Events

Australia National Day at Aichi Expo 2005

21 April 2005

Every participating nation at the Aichi World Expo will have a "National Day" with Australia's designated day being April 21. "National Day" is designed to showcase Australia's talented artists and performers, many of whom will be performing for audiences in and around Expo on National Day.

The National Day will be directed by Nigel Jamieson who directed the closing ceremony of the 27th Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The Bangarra Dance Theatre "Bush"

Bangarra Dance Theatre, a contemporary Indigenous dance group, will be performing at Expo during Australia's National Day on April 21st. Under the artistic direction of Stephen Page since 1991, Bangarra has stunned audiences throughout Australia and the world with electric, startling and inherently spiritual dance works of immense theatrical presence.

At the heart of Bangarra's uniqueness is Stephen Page's vision for a theatrical style that remains true to the Indigenous spirit which is at the core of the company's work. Bangarra Dance Theatre speaks with an ancient yet completely contemporary voice to people everywhere.

Date: Thursday, 21 April 2005 - 6:00-7:00pm
Venue: EXPO Hall, Interactive Fun Zone, Aichi Expo 2005
Website: www.expo2005.or.jp/jp/C0/C3/C3.8/C3.8.7/

James Morrison with the Wollongong Jazz Orchestra + Strange Fruit

The Wollongong Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra is an 18-piece big band that plays contemporary and classical jazz. The band is lead by Eric Dunan and features a number of professional players as well as advanced high school and university students from the Illawarra region.

James Morrison will be performing with the WCJO at World Expo. James is recognised as one of the most accomplished multi-instrumentalists in the world today and a virtuoso in every sense of the world.

As part of their 2005 tour to China and Japan, the WCJO will perform at Expo Plaza with James Morrison in the only free public performance on Australia's National Day.

Date: Thursday, 21 April 2005 - 12:00-2:00pm
Venue: Expo Plaza, Aichi Expo 2005
Website: www-1.expo2005.or.jp/en/venue/openspace.html

Strange Fruit "The Field" (October 2003 at Roppongi Hills, Tokyo)

Rivers of Light

The finale of Australia's "National Day" will be a collaborative project involving 200 children from schools in Australia's partner cities of Anjo and Obu. The Rivers of Light - Lantern spectacular will be the finale of our National Day. Around 250 children from Australia and Nagoya, under the direction of Australian puppet master Peter Wilson (Director of the School of Puppetry at the Victorian College of the Arts) will design and make "lanterns" based on Australia's environment and unique biodiversity. At the completion of the lantern making project, the children will join with Australian performers, in celebration. Performing to the evocative music composed by leading Indigenous composer David Page, the cast of over 250 will "illuminate the Australian landscape" in a spectacular performance of song, dance, puppetry and visual illusion.

Date: Thursday, 21 April 2005 - 7:15-7:45pm
Venue: Australian Pavillion, Aichi Expo 2005
Website: www-1.expo2005.or.jp/en/nations/6a.html