Bangarra Dance Theatre’s latest show Sheltering sets out to present the audience with a reminder of the social and cultural issues that connect people and place. The three works that make up the program span just over 10 years of Bangarra’s production history.

Glory Tuohy-Daniell’s Keeping Grounded in Bangarra Dance Theatre’s triple bill Sheltering. Photo © Daniel Boud

The opening work, Keeping Grounded, with choreography by Glory Tuohy-Daniell, was first shown as part of a Dance Clan program in 2023. The middle piece, a short film from Daniel Mateo called Brown Boys was also first shown in a Dance Clan program, this time in 2024, while the final work, Frances Rings’ Sheoak, was first presented in 2015.

Keeping Grounded stands out largely as a result of the set by Shana O’Brien. It consists of a large net, fishing-style, with various holes scattered across its surface. Hanging from the flies, the net moves and spreads itself out at times, and is manipulated in various ways by the cast of eight. There are moments when the dancers climb onto the net and walk across it, and they often move through the...