Australian dance company performing at St James

The Australian High Commission in Malta and St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity are hosting an exhibition of Kiripuranji: Contemporary Art from the Tiwi Islands and an audio visual promotion on the Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Bangarra Dance Theatre is one of the youngest and oldest of Australia's dance companies. Its living traditions go back at least 40,000 years but it also reflects the lives and attitudes of indigenous peoples today. This unique company blends traditional aboriginal and Torres Strait islander history and culture with international contemporary dance influences to create a truly Australian dance language.

Under the artistic direction of Stephen Page since 1991, Bangarra has stunned audiences throughout Australia and the world with electric, startling and inherently spiritual dance works of immense theatrical presence.

Already a major force in Australian contemporary dance, Bangarra first galvanised international audiences with Rites, choreographed to Stravinsky's The Rites of Spring performed in collaboration with The Australian Ballet.

The work premiered at the 1997 Melbourne Festival and then toured to overwhelming acclaim at New York's City Centre. The company has also appeared in major cities such as Washington, Edinburgh, Seoul, and Athens and returned to New York in 2001 for sold out performances of Corroboree at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

At the heart of Bangarra's uniqueness is Mr Page's vision for a theatrical style that remains true to the indigenous spirit which is at the core of the company's work. Bangarra Dance Theatre speaks with an ancient yet completely contemporary voice to people everywhere.

Both the Kiripuranji: Contemporary Art from the Tiwi Islands and the Bangarra Dance Theatre promotion close on Monday.

For further information on this celebration of the different art forms of Australia's indigenous peoples, contact St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity on 2122 3200 or 2122 3216.