Baleen Moondjan

Baleen Moondjan description

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The 2024 Adelaide Festival opens with the world premiere of Baleen Moondjan, a contemporary ceremony from creative visionary Stephen Page in his first major commission since leaving Bangarra Dance Theatre.  

Inspired by a story from Stephen’s grandmother from the Ngugi/Nunukul/Moondjan people of Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), Baleen Moondjan celebrates First Nations’ relationships between baleen whales and communities’ totemic systems. The signature elements that have defined Stephen Page’s career are all present in this work with dramatic storytelling, striking choreography and haunting live music integrated into a stunningly designed world from Jacob Nash.  

Set amongst giant whale bones on the sandy shores of Glenelg, Baleen Moondjan tells the story of a proud Elder, a curious granddaughter and the day a baleen whale comes close to shore. The whale is there to catch Granny Gindara’s spirit and carry it out to sea – a farewell, a celebration, a poignant start to a final journey. Baleen Moondjan recognises the intertwining relationships between all living creatures and our connection to earth,  sky and sea. 

Stephen Page is an icon of Australian Indigenous dance.

SBS

A former Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival, Stephen Page combines contemporary dance and narrative storytelling with songs in English, Jandai and Gumbaynggirr/Yaegl as he conjures up the elements of theatre in the dynamic outdoor setting of Glenelg’s iconic beach. His long-term collaborators – designer Jacob Nash, co-writer Alana Valentine, composer Steve Francis, costume designer Jennifer Irwin and lighting designer Damien Cooper – help to bring this vision to life. 

Visually spectacular and beautifully told, Baleen Moondjan kickstarts the Festival with a celebration of our First Nations’ stories and culture, the bonds between humans and animals, and the sacred resilience of Country. 

With an illustrious record of achievements and an innate ability to craft narratives that transcend time and space, [Stephen Page’s] creative endeavours have left an indelible mark on the world.

DanceLife Australia

Baleen Moondjan has been commissioned by Adelaide Festival.

Generously supported by the Adelaide Festival First Nations Commissioning Programme.

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Credits

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PERFORMERS
Gindara Elaine Crombie
Nundigili Zipporah Corser-Anu
Spirit of Yallingbillar Brendon Boney 
Narrator DOBBY

Musicians
Jorjabelle Munday
Taj Pigram

Dance Ensemble
Alexander Abbot
Rika Hamaguchi
Gusta Mara
Beau Dean Riley Smith
Nicola Sabatino
Glory Tuohy-Daniell

Director & Co-writer Stephen Page
Co-writer Alana Valentine
Set Design Jacob Nash
Costume Design Jennifer Irwin
Lighting Design Damien Cooper
Composer & Sound Designer Steve Francis 
Musical Director Paul Mac
Language Consultant Donna Page
Assistant Director Beau Dean Riley Smith

Company Stage Manager Matthew Schubach
Assistant Stage Manager Kerry Ireland
Producer Jo Dyer

Lighting Programmer Harry Clegg
Sound Operator David Trumpmanis
Radio Mic Technician Tarlee Penwill
Wardrobe Maintenance Laz Snoswell
Photography Daniel Boud & Ashley de Prazer

Senior Program Manager Kate Donnelly
Production Manager Paige Goodwin
Production Coordinator Leisa Gosling
Site Coordinator Thomas Pidd 
NIDA Production Secondment Shery Simson

Camera Operator David Tang
Camera Operator Celia Rio Suarez
Vision Switch Nik Carr
Lighting, Systems Tech Simon Richie
Sound, Systems Tech Marco Rab
Vision, Systems Tech Rory Parker

 

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