Bangarra Dance Theatre has been recognised with the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Dance by the Biennale Danza 2026, the dance division of La Biennale di Venezia, becoming the first Australians to receive the esteemed award since its inception.

The Golden Lion, announced Friday, acknowledges a lifetime body of work and artists who have transformed, evolved and brought new urgency to the language of dance, infusing it with the vital force of their cultures.

Historically awarded to individual choreographers and dancers, Bangarra will become the first company to receive this prestigious honour.

The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement will be awarded alongside the Silver Lion, for young/emerging artist during the 20thInternational Festival of Contemporary Dance.

The festival will take place in Venice from the 17 July - 1 August this year, where Bangarra will also present the European premiere of Frances Rings' seminal work, Terrain.

Both awards have been approved by the Board of Directors of La Biennale di Venezia at the recommendation of artistic director of the Dance Department of the La Biennale di Venezia, Sir Wayne McGregor, CBE.

"Since the start of my directorship, I have aimed to profile and advocate for the outstanding artists and companies whose influence and impact extend beyond their remarkable work alone," said Mr McGregor.

"Highlighting and honouring the artists selected for this year's Golden and Silver Lions exemplifies this ambition - not least because they are individuals and collectives who have caused a seismic shift in our understanding of dance and the cultural context in which it is performed.

"Their integrity, passion, commitment and power have often driven radical change, frequently overcoming great challenge and resistance".

On learning about this prestigious award, Mirning woman Frances Rings, artistic director and co-chief executive officer of Bangarra Dance Theatre, also expressed her excitement.

"I am truly honoured to receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement in Dance on behalf of Bangarra Dance Theatre," she said.

"This prestigious award also recognises all those who have come before me at Bangarra; our dancers, Uncle Rob Bryant, Cheryl Stone and Carole Y.

"Johnson who founded the company, our premiere First Nations training institution NAISDA - the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association, and Stephen Page who led Bangarra for thirty years, working alongside his brothers Russell and David Page".

Bangarra's previous artistic director (1991 to 2022), Munaldjali and Nunukul man Stephen Page, said Bangarra is deeply humbled and profoundly grateful for this recognition.

"We are deeply humbled and profoundly grateful for this recognition of our distinctive Dance Theatre language, both contemporary and traditional, that has survived in the mainstream nationally and globally for almost 35 years. First Peoples' Artistic kinship system is at the core of our knowledge systems, and we are honoured to be the caretakers of our dance legacy and our continual creative dance future."

Minister for the arts, Tony Burke also commented on the significance of the award.

"For the arts, no award is greater and for Australian dance there is no greater company than Bangarra. This isn't simply Bangarra appearing on the world stage, this is them owning it," he said.

"This Award is a powerful moment for Australian culture on the world stage, celebrating Bangarra's artistic excellence and the unique strength of the company's storytelling, grounded in the world's oldest continuing culture," said Bangarra Patron, Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

"I am so proud of this acknowledgement of Bangarra's extraordinary contribution to global cultural representation, it is an important reminder of the deep creativity and leadership of First Nations artists who share that with audiences everywhere."

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.

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