Elma Gada Kris facts for kids
Elma Gada Kris is an amazing Australian dancer and choreographer. She has won a special award called the NAIDOC Award. Elma is a Torres Strait Islander woman, meaning her family comes from the islands in the Torres Strait, north of Australia. She belongs to several important groups of people from that area, including the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara, and Kai Dangal Buai peoples. Elma is also a member of the famous Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Early Life and Training
Elma Kris was born on Thursday Island, which is in the Torres Strait. Her family has deep roots there, connecting her to the Wagadagam, Kaurareg, Sipingur, Gebbara, and Kai Dangal Buai peoples.
She went to a special school for performing arts in Sydney, called the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College. This is where she trained to become a professional dancer.
Dance Career
Elma Kris first started dancing with the Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1997. Before joining Bangarra full-time in 1999, she also danced with another group called the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre. She danced with Bangarra for more than 20 years, becoming a very important part of the company.
Stephen Page, who was the artistic director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, said that Elma's work was "vital" to Bangarra's story. He explained that she was a unique creative partner and helped bring many Torres Strait Islander stories to the stage through dance. He respected her greatly and said she left an "incredible cultural legacy" for future dancers.
Elma also created her own dance group, which she named Bibir.
Choreography and Works
Elma Kris is not just a dancer; she is also a talented choreographer, meaning she creates dance routines. Some of the dances she has choreographed include:
- Malu for her own dance company, Bibir, in 1998.
- Bupau Ipikazil and Bupau Mabigal for NAISDA in 1994.
- Parts of the Opening Ceremony for the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
- Emeret Lu for Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2007.
Awards and Recognition
Elma Kris has received many awards for her amazing work in dance:
- 2019: NAIDOC Award as Artist of the Year.
- 2016: Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer.
- 2012: Dance Australia’s Critics Survey award for Best New Work for her piece Walkabout.
- 2007: Deadly Award for Dancer of the Year.
She was also nominated for other important awards, including the Helpmann Award in 2017 and another Australian Dance Award in 2018, for her role in a dance production called Bennelong.
