SUE HEALEY & JUDD OVERTON | 'On View: Icons ELMA KRIS' | Photographic print on rag paper

"Elma Kris is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman who grew up on Thursday Island. Her clan is from the North Western and Central Islands of the Torres Strait. She is a highly respected dancer, choreographer and teacher, who has performed on stages around the world. She studied at the National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College and first danced with Bangarra Dance Theatre in 1997, as well as forming her own dance group Bibir and dancing with the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre Company, before joining Bangarra full-time in 1999. Her many choreographic credits include Bupau Ipikazil and Bupau Mabigal (NAISDA, 1994), Malu (Bibir Dance Company, 1998), the Torres Strait Island element of the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony (2000), Emeret Lu (Bangarra, True Stories, 2007; named Best New Work in 2007 Dance Australia Critics’ Survey) and About (Bangarra, Belong, 2011). Elma’s knowledge of culture and the art of dance, story-telling and song have given her the reputation of an artist, respected by her peers and audience members alike. Since her retirement from Bangarra, Elma has returned to Thursday Island to nurture the next generation of artists and leaders in her own community."

SUE HEALEY & JUDD OVERTON | 'On View: Icons ELMA KRIS' | Photographic print on rag paper | 60 (h) x 80 (w) cm