Courtney Radford from Bangarra Dance Theatre and Hugo Dumapit from The Australian Ballet
Photo Pierre Toussaint
Beneath the cracked clay, a seed unfurls. Leaf. Bloom. Life. Promise. Crossing time and space. The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre present Flora by Frances Rings, an exciting and bold new dance collaboration.
World Premiere.
12 - 21 March 2026
Regent Theatre
191 Collins Street, Melbourne
Courtney Radford from Bangarra Dance Theatre
Photo Pierre Toussaint
Flora marks the fourth time the companies have joined forces, and in this first full-length collaboration, Bangarra’s signature storytelling style takes you on a journey through the evolution of Australian flora. An unmissable new work, Flora traces the profound influence of major historic and environmental events on both the landscape and its people.
From the sleeping yams beneath the earth, to the gums that breathe our air and stand proud over generations, flora is living witness to Australia’s unfolding history.
When the ships brought animals that trample and weeds that choke, flora endured. Through fire, flora renews and regenerates. The resilience of flora parallels the resilience of Australia’s First Peoples.
With distinctive choreography from Mirning woman Frances Rings, Bangarra’s Artistic Director and Co-CEO, an original score composed by Kalkadungu man and internationally renowned composer William Barton, dynamic costumes from Meriam Samsep woman Grace Lillian Lee, set design by Elizabeth Gadsby, lighting design by Karen Norris and Cultural Consultancy from Matthew Doyle, a descendant of the Muruwari Aboriginal nation.
Our most significant collaboration to date, with an ensemble of over 35 dancers drawn from both companies, Flora is a new chapter in Australian performance.
Journey through our living history in this unique dance experience.
Courtney Radford from Bangarra Dance Theatre and Hugo Dumapit from The Australian Ballet
Photo Pierre Toussaint
Courtney Radford from Bangarra Dance Theatre and Hugo Dumapit from The Australian Ballet
Photo Pierre Toussaint
A co-production between The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, commissioned by The Australian Ballet
Choreography Frances Rings and the dancers of Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Australian Ballet
Composer William Barton
Costume design Grace Lillian Lee
Costume Design Associate Jennifer Irwin
Set design Elizabeth Gadsby
Lighting design Karen Norris
Cultural Consultant Matthew Doyle
Research Consultant Shane Carroll
With Orchestra Victoria
Patrick Thaiday of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Principal Artist Olivia Bell and Sani Townson from Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Steven Heathcote, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Patrick Thaiday and Sidney Saltner of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Vivienne Wong, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Greg Barrett
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Patrick Thaiday of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Principal Artist Olivia Bell and Sani Townson from Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Steven Heathcote, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Patrick Thaiday and Sidney Saltner of Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Vivienne Wong, Warumuk - In The Dark (Page) 2012
Photo Greg Barrett
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Rites (Page) 2008
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Lisa Tomasetti
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Amalgamate (Page) 2006
Photo Jim McFarlane
Artists of The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre, Warumuk - in the dark night (Page) 2012
Photo Jeff Busby