Bangarra Dance Theatre

Bangarra Dance Theatre is an Indigenous Australian contemporary dance company founded in 1989 by Carole Johnson, an African-American and founding director of National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA). Bangarra is the Wiradjuri word meaning "to make fire". Stephen Page has been the artistic director since 1991. Bangarra's first full length show Praying Mantis Dreaming was produced in 1992, and 11 productions have followed. All have been successful within Australia and some have toured the United States and the United Kingdom. The group also made significant contributions to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics.