The acclaimed Bangarra Dance Theatre company has debuted their latest production, one not limited to giving an emotional life to where First Nations tradition met the industrial development, but one also bringing to life a personal connection, and marking just the latest step up for Frances Rings.
Yuldea is the first work from the renowned choreographer since her appointment as Bangarra's Artistic Director, and a historic tale of Anagu people of the Great Victorian Desert in South Australia.
Ms Rings' family hold connections to the area and traditional lands of the water soak which was frequented by her mob, Wirangu and Mirning people; neighbouring tribes to the south of Kokatha land.
At the turn of the 20th century the waterhole, Yooldil Kapi, was key to the construction of the Trans-Australian railway across the continent.
It became a new resource for colonial Australia but one with which had long been a significant sight for Indigenous people as a trading route and in Dreaming stories.
In 1917 the Yoodil Kapi ran dry, though Anugu kinship to Yooldil Kapi remained undeterred.
It changed their lives but failed to break their deep bonds, their knowledge of the land and sky to the waterhole.
"Within my family lineage lies the stories of forefathers and mothers who lived a dynamic, sophisticated desert life, leaving their imprint scattered throughout Country like memories suspended in time. Their lives were forever changed by the impact of colonial progress." Ms Rings said.
"The story of Yuldea asks us to look beyond the narrative of our Nations modernisation to reconcile a fraught history, and to affirm a future that no longer hides behind its truths but grows because of them".
In pre-production Ms Rings engaged with cultural consultants for permission to tell the story and as cultural consultants to guide the work.
"When we tell a story like it, there's a great deal of responsibility that goes along with that. And I think that that's the big weight that I carry, is not only being able to tell this story, but also to do it the right way," she told the National Indigenous Times.
Yuldea held a community night on Tuesday, showcasing the production to mob in it's first night in front of an audience.
While "terrifying" - Ms Rings said the community hold these works the dearest but can also be the harshest critics, she says it's something at the ethos of Bangarra.
She says now it's her time to step away a little and let dance and supporting production crew carry it into the hearts of others.
"To be able to get that first one done in front of an audience and just have it now we can just kind of settle in and start with finding more balance between all of the technical and artistic elements," Ms Rings said.
"And so the dancers it's a sense of ownership now where I let go of the work and now they can fully embody it and also for the production crews."
Yuldea features songs from the multi-award-winning Electric Fields, costumes from multi-award-winning Jennifer Irwin, lighting by Karen Norris alongside music composed by Worimi man and David Page Music Fellow, Leon Rodgers.
The show now embarks on a nationwide journey, starting with the Sydney Opera House on June 14.
Yuldea Tour Dates
Sydney Opera House - June 14 to July 15
Canberra Theatre Centre - July 20-22
Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre - August 10-12
Queensland Performing Arts Centre - August 31 to September 9
Arts Centre Melbourne - September 28 to October 7
Ulumbarra Threatre, Bendigo - October 13-14
