|
Elma Gada KrisElma Gada Kris is an Australian dancer, choreographer and NAIDOC award winner. She is a Torres Strait Islander woman of the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara and Kai Dangal Buai peoples, and a member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre. Early life and educationKris was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. She is a descendant of the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara and Kai Dangal Buai peoples.[1] She attended a performing arts school on the mainland,[1] the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College in Sydney.[2] CareerKris first danced with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1997.[2] She danced with the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre dance troupe before joining Bangarra Dance Theatre full-time in 1999,[3] dancing with them for more than 20 years.[4][5] Bangarra Dance Theatre's artistic director Stephen Page described Elma's contribution as “vital within Bangarra’s story and evolution. Over the past twenty years, she has been a unique creative collaborator, a source of wisdom and a valued friend to me. She has been instrumental in shaping and bringing Torres Strait Islander stories to the stage. I have such enormous respect for Elma – she is a rare artist and leaves an incredible cultural legacy for the next generation to carry forward."[1] Kris also formed her own dance group, Bibir.[2] WorksKris's choreographic credits include Malu (Bibir dance company, 1998),[4] Bupau Ipikazil and Bupau Mabigal for NAISDA (1994)[4] and components of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony (2000)[4] and Emeret Lu (Bangarra Dance Theatre, 2007).[4][6] Awards
Kris has also been nominated for the Helpmann Award (2017) and an Australian Dance Award, for her role in Bennelong (2018).[1] References
|
