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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Essor

Performance

Daily from Saturday 1 March until Sunday 2 March 2025
10:30 – 10:50am and 12:00 – 12:20pm AEDT
Yolanda Lowatta
Yolanda Lowatta. Photo: Gupi de Zavalia

Bookings not required - free

Join us for Essor, choreographed and performed by Australian Dance Party artist, Yolanda Lowatta, a Geidei woman from Iama, Zenadth Kes with Papua New Guinea and Fijian heritage. Essor is a dance response to Tracey Moffat’s series Some lads, a collection of portraits which are very dear to Yolanda. The series is a reminder of the many people who have come before and paved the way for young First Nations dancers in Australia. Some of them have taught Yolanda cultural and contemporary dance while others have been admired from afar. Their legacies live on and for that she says ‘Essor’ (Thank you).

Some lads #1
Some lads #2
1 Some lads #1, 1986. 2 Some lads #2, 1986 (printed c. 2000), Currently on display. Both Tracey Moffatt. © Tracey Moffatt Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

There will be two performances of Essor each day across the weekend. Join us in the Gallery at 10:30am and in the Gordon Darling Hall at 12:00pm. The performance duration is approximately 20 minutes. Some seating will be available. Please note there is limited capacity in the Gallery space.

Some lads #3
Some lads #4
Some lads #5
1 Some lads #3, 1986 (printed c. 2000), Currently on display. 2 Some lads #4, 1986 (printed c. 2000), Currently on display. 3 Some lads #5, 1986 (printed c. 2000), Currently on display. All Tracey Moffatt. © Tracey Moffatt Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney.

Artists

Choreography and performance: Yolanda Lowatta
Music/soundscape: Bindimu
Garment design: Bindimu
Producers/mentors: Sara Black and Alison Plevey

Yolanda Lowatta is a Geidei woman from Iama, Zenadth Kes and is also of Papua New Guinea and Fijian heritage. Since graduating from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, Yolanda has danced nationally and internationally for Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ochre Contemporary Dance Company, Jannawi Dance Clan, Australian Dance Party, YT Dingo and Melanie Lane. In 2016 Yolanda was awarded a Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer in a Dance or Physical Theatre Production.

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Access information

This program is wheelchair accessible.

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Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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