Frances Rings facts for kids

Frances Rings is an amazing Aboriginal Australian dancer and choreographer. She was born in Adelaide, South Australia. She is a proud Wirangu and Mirning woman. In 2023, she became the artistic director for the famous Bangarra Dance Theatre.

Early Life and Learning

Frances Rings was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Her family comes from the Wirangu and Mirning tribes on the West Coast of South Australia. She has a younger sister, Gina, who is also a dancer and choreographer.

When Frances was three, her parents separated. She went to live with her father, who worked for the railway. They moved around Australia a lot for his job. They lived in places like Port Augusta, Kalgoorlie, Albany, and Queensland.

The Port Augusta railway station

From a young age, Frances loved to dance. Her family could not afford ballet lessons. So, she made her own theatre in the backyard! She used old water tanks as a cubby house and decorated it with curtains. She would dress her siblings in costumes made from fabric scraps. Then, she would put on mini shows with them.

At 16, Frances was living in Ipswich, Queensland. She went to a boarding school there. In her final year of high school, dance was offered as a subject. Frances chose it as one of her electives. She had a great dance teacher who encouraged her to do her best.

When Frances was 17, her drama teacher told her about the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA). This school in Sydney helps Indigenous students learn about dance and culture. Her teacher told her to apply. After finishing school, Frances moved to Sydney to attend NAISDA.

Dance Career

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in New York City

Frances graduated from NAISDA in 1992. She performed in her graduation show. Stephen Page, who was the artistic director of the Bangarra Dance Theatre, saw her. He invited her to join Bangarra. In 1993, Frances joined Bangarra to improve her skills as a choreographer. She also danced in some of Page's shows, like Praying Mantis Dreaming and Ochres. She became the first choreographic Artist in Residence for Bangarra. In 1995, Frances went to New York. She studied at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for three months with a special grant.

In 2002, Frances created her first major dance show called Rations. She went on to create six more works for Bangarra. These included Bush (2003), Unaipon (2004), Terrain (2012), and Sheoak (2015).

Frances has also created dances for other top companies in Australia. These include the West Australian Ballet and Tasdance. She has also danced for companies like Legs On The Wall. Internationally, she has worked with Kahawi Dance Theatre in Canada and Atamira Dance Company in New Zealand.

From 2016 to 2019, Frances returned to NAISDA. She was the head of creative studies there. She directed five end-of-year shows during this time. After leaving NAISDA, she went back to Bangarra in 2019. She became the associate artistic director.

On December 2, 2021, it was announced that Frances Rings would become the artistic director of Bangarra in 2023. She took over from Stephen Page.

Creative Inspirations

Frances Rings' earliest memory of dance is watching Young Talent Time. This was an Australian TV show that made her want to be a dancer. In high school, her dance class went to Sydney to see the musical Cats. Frances was amazed by how the dancers moved their bodies. She realized that dancers could use their bodies to create incredible movements.

Her first dance hero was Michael Jackson. Later, she discovered NAISDA and then Alvin Ailey. Alvin Ailey's work really influenced her dancing and choreography.

Choreographic Works and Themes

Frances Rings' dance works are often inspired by her childhood and nature. She remembers her father growing food in their garden. She also recalls picking fruit like figs and grapes on her way to school. She believes these experiences helped her feel a strong "connection to country". This connection comes from her personal experiences, not just her Aboriginal background.

Frances is also influenced by how her aunts and sisters tell stories. She pays attention to their body language, like their gestures and expressions. She sees these movements reflected in the shapes of trees. She likes choreography that shows "clean shapes and distinctive physical architecture of body." She wants her dances to bring together the spirits of culture, Country, and people.

Unaipon (2004)

Unaipon was Frances' third work for Bangarra. It celebrated the life of David Unaipon (1872–1967). He was a Ngarrindjeri author and inventor. The dance had three parts: "Ngarrindjeri," "Science," and "Religion." Each part showed different sides of Unaipon’s life. Frances wanted to bring Indigenous stories, which were often not taught in schools, to a wider audience.

Terrain (2012 and 2022)

A signpost near Lake Eyre South

Stephen Page asked Frances to create a dance about Aboriginal views on landscape. Frances was inspired by her childhood trips to the Flinders Ranges and Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. She wanted to show how places affect people's feelings and spirit. She included images of Lake Eyre from her visits. She saw the lake full of water one day and then empty and shiny the next. She also took a tour with an Arabana elder. The elder showed her waterholes and sacred sites. Frances used these ideas to create Terrain in 2012. The dance explored how humans connect to the land and nature.

Frances brought Terrain back to the stage in 2022. The show toured Sydney, Canberra, and Brisbane.

Sheoak (2015)

For her work Sheoak, Frances was inspired by sheoak trees. These trees are used by people for medicine, shelter, and food. Through her dance, Frances wanted to connect the sheoak trees to Indigenous stories. She focused on how Indigenous languages, customs, and knowledge are in danger, just like some parts of nature.

Television Work

Frances Rings also acted in the drama film The Widower in 2004.

Other Important Roles

As of 2005, Frances Rings was a member of the Dance Board of the Australia Council. This group helps support arts in Australia.

Awards and Recognition