Elma Gada Kris

Elma Gada Kris is an Australian dancer, choreographer, actor, teacher and NAIDOC award winner. A member of the Bangarra Dance Theatre and descendant of the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara and Kai Dangal Buai in the Torres Strait.

Early life

Kris was born on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait.[1] She is a descendant of the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara and Kai Dangal Buai peoples.[1] She attended a performing arts school on the mainland.[1]

Career

Kris studied at the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College and first danced with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1997.[2] Kris danced with the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre Company, before joining Bangarra Dance Theatre full-time in 1999.[3] Kris formed her own dance group Bibir. [2] Kris danced with the Bangarra Dance Theatre for more than 20 years.[4][5] Bangarra Dance Theatre's artistic director Stephen Page described Elma's contribution as “vital within Bangarra’s story and evolution. Over the past twenty years, she has been a unique creative collaborator, a source of wisdom and a valued friend to me. She has been instrumental in shaping and bringing Torres Strait Islander stories to the stage. I have such enormous respect for Elma – she is a rare artist and leaves an incredible cultural legacy for the next generation to carry forward."[1]

Works

Kris's choreographic credits include Malu (Bibir dance company, 1998),[4] Bupau Ipikazil and Bupau Mabigal for NAISDA (1994)[4] and components of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony (2000)[4] and Emeret Lu (Bangarra Dance Theatre, 2007).[4][6]

Awards

Kris has also been nominated for the Helpmann Award (2017) and an Australian Dance Award, for her role in Bennelong (2018).[1]

References
  1. Nimmo, Julie. "NAIDOC 2019: Elma Gada Kris is the Artist of the Year". NITV. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  2. "On View: Icons". Sue Healey-Dance-Film. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  3. "National Museum of Australia - Elma Kris". National Museum of Australia. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. "Elma Gada Kris". NAIDOC. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  5. "Bangarra farewells Elma Kris from the stage - Dance Informa Australia". Dance Informa. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  6. "Person Elma Kris". www.bangarra.com.au. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  7. "Congratulations to the 2019 National NAIDOC Award winners". Indigenous.gov.au. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  8. Brinsden, Colin (6 July 2019). "Actor Gulpilil gets NAIDOC lifetime award". Guardian News. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
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