Frances Rings
Encyclopedia
Frances Rings is an Indigenous Australian
dancer, choreographer and television presenter. She was born in Adelaide
, South Australia
and is a descendant of the Kokatha people. She is a member of the Dance Board of the Australia Council
, where she is now a choreographer.
Frances joined Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1993, performing in Stephen Page
's Praying Mantis Dreaming, Ninni and Ochres. In 1995 she took up an Australia Council grant to study in New York
at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
.
Career highlights include performing in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, at New York’s
Brooklyn Academy of Music
as part of the Next Wave Down Under Festival, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. In 2002 Frances made her mainstage choreographic debut for Bangarra with Rations, the first half of the acclaimed production of Walkabout.
drama The Widower (2004) and presenting television shows SBS TV’s
ICAM
(Indigenous Current Affairs Magazine) and ABC TV's Sunday Arts
program. She presented live-to-air coverage of the Corroboree Walk 2000 across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
for SBS.
and an Ausdance Outstanding Achievement Award for Choreography.
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
dancer, choreographer and television presenter. She was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
and is a descendant of the Kokatha people. She is a member of the Dance Board of the Australia Council
Australia Council
The Australia Council, informally known as the Australia Council for the Arts, is the official arts council or arts funding body of the Government of Australia.-Function:...
Dance
Rings took a dance elective at high school, later enrolling at National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association Dance College and while studying, toured with the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre and performed with Bangarra Dance TheatreBangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Indigenous Australian contemporary dance company founded in 1989 by Carole Johnson, an African-American and founding director of National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association . Bangarra is the Wiradjuri word meaning "to make fire".Stephen Page has been the...
, where she is now a choreographer.
Frances joined Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1993, performing in Stephen Page
Stephen Page
Born in Brisbane in 1965, Stephen Page is a descendant from the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh tribe from southeast Queensland...
's Praying Mantis Dreaming, Ninni and Ochres. In 1995 she took up an Australia Council grant to study in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a modern dance company based in New York, New York. It was founded in 1958 by choreographer and dancer Alvin Ailey...
.
Career highlights include performing in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games, at New York’s
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
as part of the Next Wave Down Under Festival, and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. In 2002 Frances made her mainstage choreographic debut for Bangarra with Rations, the first half of the acclaimed production of Walkabout.
Television
Rings has starred in the documentaryDocumentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
drama The Widower (2004) and presenting television shows SBS TV’s
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
ICAM
ICAM
ICAM is short for "I couldn't agree more" - also see list of internet slangIt may also refer to:* Integrated Computer-Aided Manufacturing* Intercellular adhesion molecule* Institute for Complex Adaptive Matter...
(Indigenous Current Affairs Magazine) and ABC TV's Sunday Arts
Sunday Arts
Sunday Arts is a weekly program on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia every Sunday. It gives a broad view of the various artists working in Australia today ranging from theatre, music, visual art, film, literature, to indigenous, cultural, and street art.It has been hosted by...
program. She presented live-to-air coverage of the Corroboree Walk 2000 across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
for SBS.
Awards
She has received numerous awards for her work including a Helpmann AwardHelpmann Award
The Helpmann Awards recognize distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia's live performing arts sectors. The recognized disciplines include musical and physical theatre, contemporary and classical music, opera, and dance, with a comedy category introduced in 2006...
and an Ausdance Outstanding Achievement Award for Choreography.