My Dearest
Friend for 21 years Ms Elma Kris
Torres Strait
Girl!
ELMA KRIS
Dancer
We met in
Cairns FNQLD - I lived there for 3yrs- 1987/1990
Elma was raised
on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. She is
a descendant of people from the Western and
Central Islands, including Songoro people from
Madabuan near the coast of the Pahoturi River in
Mugie Daudalop Deudai (PNG). Elma's tribal totem
is Wagadem, Kigus, Kadal, Snake, Dangal and Waru.
Elma completed
a Visual Arts course in Cairns and taught Visual
Arts on Thursday Island TAFE Campus for a year
in 1993. The following year she moved to Sydney
to further her studies in traditional Torres
Strait dance at NAISDA College. During her time
as a student Elma choreographed and performed in
two pieces for college productions. Her pieces
were Bupau Ipikazil (Bushwomen) in 1996 and
Bupau Mabigal (Bush People) in 1997.
She has
appeared in the films Oscar and Lucinda, Reef
Dreaming, Farscape and also in the ABC radio
broadcast Not Your Mob Next Door by Helen Anu.
In 1997 Elma joined Bangarra under NAISDA's
ADAPT Program and performed in Fish. After her
NAISDA graduation she joined the Aboriginal
Islander Dance Theatre Company for her first
international touring experience: to Germany,
Israel and England with Warup Kodomir. She later
performed in Albert David's piece Bipotim for
Dance Clan.
Elma founded her own dance group named Bibir
(Strength) and choreographed Malu, presented as
part of Artyfact at the Opera House. Her piece
Bupau Ipikazil appeared as part of Fusion at the
Sydney ANA Hotel. In 1999 Elma toured the UK
with Bangarra's production The Dreaming and was
part of Bangarra's DanceClan 2.
Elma performed
in the opening ceremony of The Olympic Arts
Festival and at the Opening and Closing
Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Elma has performed in all of Bangarra's
productions since joining the company in 1999.
Elma hopes to develop her work as a
choreographer in the future.
Also check out:
http://www.bangarra.com.au/bios/dancers.html#elma
http://www.poruma.com/
