Stephen Page wins prestigious JC Williamson Award
Stephen Page, artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, was announced as the recipient of the 2016 JC Williamson Award® last week. The award will be presented to Stephen at the 2016 Helpmann Awards Ceremony on Monday 25 July at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
The JC Williamson Award® recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution of the enrichment of Australia’s live performance culture and shaped the future of the industry for the better. Past recipients include Paul Kelly, Kylie Minogue OBE, Dr Jimmy Little, John Bell AO OBE, Michael Gudinski AM, Barry Humphries AO CBE, Dame Joan Sutherland OM AC DBE, David Williamson AO and Graeme Murphy AM.
This year Stephen Page celebrates his 25th anniversary as artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre (BDT). He is renowned for his unique choreographic style, which blends traditional Indigenous dance and stories with contemporary dance. In addition to his extensive back catalogue for BDT, Page’s artistic credits include theatre, opera and film. Behind the scenes, Page has provided mentorship and opportunities for numerous young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and young people, as well as championing social justice for Indigenous people. His 23rd work for BDT, Nyapanyapa, has recently premiered as part of the company’s “OUR land people stories” triple bill.
“The JC Williamson Award is bestowed only on the greatest of the greats of our Live Performance Industry. Stephen Page’s contribution to Australian culture over the last 25 years has been nothing short of extraordinary. His body of work seamlessly crosses genres,” remarks Andrew Kay AM, President of Live Performance Australia. “He continues to reinvent Indigenous storytelling across those genres. He has directed and or choreographed dance, opera and theatre as well as major events such as the Indigenous Sections of the 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies. In this his 25th year at the helm of this great company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, there is no better time to recognise his exceptional contribution to Australia and Australian culture than through this award.”
For Page, it all comes back to story-telling. “I have been fortunate to have worked with so many inspiring communities, artists and creatives during my 25-year tenure as artistic director of Bangarra. It is a truly unique Australian company and I am so proud of everything we have achieved,” he comments. “The stories we share are sacred and I feel privileged to play a role in the vital care taking of these stories, through the intimate weaving of culture and contemporary dance.”
Dance Australia congratulates Stephen Page – we are thrilled to see his incredible achievements recognised by this prestigious award.