Photo by Paz Tassone
Gary Lang
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Artistic Director, choreographer and senior Larrakia man, Gary Lang has extended family relationships that extend across to Yirrkala, NT.
A dynamic dancer, choreographer, teacher and performer, Lang is a much-loved and revered figure in the Northern Territory community. His strong cultural identity drives his work as an ambassador for Indigenous peoples and artists of the Northern Territory.
Lang’s artistic innovations has seen the development of the dance form, Aboriginal Ballet, which deconstructs the colonial ballet archetype using First Nations storytelling to create fresh relevance for all Australians. This is the legacy of Lang’s choreographic work.
Lang’s training stemmed from his studies at NAISDA Dance College, where went on to perform and tour nationally and internationally with Bangarra Dance Company under Stephen Page, Dancenorth under Jane Pirani and AIDT the Company under Raymond Blanco before forming NT Dance Company in Darwin.
Photo by Paz Tassone
ERICA McCALLUM
General Manager
With a 37-year affiliation with the NT, Erica has extensive dance experience as well as a proven managerial track record in both the commercial and community sectors.
Erica continues to align her motivation with Gary Lang NT Dance Company’s vision to become the Nation’s second fully funded Indigenous Dance Company. She prioritises collaboration, which inspires local, national and international organisations to journey with them, as they tell Territory stories across borders and cultures, whilst building pathways for regional and remote artists and creatives.
Working with Gary for the past 5 years has inspired passion and pride for being a Territorian beyond what she realised was possible. She describes Gary Lang’s work as ‘evolutionary’ and ‘as unique and dramatic as the multicultural essence of our Darwin home’.
Her agility and creative lateral responses afford Gary Lang NT Dance Company the privilege of continuing to share rich indigenous culture as the company strives towards greater First Nations determined works.