Sydney: Fair 20ºC | 11ºC

Search Use

Terrain

Let Bangarra take you to the water

First published on 2 Mar 2012. Updated on 19 Aug 2012.

This event has finished

Lake Eyre is one of the world’s greatest, relatively untouched natural landmarks. An inland sea smack in the middle of Earth’s driest inhabited continent, it is a site of flood and drought; an ancient lake of geographic and cultural wonder.

Bangarra Dance Theatre’s Terrain, showing at Sydney Opera House’s Drama Studio till August, takes us on a sensory journey through the culture and history of this sacred site. And sensory this experience is, with the design elements of Terrain taking centre-stage.

From costume, lighting and set design to the beautifully evocative choreography (Frances Rings), Bangarra’s latest project is visuallyawe-inspiring. Jacob Nash’s design effectively brings central Australia to the Drama Studio stage, with two-dimensional, floor-to-ceiling paintings that seem to contort and swirl within the sparse space. Beautifully contrasting backdrops change seamlessly before our eyes, capturing both traditional Aboriginal art and the varied topography of Lake Eyre. Costumes (Jennifer Irwin) are visually effective (albeit occasionally impractical, with more than a couple of distracting wardrobe malfunctions), and both the lighting (Karen Norris) and set design masterfully employ colour to capture the varying personas of Australia’s largest lake – Terrain’s striking opening image manages to explore the vastness of Lake Eyre in only a split second of white light.

David Page’s score is an aural journey through this landscape, providing far more than a beat to which the dancers move. Page craftily weaves traditional Indigenous music into a contemporary soundtrack, which rumbles with a dark intensity and complexity akin to the likes of Amon Tobin and Trent Reznor.

The storytelling, however, is at times opaque and ensemble moments could be more effective if performed with more precision. That said, Terrain beautifully conveys the infinite stretches of land, clusters of trees, salt particles and puddles of aqua-marine water come to life. With a simple touch of powder-coated bodies, particles of white power levitate in the air, creating the impression of dancers moving on a timeless dusty plain, and we are reminded of Bangarra’s undeniable ability to transport their audience.

Bangarra prides itself on being more than a dance company, and Terrain certainly suggests that there is more to Bangarra than dancers on stage. Terrain is dance, theatre, music, movement and visual art; a powerful and inspirational example of multi-artform performance.

Words by Rachel Chant |

Follow @TimeOutSydArts

Print Email

Terrain video

Terrain details

Sydney Opera House

Address

Bennelong Point

Sydney 2000

Telephone 02 9250 7111

Price from $25.00 to $85.00

Date 25 Jul 2012-18 Aug 2012

Open Tue 6.30pm, Wed-Fri 8pm, Sat 2pm & 8pm (no matinee Sat 30 Jun)

Director: Frances Rings

Cast: Bangarra Dance Theatre dancers

Sydney Opera House details

Sydney area guide

Sydney Opera House map

If this map or venue details are incorrect then please Contact Us

Restaurants near Sydney Opera House

Bars & pubs near Sydney Opera House

Other venues near Sydney Opera House

Readers' comments, reviews and pictures

Community guidelines

Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11
Lizzie said:
I found "Terrain" to be stellar production. Enjoyed it very much. I would highly recommend it even if you are not into the arts. It is visually arresting and the music is amazing. You feel it vibrate through you. Making the spectator, in a way, part of the performance.

Posted on Sun 12 Aug 2012 07:33:11

What's happening

Terrain

This event has finished

E-mail a friend

Terrain video

Terrain details

Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House map

Restaurants near Sydney Opera House

Guillaume at Bennelong

Opera Kitchen

Studio Cafe

Aria

Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe - Circular Quay

Quadrant Restaurant

Bars & pubs near Sydney Opera House

Bennelong Bar

Opera Bar

The Island

ECQ Bar

Wildfire

Cruise Bar

Other venues near Sydney Opera House

Dendy Opera Quays

Sydney Dance Company

Sir Stamford at Circular Quay

Park Hyatt

Justice & Police Museum

Circular Quay

Readers' comments, reviews and pictures

What's happening

Terrain

25 Jul 2012-18 Aug 2012 ,

Dance,

Sydney,

Theatre,

Also on at Sydney Opera House

Similar events

Other events this day

Latest features

Latest galleries

Community

Recent Comments

This event has finished

E-mail a friend

Terrain video

Terrain details

Sydney Opera House map

Restaurants near Sydney Opera House

Bars & pubs near Sydney Opera House

Other venues near Sydney Opera House

Readers' comments, reviews and pictures