Mathinna, choreographed by Stephen Page and performed by Bangarra Dance Theatre, tells the story of a young Aboriginal girl who has been adopted into a traditional western society. Inspired by the ‘stolen generation’, this story illustrates the personal journey of a lost soul caught between two cultures. Throughout this essay, three excerpts, titled Exile 1, Adoption and Nursery will be analysed in relation to how the dance work communicates the true story of how “British settlers relocated the
Bangarra Dance Theatre’s phenomenon entitled Mathinna entails the awe-inspiring, yet historically enlightening journey of an Aboriginal girl who was taken from her home and forced to conform to the westernised norms of the 1800’s. In an era plagued by racism and prejudice, Mathinna emanates the themes of colonialism, and cultural intolerance. Following the viewing of this scintillating production it is undeniably clear that the architect of Mathinna, Stephen Page, has deliberately intended to shed