“The Other Side of Me” — a contemporary dance work depicting the story of a man taken from his Aboriginal family and adopted by a white English family in the 1960s.
The Northern Territory Dance Company’s production is performing at the Sydney Opera House. The piece, based on letters written by an unnamed Aboriginal man to the late English academic Dr. Laura Fish, explores themes of cultural displacement, identity search, and the trauma of the Stolen Generations.
Background
The story originated from correspondence between an Aboriginal man raised in England and Dr. Laura Fish, who died in 2024. Dr. Fish initiated a collaboration between Northumbria University and the dance company in 2020.
The protagonist was raised in England and corresponded with Dr. Fish, sharing his personal experiences of removal and adoption.
Content of the Production
- The dance explores themes of cultural displacement and identity search.
- It portrays internal conflict through a duet representing the man’s turmoil and his connection to Indigenous spirit.
- The narrative includes his experiences with incarceration and death in custody.
Artistic director Gary Lang states the performance aims to create awareness about the Stolen Generations.
Tour and Reception
The production has toured 13 towns and cities across Australia. It is produced by BlakDance.
The show will have its final Sydney performance on Saturday. It will then travel to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, and conclude at the Rise Festival in Inverness, Scotland, in late May.