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Elma Kris

1972

(not assigned)Torres Strait, QLD

SchoolCairns TAFE (Visual Arts)

BiographyElma Kris has worked as a dancer, choreographer, actor and teacher. Kris one of the longest serving performers and choreographers of Bangarra Dance Theatre was raised on Thursday Island in the Torres Straits.

She studied visual arts at Cairns Institute of TAFE before studying dance at the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association College in Sydney (NAISDA). After graduating she joined the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre during which time she toured with the company to Germany, Israel and England. She also formed her own dance group Bibir (Strength). In 1999 she joined Bangarra Dance Theatre full time.

Kris has danced in a number of productions and has been a part of a number of national and international tours. She was in Bangarra’s 20th and 25th anniversary programs and won a Deadly Award for Dancer of the Year in 2007. In 2008 Kris performed the title role in Mathinna and in 2013 she was invited to undertake a Visiting Fellowship with the Australian National University. Kris danced essential roles in both I.B.I.S and Sheoak as part of the lore double bill, and also performed in the 21st anniversary season of Ochres in 2015.

Her choreographic credits include ‘Bupau Ipikazil’ and ‘Bupau Mabigal’, NAISDA, 1994; ‘Malu’, Bibir dance company, 1998; the Torres Strait Island element of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony, 2000; ‘Emeret Lu’, Bangarra, True Stories, 2007 which was named Best New Work in the 2007 Dance Australia Critic’s Survey and ‘About’, Bangarra, Belong, 2011. Her film credits include Oscar and Lucinda, Reef Dreaming, Farscape and the ABC radio broadcast Not Your Mob Next Door.

Person TypeIndividual