Warning: This report includes the name, voice and creative legacy of a person who has passed.
Australia's leading Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, has announced it will present Sheltering; a program of three powerful works - Keeping Grounded, Brown Boys, and Sheoak - in 2026.
Honouring Bangarra's past while looking to the future, Sheltering will tour nationally from May to July 2026.
An intergenerational thread connects the bold triple bill, drawing deeply from First Nations perspectives, and offering a profound journey into the intricate bonds between people and place.
Rooted in Indigenous knowledge, the concept of shelter is reimagined as a sacred, transformative space: a haven of protection, connection, and the sharing of stories across generations.
Keeping Grounded, choreographed by Indjalandji-Dhidhanu and Alyewarre woman Glory Tuohy-Daniell, is a poignant exploration on our energetic connection to the earth and ancestral land.
Born out of Dance Clan 2023 and reimagined for a new stage, this piece explores the challenges of staying culturally and physically grounded in a world increasingly shaped by technological advancement.
Brown Boys is a groundbreaking film directed by Daniel Mateo and Cass Mortimer Eipper. Visually poetic and deeply personal, it delves into the experiences of young Indigenous men, exploring identity, belonging, and cultural connection.
Inspired by Mateo's own poetry, the film intimately portrays his journey as a Gamilaroi and Tongan man-blending dance, narrative, and cinematic artistry. This work was first presented in Dance Clan 2024.
Sheoak, choreographed by Mirning woman and Bangarra Dance Theatre artistic director and co-CEO, Frances Rings, with music by Munaldjali and Nunukul man and renowned composer David Page, is a deeply affecting work exploring themes of resilience, connection to country, and cultural identity.
The work, which premiered in 2015 as part of the double bill Lore under Munaldjali and Nunukul man Stephen Page's artistic direction, draws inspiration from the sheoak tree-a powerful symbol in Indigenous Australian culture known for its strength, adaptability, and deep meaning.
Together, these three works engage with vital First Nations social and cultural issues, reminding us of the spirit at the heart of Indigenous worldviews and the enduring connections between people, land, and spirit.
Co-chief executive officer and artistic director of Bangarra, Frances Rings, said Sheltering draws deeply from First Nations perspectives.
"Sheltering draws deeply from First Nations perspectives, exploring the intricate bonds between people and place through the symbolic sheltering branches of a tree," she said.
"Intergenerational storytelling is an important part of my artistic vision for Bangarra. In Sheltering, we see the different perspectives and styles of how Bangarra choreographers from past and present create work. Each is unique and reflects not only different eras of Bangarra's 36-year legacy, but new forms, technologies, innovations, and new media that offers wider platforms for storytelling and expression.
"In commissioning fresh voices, Bangarra cultivates continuity between tradition and innovation, memory and emergence".
The work also honours the late David Page, whose music remains a living heartbeat within Bangarra's story. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this content includes the name, voice and creative legacy of a person who has passed. Bangarra share this work with deep respect and love for David, his family, and community.
Tickets are on sale to the general public from 17th November 2025, with exclusive presale access for Community and Bangarra subscribers. For more information, to join the waitlist, and purchase tickets, visit bangarra.com.au.
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