Events

Aboriginal Dance Performance
		Each night of the festival Bangarra Dance Theatre will intrigue us with their internationally renowned performance of Rites. Rites is an exploration of the natural forces which determine our ancient landscape. Bangarra characterize the elements of earth, wind, fire, and water and showcase how they are complex ephemeral moments occurring simultaneously in a nonlinear time frame. Beginning with Awakening and completed by Dreaming, these elements are part of a great cyclic universal force: our spiritual essence, our Dreaming. Bangarra Dance Theatre is one of the youngest and oldest of Australia's dance companies. Its living traditions go back at least 40 000 years but it also reflects the lives and attitudes of Indigenous peoples today. This unique company blends traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture with international contemporary dance influences to create a truly Australian dance language Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.au. Ticket prices start at $15. Discounts are available for concession holders, students and children under 15 years of age.

Viking Theatre
The Vikings were venturesome seafarers. Originally from Denmark, Norway and Sweden they spread through Europe and the North Atlantic in the period of vigorous Scandinavian expansion during AD800 - 1050, known as the Viking Age. The Vikings have made their way to the shores of the Brisbane River in a spectacular riverside theatrical display. Come and learn more about the ancient warriors as Little Viking Theatre Company presents Brave New World, a story about Denmark’s greatest Viking pirate, Dagfari Wartooth, and how he conquered many kingdoms but never his one true love. Do not expect traditional theatre. Brave New World promises to be fresh, new and exciting. Brave New World has two shows daily on the riverside stage - please see timetable for further details. Admission is free.

French Pastry Demonstrations
		Make sure you bring your napkins and notebooks to this culinary cooking display. Learn how to create and enjoy some of France’s finest foods by world recognized pastry chef Damien Pignolet. Damien is currently both chef and partner of Bistro Moncur in Sydney specializing in French cuisine. He also ran and worked at Claude’s, one of the best French restaurants in Sydney. Broaden your cooking horizons and let Damien show you the secrets behind being a master French Pastry Chef! Demonstrations will be held daily in the International Food Hall at 10am, 2pm and 4pm. Admission is free.

Japanese Sumo Wrestling
Sumo wrestling is more than 1500 years old. Matches were originally dedicated to the gods in prayer for a good harvest but today it is a highly formalized but dramatic sport, closely followed by most Japanese. This event is certainly worth you following. Over the 4 days of the festival, 12 of Japan’s biggest and best Sumo wrestlers will compete for the title of Komushi, which is more commonly known as small belt. However, there is nothing small about the belts on these blokes. Competition favourite, Tochigiyama, weighs in at 139 kilograms, stands 1.8 meters tall and eats over 3 kilograms of rice per day. This event will be sure to rock your world - make sure you don’t miss it! Sumo wrestling will be held on Kodak Beach and admission is free. Competition heats will be held Thursday and Friday at 3.00pm, and semi-finals and finals on Saturday and Sunday respectively at 3.00pm also.

Italian Opera
		Set in the heart of Southbank Parklands the Suncorp Piazza will be filled with the sound of music from Australia’s leading Opera singer - Ruggiero Leoncavallo. Come and be enchanted with the famous Italian Opera - Carmen, the tragic story of a prince’s love for a simple gypsy girl. Tickets are $5 per person or $10 per family and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.au. Discounts are available for students, pensioners and concession cardholders.