Frances Rings
Erin Brannigan
Frances Rings is an experienced dancer who is now emerging as a significant choreographer. She joined Bangarra Dance Theatre after graduating from NAISDA in 1993, 2 years after Stephen Page became artistic director. She performed in Page’s first full-length work, Praying Mantis Dreaming, and has continued to dance with the company, developing a remarkable onstage partnership with the late Russell Page. In 1995 she studied at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, an experience that has strongly influenced her dancing and choreography. Ring’s first major choreographic work was Rations for the 2002 Bangarra double bill Walkabout, a narrative piece including an inventive use of props. Her pieces in the recent Bangarra work Bush were standouts: Slither, Stick and her own solo, Passing. Clear and inventive choreographic themes combined with traditional subjects in Slither and Stick, the latter featured a very effective use of stilt-like props, while Passing read as a moving eulogy for her former dance partner. As artistic director, Stephen Page encourages his dancers to develop their choreographic skills and this is evident in the opportunities he has given both Rings and Albert David. Rings has 2 major choreographic projects lined up for the coming year and is clearly keen to continue developing her craft both inside and beyond the Bangarra fold.
RealTime issue #57 Oct-Nov 2003 pg. 34
