I recently had the privilege of speaking with the remarkable Donta Whitham, a dynamic artist with Bangarra Dance Theatre. From the moment we began our conversation, it was evident that Donta’s journey is one of profound cultural exploration and artistic dedication. 

Donta’s early passion for dance led him to train across various styles, ultimately finding a deep connection with contemporary movement and storytelling. Donta joined Bangarra in 2024 through the Russell Page Graduate Program, which supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance graduates and early career artists. The program offers training, mentoring, and opportunities to perform and tour as part of their professional development.

In our discussion, Donta shared insights into his transformative experience with Bangarra, particularly his involvement in Illume, the company’s first production to premiere at the Joan Sutherland Theatre on Gadigal land, at the Sydney Opera House. 

He spoke passionately about the significance of connecting with Country, the wisdom of Elders, and the profound power of storytelling through dance. His reflections on identity, resilience, and the sacredness of light offer a window into the soul of an artist deeply committed to honoring and sharing his culture.

So, without further ado, here’s Faith’s Top 5 with Donta Whitham. Let’s get illuminated! 

Q1. As a Russell Page Graduate with Bangarra in 2024, how has your cultural background and dance journey shaped your experience as a young artist in the company?

As a Russell Page Graduate, you’re essentially observing all the company duties and all the company carryouts. Bangarra’s repertoire is about engaging with community constantly. That’s the guts of our creation process. Our creative cycle is to approach a mob and go on Country. They gift us with knowledge and story while engaging with Elders. These are intimate cultural experiences. 

It made me reflect a lot on my connection to this,  because I lacked a lot of my cultural knowledge prior to coming to Bangarra. I was always curious, but it wasn’t heavily discussed in my family because of generational trauma. Speaking about culture and knowing about it was once so shunned. So I didn’t have that understanding coming to Bangarra.

It has really made me reflect on my identity. It’s like there’s a puzzle piece within you. Suddenly the light switches on and it’s an “aha” moment. I’m finding parts of myself that have been hidden my entire life, as I’m going to these communities and telling these stories on stage. It’s made certain things make sense and put things into perspective for me. 

I’ve danced my entire life, and I had such a different outlook on dancing prior to Bangarra.  Bangarra fits the pattern. It’s very liberating and exciting.

Q2. Bangarra is known for blending contemporary dance with thousands of years of cultural knowledge. For those new to the company, how would you describe what Bangarra is and the responsibility that comes with dancing these stories?

A lot of our repertoire is inspired by the landscape, the stories, and the cultural understandings of these landmarks. Bangarra has a way of taking this and combining them with mob and other elements of Country.

It’s a hybrid mix of the feelings we have on Country. It’s the external and internal perspective, The actual being of it. We are the actual landmark, as well as people interacting with it— and also with how people use it.That’s what our work is, and that’s what makes it contemporary.

This is why audiences get such a nuanced perspective of Country through our performances. We immerse ourselves in that mindset — we’re not just the landmark, and we’re not just the story. We are all the other contributing things – and the feeling within it.

That’s personally how I guide a lot of my choreography. The feeling of something, as opposed to just doing it on a surface level. You could surface perform, or you could gain a more nuanced version of what you’re expressing through movement by just letting that feeling guide you, and surrendering to it. 

Q3. Tell me about the key themes and inspiration behind ‘Illume’. 

The whole idea of Illume is inspired by the idea of light, and how it depicts a dual relationship. It shows light in the form of sky Country, and in the form of the stars that protect us. It’s a survival medicine. But light can also be a destructive force. It can blind people, it can oppress people, it can shield people and make them flinch. 

One of the major themes within Illume is the mother of pearl. Once the mother of pearl shell has certain traditional carvings on it, it becomes a Riji. (More than art, Riji embodies power, honour, and deep cultural knowledge — traded across vast distances throughout central Australia.) 

The mother of pearl shell stores the Law for Bard mob – the rules, the right way of being. You will never ever be able to fully unpack the information in a mother of pearl because it’s constantly changing, based on the light. 

The setup of the stage is absolutely magical. It’s an installation within itself. The dancers are the final part in the whole design of Illume.

Q4. How has Darryl Sibosado, (Artistic & Cultural Collaborator for Illume)  spoken about the work’s deep connection to nature’s traditional practice of mother-of-pearl etching?

Darryl says that the information within a mother of pearl is infinite. Darryl talks about how we, as humans, are the missing piece within the whole design of nature. And we should trust that.

That’s what mob did for 65,000 years.  That’s how they survived — they knew the landscape, they surrendered to it, they saw the signs. That’s what helped them navigate and survive through Country. 

llume explores these frequencies of the landscape and the things around us — and aligning yourself to follow the right path.

Q4. What would you say to young artists from diverse cultural backgrounds who dream of dancing professionally or telling their own stories through movement?

Obviously, you have to enjoy it. You have to love it. It has to be a passion because it’s very compromising on the body – and mentally. But there’s a lot of beauty within it. And there is discipline in sometimes doing the things you don’t want to.

Stay inspired and reach out into spaces and explore art forms you wouldn’t typically consider and know that everything can be an inspiration. That’s one thing I learned at Bangarra. Studying a spinifex bush or the red ochre dirt  – anything can be an inspiration. You just have to commit fully to it and fully immerse yourself within it. That’s when the best things come out.

Also, be very patient. You have to be patient because dance is such a fine art. And, it literally molds and changes your body. 

This all comes with time.

Bonus question: What question were you secretly hoping I’d ask and what’s your answer? 

What’s your Star Sign ? 

I’m a Virgo. I love being a Virgo and I love my chart. People can get thrown by Virgos because they’re basically sociopaths (laughs) – but we’re not! As a Virgo, I’m imaginative and daydreamy. 

When people ask about your strengths and weaknesses, mine is that I am a Virgo, Cancer moon (which makes me a bit sensitive and emotional) and a rising Pisces. That’s my strength. The strength of my ancestors  – and drawing on my Virgo-ness. 

Illume opens on June 4 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, situated on Gadigal Country. Following its Sydney season, the production will embark on a national tour across Australia.

For detailed information and ticket bookings, please visit: https://my.bangarra.com.au/events?k=syd

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