally.
This performance is proudly supported by ALCOA, major sponsor of our First Nations Focus Program
This project has been assisted by CircuitWest and the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
BREC’s Creative Learning program is proudly supported by donors to our 2026 Annual Giving Campaign.
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS
Bring your students to BREC for the best excursion you’ll have this year.
Book your school group now via the form below or contact the our team for more information.
Contact the BREC Education Office
T: 1300 661 272
E: education@bunburyentertainment.com
* Please note that BREC’s Creative Learning Program is subject to change.