The world-renowned Australian Dance Theatre return to the Department of Tourism and Culture’s Araluen Arts Centre after a ten year hiatus to present their compelling and ritualistic work, The Beginning of Nature.

“We are excited to be presenting such a powerful work from such a formidable Australian dance company for the Alice Springs community,” Senior Director of the Department of Tourism and Culture’s Araluen Cultural Precinct, Dr Mark Crees said.

“The Beginning of Nature is an extraordinary example of contemporary dance and has been created by Australian Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director and innovative Australian choreographer, Garry Stewart.”

The Beginning of Nature explores life cycles and themes of metamorphosis and transformation within nature through the weaving of dance and music.

“Especially exciting for Alice Springs audiences, the dancers are joined by two vocalists live on stage, with the spell-binding score combining electronica, strings and a libretto sung in Kaurna language, the first language of the Adelaide Plains, home to Australian Dance Theatre.” Dr Crees said.

“When I first decided to make this work, I always wanted to include the human voice in the score, but in a work about rhythms in nature it made very little sense to use English, which has only been spoken on this continent for the past 230 years – barely a blip - compared to the tens of thousands of years that indigenous languages have been spoken here. So it made much more sense to work with the Kaurna language,” Australian Dance Theatre Artistic Director, Garry Stewart, said.

“It is a hugely significant piece for Australian Dance Theatre and one we are immensely proud of.”

Australian Dance Theatre are Australia’s pre-eminent and longest running contemporary dance company in Australia and are based in Adelaide.

The Beginning of Nature had audiences on their feet at the first look performance at the WOMAD festival in Adelaide during 2016, as well as during its global premiere in Columbia last year.

The Beginning of Nature by Australian Dance Theatre will be live onstage at the Araluen Arts Centre on Friday 3 August at 8:00pm.

Patrons are warned that the show is recommended for ages 12 plus and includes partial female nudity.

Ticket prices are $55.00 for adults, $52.00 for concession and $50.00 for Araluen Arts Centre Members.

Tickets are available online at www.araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au or from the Araluen Box Office on (08) 8951 1122.

Media interview
Araluen Cultural Precinct Director, Dr Mark Crees 08 8951 1126