The Australian Bite

20 great years of stories in dance

11 April 2009

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This week on the Bite, Stephen Page, the Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, reflects upon 20 years of  Australia’s premier indigenous dance troupe.  We meet the man who (we think) has built the tallest private house in Australia.  And we travel to Townsville, North Queensland, to talk about coconuts.

Bangarra celebrates 20 years

The renowned indigenous dance company, the Bangarra Dance Theatre celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In its own words, “the company blends traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture with international contemporary dance influences to create a truly Australian dance language.” Over the years the dance troupe has performed all around the world and starred at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Stephen Page is the artistic director and choreographer of Bangarra, a position he’s held since 2001. Fran Kelly spoke to him about the last two decades of Bangarra.

You can find out more about Bangarra, and watch clips of their performances at their website http://www.bangarra.com.au/

Is this Australia’s tallest house?

Peter Grey lives and works from his ten storey house in Girvan, a tiny village on the back road between Stroud and Bulahdelah off the mid north coast of new South Wales. Throughout his life Peter has had a passion for tall buildings and, after holidaying at the Gold Coast for many years, drawn by its towering late 20th century buildings, he thought it time to fulfil his dream of building and living in a very tall house of his own. Peter Grey took reporter Janne Ryan on a tour.

You can see pictures of Peter Grey’s house at ABC Radio National’s “By Design” programme website http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bydesign/stories/2009/2519513.htm

Where is Girvan?  Check it out here on Google Maps

Going coconuts in Queensland

You can’t beat a coconut for its versatility. You can drink it, eat it, fuel a fire with it and use it for building materials. Here in Australia, we rely on overseas plantations to supply us with lots of coconut products. However according to local coconut expert Kadari, many of those plantations, particularly in the Pacific islands, are at risk of dying out. Kathy Cogo talks to Kadari, as well as coconut harvester Peck, in Townsville, Northern Queensland.

More on this story, including pictures, at the ABC Rural website http://www.abc.net.au/rural/content/2008/s2522074.htm

See where Townsville is here on Google Maps