Stephen Page
Encyclopedia
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
. He is the Artistic Director
of Bangarra Dance Theatre
.
, in 1991 he choreographed Mooggrah for the Sydney Dance Company
and Trackers of Oxyrhyncus for the Sydney Theatre Company
and a sextet for Opera Australia
's Marriage of Figaro. During this time he also toured with the NAISDA associated "Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre".
Stephen danced with the Sydney Dance Company until 1991 when he was appointed Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre
. With his works, Praying Mantis Dreaming, Ninni, and Ochres, Stephen established milestones for Australian dance. In 1996, Stephen made his creative debut with The Australian Ballet, choreographing Alchemy. The following year, he brought The Australian Ballet and Bangarra together in Rites, to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. The following year Stephen choreographed Fish for Bangarra, with its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Stephen choreographed the flag handover ceremony for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and co-directed segments of the ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He also created the ceremony that opened the Olympic Arts Festival. Stephen also choreographed Skin, which premiered at the festival and won the coveted Helpmann Award
for Best New Australian Work and Best Dance Work. Stephen’s triple bill Corroboree toured internationally, in a sell-out tour of the US with appearances at BAM in New York and Washington’s Kennedy Centre. This work earned Stephen the Helpmann Award for Best Choreography. The following year, Stephen was honoured with the Matilda Award for his contribution to the arts in Queensland and choreographed Totem for The Australian Ballet’s principal dancer, Stephen Heathcote. 2002 also saw the World Premiere of Bangarra’s double bill, Walkabout which Stephen co-choreographed with Frances Rings
.
Stephen and Frances Rings later co-choreographed Bush for Bangarra that sold out on its Australian tour as well as its 2004 tour to the United States. Also in 2004 Bangarra returned to the Sydney Opera House with another sell-out production co-choreographed by Stephen and Frances, Clan. The following year Stephen choreographed Boomerang for a sell-out Australian tour.
As Artistic Director of the 2004 Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Stephen was praised for reinvigorating the event with an impressive and highly successful world-class program. Stephen’s film and theatre credits include the contemporary operatic film Black River, numerous music video clips and most recently directing his own brother David Page in the highly acclaimed one-man show Page 8 which toured the UK.
In 2006 Stephen and The Australian Ballet created Gathering, a double bill consisting of a reworked Rites and Amalgamate. Also in 2006, Queensland Art Gallery director asked Stephen to create a new dance work for the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art. Stephen, along with his son and nephews, created Kin, a special project that opened Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
In 2007 Stephen directed a spectacular traditional smoking ceremony in honour of the historic celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Later in the year, during Bangarra’s True Stories season, Stephen directed Victorian Opera’s Orphee and Eurydice in Melbourne and presented another sell-out season of Kin at the Malthouse Theatre.
In 2008 Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year
, receiving the award from Deputy Premier John Watkins in a ceremony at the Art Gallery of NSW.
In 2008 Stephen created for Bangarra a new, full-length work Mathinna (Best Dance Work and Best Choreography, 2009 Helpmann Awards). Stephen then took Rites with The Australian Ballet to London and Paris, and Bangarra’s Awakenings to Washington, New York and Ottawa. Later in 2008 Stephen set off for Broome, WA as Choreographer on the film adaptation of Bran Nue Dae
.
In 2009, after returning from a highly successful tour of True Stories to Germany, Hungary and Austria, Stephen and the dancers spent 10 days in Arnhem Land on a cultural exchange. Stephen celebrated Bangarra’s 20th Anniversary with Fire – A Retrospective (Winner, Outstanding Performance by a Company, 2010 Australian Dance Awards).
In 2010, Stephen was honoured with the Services to Dance award at the Australian Dance Awards and received a Helpmann Awards for Best Choreography for Fire, Bangarra’s 20-year Retrospective work. Bangarra received a further two Helpmann Awards - Best Ballet/Dance Work for Fire and Best Regional Touring Production for True Stories.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
. He is the Artistic Director
Artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre company, that handles the organization's artistic direction. He or she is generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the organization is generally a non-profit organization...
of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra 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...
.
Career
Page studied dance at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), he graduated in 1983 and then danced with the Sydney Dance CompanySydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company is one of Australia's most successful and well-known contemporary dance companies. The company was founded in 1969 as the dance-in-education group Ballet in a Nutshell by Suzanne Musitz , later changing its name to Athletes and Dancers, and Dance Company ...
, in 1991 he choreographed Mooggrah for the Sydney Dance Company
Sydney Dance Company
The Sydney Dance Company is one of Australia's most successful and well-known contemporary dance companies. The company was founded in 1969 as the dance-in-education group Ballet in a Nutshell by Suzanne Musitz , later changing its name to Athletes and Dancers, and Dance Company ...
and Trackers of Oxyrhyncus for the Sydney Theatre Company
Sydney Theatre Company
The Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
and a sextet for Opera Australia
Opera Australia
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
's Marriage of Figaro. During this time he also toured with the NAISDA associated "Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre".
Stephen danced with the Sydney Dance Company until 1991 when he was appointed Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre
Bangarra 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...
. With his works, Praying Mantis Dreaming, Ninni, and Ochres, Stephen established milestones for Australian dance. In 1996, Stephen made his creative debut with The Australian Ballet, choreographing Alchemy. The following year, he brought The Australian Ballet and Bangarra together in Rites, to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. The following year Stephen choreographed Fish for Bangarra, with its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival.
Stephen choreographed the flag handover ceremony for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and co-directed segments of the ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. He also created the ceremony that opened the Olympic Arts Festival. Stephen also choreographed Skin, which premiered at the festival and won the coveted Helpmann Award
Helpmann 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...
for Best New Australian Work and Best Dance Work. Stephen’s triple bill Corroboree toured internationally, in a sell-out tour of the US with appearances at BAM in New York and Washington’s Kennedy Centre. This work earned Stephen the Helpmann Award for Best Choreography. The following year, Stephen was honoured with the Matilda Award for his contribution to the arts in Queensland and choreographed Totem for The Australian Ballet’s principal dancer, Stephen Heathcote. 2002 also saw the World Premiere of Bangarra’s double bill, Walkabout which Stephen co-choreographed with Frances Rings
Frances Rings
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...
.
Stephen and Frances Rings later co-choreographed Bush for Bangarra that sold out on its Australian tour as well as its 2004 tour to the United States. Also in 2004 Bangarra returned to the Sydney Opera House with another sell-out production co-choreographed by Stephen and Frances, Clan. The following year Stephen choreographed Boomerang for a sell-out Australian tour.
As Artistic Director of the 2004 Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Stephen was praised for reinvigorating the event with an impressive and highly successful world-class program. Stephen’s film and theatre credits include the contemporary operatic film Black River, numerous music video clips and most recently directing his own brother David Page in the highly acclaimed one-man show Page 8 which toured the UK.
In 2006 Stephen and The Australian Ballet created Gathering, a double bill consisting of a reworked Rites and Amalgamate. Also in 2006, Queensland Art Gallery director asked Stephen to create a new dance work for the opening of the Gallery of Modern Art. Stephen, along with his son and nephews, created Kin, a special project that opened Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art.
In 2007 Stephen directed a spectacular traditional smoking ceremony in honour of the historic celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Later in the year, during Bangarra’s True Stories season, Stephen directed Victorian Opera’s Orphee and Eurydice in Melbourne and presented another sell-out season of Kin at the Malthouse Theatre.
In 2008 Stephen was named NSW Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
, receiving the award from Deputy Premier John Watkins in a ceremony at the Art Gallery of NSW.
In 2008 Stephen created for Bangarra a new, full-length work Mathinna (Best Dance Work and Best Choreography, 2009 Helpmann Awards). Stephen then took Rites with The Australian Ballet to London and Paris, and Bangarra’s Awakenings to Washington, New York and Ottawa. Later in 2008 Stephen set off for Broome, WA as Choreographer on the film adaptation of Bran Nue Dae
Bran Nue Dae
Bran Nue Dae is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi, his band Kuckles and friends and was the first Aboriginal musical. The musical was originally directed by Andrew Ross, a prominent...
.
In 2009, after returning from a highly successful tour of True Stories to Germany, Hungary and Austria, Stephen and the dancers spent 10 days in Arnhem Land on a cultural exchange. Stephen celebrated Bangarra’s 20th Anniversary with Fire – A Retrospective (Winner, Outstanding Performance by a Company, 2010 Australian Dance Awards).
In 2010, Stephen was honoured with the Services to Dance award at the Australian Dance Awards and received a Helpmann Awards for Best Choreography for Fire, Bangarra’s 20-year Retrospective work. Bangarra received a further two Helpmann Awards - Best Ballet/Dance Work for Fire and Best Regional Touring Production for True Stories.
Choreography
- Sydney Dance Company
- Mooggrah (1991)
- Sydney Theatre CompanySydney Theatre CompanyThe Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
- 'Trackers of Oxyrhyncus
- a sextet for Opera AustraliaOpera AustraliaOpera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder of its time spent in the The Arts Centre in Melbourne...
's Marriage of Figaro - Bangarra Dance Theatre
- Praying Mantis Dreaming (1992), Bangarra's first full length work.
- Ochres (1994),
- Fish (1997)
- Skin (2000) won Stephen and Bangarra the Helpmann AwardHelpmann AwardThe 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...
for Best New Australian Work and Best Dance Work - Corroboree (2001), for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival,
- Walkabout (2002) co-choreographed with Frances RingsFrances RingsFrances 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...
- Bush (2003)
- Clan (2004) co-choreographed with Frances RingsFrances RingsFrances 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...
. - Boomerang (2005)
- Australian Ballet
- Alchemy (1996)
- Rites (1997) (with Bangarra Dance Theatre)
- Totem (2002) a solo for Steven Heathcote
- Gathering (2006), remounted Rites with a new work, Amalgamate collaborative work with Bangarra
- with other works for the
- Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, - flag handover ceremony for the Atlanta Olympic Games (1996)
- directed the Indigenous segments of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
- opening ceremony of the Olympic Arts Festival
- Australian Football League