The Australian Ballet and Bangarra Dance Theatre will reunite on stage in Flora, a major new full-length work that signals a significant new chapter in the long-standing relationship between the two companies. Commissioned by The Australian Ballet and created by Mirning woman Frances Rings, Bangarra’s Artistic Director and Co-CEO, Flora will have its world premiere at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 12 to 21 March, before travelling to the Sydney Opera House’s Joan Sutherland Theatre from 7 to 18 April.
Featuring live music performed by Orchestra Victoria in Melbourne and the Opera Australia Orchestra in Sydney, Flora is the fourth major collaboration between the companies and the first under their current artistic directors. Building on nearly three decades of shared creative history, from Rites in 1997 to Warumuk – in the dark night in 2012, the work brings together more than 35 artists across both ensembles to explore new possibilities for Australian dance.
The Australian Ballet’s Artistic Director David Hallberg described Flora as a reflection of the depth and significance of the partnership between the two companies. “Flora reflects the strength and importance of our longstanding relationship with Bangarra. Coming together on a full-length work has deepened our artistic connection and reaffirmed how vital collaboration is to the evolution of Australian dance. This partnership honours our shared history while opening new pathways for the future.”
Hallberg added that the work is shaped by a sense of optimism and shared purpose. “Flora celebrates the unique beauty and resilience of this continent’s flora, woven into the fabric of the country and its people. The work explores connection, renewal and our shared future, inviting audiences to reflect on how culture, community and the natural world intertwine. It’s a joyous and optimistic vision of what becomes possible when artists unite with a shared purpose, with this country’s stunning Indigenous flora as its thread.”
At the centre of Flora is an exploration of resilience, kinship and connection. Drawing on creation stories, First Nations ecological knowledge and the evolution of Australian flora across deep time, the work traces a journey of origin, disruption and renewal. From sleeping yams beneath the earth to towering gums that stand guard over generations, the natural world is positioned as a living witness to Australia’s unfolding history. The work also reflects on the environmental and cultural impact of colonisation and the arrival of introduced species, with fire emerging as a force of regeneration that mirrors the endurance of Australia’s First Peoples.
Frances Rings emphasised the cultural foundations of the work and its contemporary relevance. “As a First Nations arts company, our priority is to use our platform to give insight into, and promote understanding of, First Nations People, Communities and Country. For millennia, plants have been the foundation of our identity and connection to Country.”
She continued, “Plants and First Nations people have shared the deep disruption of colonisation and have been equally impacted by the wake of destruction that resonates through generations. Plants are messengers and indicators of the health of Country. As we head towards a climate emergency, we all have a responsibility to ensure the health of our unique native environments for future generations.”
Rings also reflected on the collaborative process itself. “Bringing Bangarra Dance Theatre and The Australian Ballet together has been an extraordinarily powerful experience. Together we share story, experiences, perspectives and cultures to create a whole new dialogue and language. Both David and I are excited to bring our companies together to tell this story, and to share it with our communities and audiences.”
The visual and musical world of Flora is shaped by an extensive creative team. Elizabeth Gadsby’s set design and Karen Norris’s lighting design transform the stage through elements of clay, canopy, rain and fire, while the sculptural costumes by Meriam Samsep woman Grace Lillian Lee further anchor the work in material and cultural specificity. An original score by Kalkadungu man William Barton will be performed live, underscoring the scale and ambition of the production. Cultural consultancy is led by Matthew Doyle, a descendant of the Muruwari nation, with research consultancy by Shane Carroll, ensuring cultural integrity throughout the work’s development.
Flora is generously supported by Lady Potter AC CMRI and The David Hallberg Fund for Artistic Aspiration. Tickets are on sale now.
Performance details
Melbourne
12–21 March 2026
Regent Theatre
With Orchestra Victoria
Sydney
7–18 April 2026
Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
With Opera Australia Orchestra
Further information and tickets are available via The Australian Ballet website.