Our People

Gary Lang is the founding artistic director and choreographer of Gary Lang NT Dance Company. Gary is a Larrakia man from Darwin with extended family relationships across the Northern Territory.  He is an experienced dancer and choreographer who has worked widely throughout Australia and the world. He trained at National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA Dance College), graduating in 1990. Since then he has performed, choreographed and travelled the world with various dance companies including Bangarra Dance Company, Dance North and the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre Company. Gary creates stunning, sensual and emotional contemporary dance works.

During 2008, Gary researched and created Munuk Gapu – Fresh water Salt water - a dance production that interprets the lives, adventures and misadventures of Territory pearl divers from a bygone era. Munuk Gapu was featured at the Darwin Festival, performing at the Playhouse Theatre in the Darwin Entertainment Centre in August 2008. Gary is currently working on the contemporary dance production 'Goose Lagoon' with the Darwin Festival to be performed in 2010, another uniquely Territorian story that combines contemporary dance with indigenous culture and history. Gary provides a strong cultural and altruistic focus within the company through its support of youth diversion, rehabilitation programs and dance workshop delivery to disadvantaged indigenous youth in remote communities. Gary is working with the Australian Red Cross in the delivery of these programs to provide youth with an alternative activity to other sports.

Michele is a Gary Lang NTDC dancer and rehearsal director. Michele was classically trained by Kathleen Gorham OBE and Karen Stephens ARAD to Advanced standard. She was coached as a classical student teacher for five years and then from the ages of 17 to19 she was responsible for classical levels Primary thru to Pre-Elementary.

Michele's modern dance training was originally through Coral Deague, who employed Michele in 1975 for theatrical dance performances at the ‘Overlander’ Theatre Restaurant. Michele then spent two years with Calvin Von Reinhold (Merce Cunningham student) incorporating the 'Cunningham' Technique of Modern dance. Then five years with Ronne Arnold’s advanced jazz training and performance, learning the grounding and soul of movements. After that, four years were spent in WA with movement direction from John Tsakiris (ex. Ballet Rambert), who enlightened Michele with the essence of movement and its contemporary form.

Michele has been continually choreographing, teaching and/or performing for many varied venues and occasions (from WA Burswood Casino Dance Production, to an extra for the Australian Ballet Company’s performance of 'Manon' at the State Theatre in Victoria).

Michele arrived in the Territory in 1996 and taught dance & drama to Aboriginal school children (Pre-school through to Year 8) in Lajamanu, NT, for two years. From 1998 to 2005 she taught the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Dance and Dance Studies course at Casuarina Senior College in Darwin. She has continued her involvement in the local dance community through dance teaching, choreography and performance. Michele’s involvement with Gary Lang commenced in 2004 and has grown with her deep respect and belief in the direction and choreography of Gary Lang's productions.

Tara has danced in four productions for Gary Lang NT Dance Company, Entrapment 1&2, The Dream and Munuk Gapu,

Darren has been dancing with Gary Lang NT Dance Company since 2005.

Bryn has danced in the production of Munuk Gapu for Gary Lang NT Dance Company.