GARRY STEWART
Artistic Director

After training at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne, Garry danced with a number of companies, including Australian Dance Theatre, Queensland Ballet and One Extra Company, before he began his career as a choreographer.

From 1990 - 1998 Garry operated as a freelance choreographer making works on some of Australia’s major contemporary dance companies, such as Chunky Move and Sydney Dance Company. In this period he also created choreographies for most of Australia’s major tertiary dance training institutions – the Victorian College of the Arts, Queensland University of Technology, the Centre for Performing Arts and the University of Western Sydney. Throughout the mid 1990’s Garry studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Communications at the University of Technology Sydney majoring in cultural theory and film, video and new media production.

In 1998, he set up the Sydney-based company, Thwack!, creating two dance works: Plastic Space, which premiered at the Melbourne Festival and subsequently toured Australia; and the first stage of Birdbrain, a deconstruction of Swan Lake.

In 1999 he was appointed Artistic Director of Australian Dance Theatre (ADT). Housedance was Garry’s first project for company. Commissioned for the International Millenium Broadcast it was performed on the outside of the main sail of the Sydney Opera House on New Year’s Eve 1999 to an estimated television audience of two billion.

His first full length work with ADT was the hugely successful Birdbrain, which premiered in the Adelaide Festival 2000 as a work in progress and has since toured extensively both nationally and internationally, including dates at the Joyce Theatre in New York, the Sydney Opera House, the Holland Dance Festival, as well as other major touring throughout the North America, Asia and Europe. His other works for the company include Plastic Space, Monstrosity, (made for the Australian Festival for Young People); The Age of Unbeauty (which generated three Australian Dance Awards in 2002 – Outstanding Achievement in Choreography awarded to Garry Stewart, Outstanding Performance by a Company and Outstanding Male Dancer awarded to Dean Walsh) and Nothing, created for WOMADelaide 2003.

His most recent work Held, which premiered at the 2004 Adelaide Festival, is a unique collaboration with renowned U.S. dance photographer Lois Greenfield. This work is already set to tour to the Sydney Opera House, the Monaco Dance Festival, Anchorage Arts Centre and to the Joyce Theatre in New York City.

Garry has been awarded a number of fellowships and scholarships, including the biennial Sir Robert Helpmann Fellowship from the NSW Ministry for the Arts, which he used to study release technique at the Susan Klein School of Dance in New York and an Australia Council Fellowship to research dance and new media technologies. He has also been the recipient of two fellowships from the Australian Choreographic Centre in Canberra.

top

CAROL WELLMAN
Assistant Director

Carol has been the Assistant Director and Rehearsal Director of ADT under the direction of Garry Stewart since 2000. She spent 2002 in the role of Artistic Director for Buzz Dance Theatre with whom she began her professional career in 1986 when the company was known as 2 Dance Plus. She resumed her position with ADT in January 2003. Having graduated with a B.A. Dance from V.C.A. in 1985, Carol has worked with many companies during her 18 year career, including Australian companies 2 Dance Plus; Chrissie Parrott Dance Collective; Dance North and Thwack! Dance Theatre (Garry Stewart’s former project based dance company). Between 1992-99, Carol performed for Compagnie Velvet in Belgium; Compagnie Pascoli in France; Theater am Ballsaal and the Greifswald Theater in Germany and V-Tol; Second Stride; Green Candle Dance Company and the Claire Russ Ensemble in Britain.
She has been fortunate in her ability to balance her dance and physical theatre performing career with education work and choreographic projects. Her commitment to dance education allowed her to work with the outreach education units of Rambert Dance Company, Richard Alston Dance Company and the London Contemporary Dance Theatre.

top

DAVID BONNEY
Dramaturg

David studied acting at the Victorian College of the Arts and script editing at Australian Film, Television & Radio School. He has performed in theatre and film, most recently in Tony Ayre’s feature film ‘Walking on Water’ which won several awards at the 2002 Berlin Film Festival. He script edited Tyler Coppin’s Lyrebird – Tales of Helpman for the 1998 Adelaide Festival and international tour. In February this year he directed Paul Capsis in the award winning show Capsis vs Capsis for the Sydney Opera House. He also works as a writer and stylist for magazines Pavement, Juice, Black & White and Australian Style and is fashion editor of the new Australian women’s magazine ‘Yen’. David has collaborated with Garry Stewart and ADT on Plastic Space, Monstrosity, The Age of Unbeauty, HELD and Birdbrain.

top

GAELLE MELLIS
Set & Costume Designer

Gaelle's designs have been extensively seen in Adelaide's theatres for the past ten years. Some of her major design credits include; Whispering Demons, The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Ruysch for Vitalstatistix and the Vitalstatistix/ State Theatre production of Salt; Riders To The Sea, Mahagonny Songspeil and Turn of the Screw for the State Opera of South Australia, Junction Theatre's Wild Rice and Risky and the co production of Killer Joe for Brink Productions and State Theatre of South Australia.

Her simple and effective designs have been the aesthetic backbone to the highly acclaimed Restless Dance, where she has designed all of their shows to date, including their tour of Precious to the Sydney Paralympic Games Cultural Festival. Gaelle’s work with Adelaide's major youth theatre company Urban Myth has included Puberty Blues, Dream Cafe and their public performance troupe Serious Young Aliens which debuted at the 1996 Adelaide Festival's Red Square. Event design has included Come Out 01;Adelaide International Film Festival Opening Night Party; 1994 and 2002 Fringe Club. For the Australian Dance Theatre she has designed The Age of Unbeauty, Nothing and the internationally acclaimed Birdbrain. Gaelle was awarded the 2002 Adelaide Critics Circle Individual Award.

top

LUKE SMILES
Sound Designer

Luke began dance training at the Miranda Kalgovas Ballet School, later completing a Bachelor of Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts. Apart from being a founding member of Chunky Move, he has also performed with Vis-a-Vis Dance Canberra, The One Extra Dance Company, Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre and Thwack!

Working under the name motion laboratories Luke’s music work includes composition/sound design for ADT productions of Birdbrain, The Age of Unbeauty, and the second half of Nothing which premiered at WOMADelaide 2003. His soundtracks for Chunky Move productions include Corrupted 2, All The Better To Eat You With, Live Acts, Flexible, Clear Pale Skin and Wanted.

Additional composition credits include the original version of Corrupted for the Nederlands Dans Theatre, sound and music for the Making Chunky Move Corrupted 2 CD-ROM, two projects with choreographer Byron Perry, the soundtrack for the short film Stark White by Brett Daffy, and the sonic performance/installation <expose/function> for Melbourne’s Next Wave Festival 2000.

top

TIM GRUCHY
Video Artist

Tim Gruchy has been involved in video arts, design and production for over fifteen years. Based in Sydney, he has worked around the country on a variety of projects, ranging from the live video production for the Big Day Out’s Boiler Room to being the video director of Australian Fashion Week. His interactive installations have been featured in numerous national art / tech events in Australia, Belgium, Holland and Britain. Tim is also involved in the exhibition world as an integrated and interactive systems designer and has worked on numerous cultural projects including the Museum of Sydney and the Canberra War Memorial. Tim’s work with ADT includes Plastic Space and Birdbrain.

top

DAMIEN COOPER
Lighting Designer

A technical production graduate at NIDA, Damien has worked with many Australian dance and physical theatre companies including Sydney Dance Company, The Australian Ballet, Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin, One Extra Dance Company and Legs on the Wall.

He was also involved in Red Square for the 1996 Adelaide Festival, Flamma, Flamma for the 1998 Adelaide Festival and The Theft of Sita for the 2000 Adelaide Festival, and was co-lighting designer with Nigel Levings on the Backlot Tour for Fox Studios Australia. His work for Garry Stewart includes Plastic Space, Helmet, Housedance, Birdbrain and The Age of Unbeauty.

top

ANTON
Guest Dancer

Anton graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with an Associate Degree in Dance. He has danced with Darc Swan, Dance North and ADT. He has recently returned from dancing at the Australian Choreographic Centre in Tanja Liedtke’s The 12th Floor.
Since 1997 Anton has been making choreographing for all levels of dance. He has created work for Dance North’s choreographic season No Regrets in addition to a 30 minute piece titled Falling for their youth company Extensions. One 700 is his fifth piece for Ignition. His previous Ignition works include Us (2000), Marat (2001 – listed as Most Promising Choreography by Dance Australia critics), Kalt (Cold Dreams Warm Heart) (2002) and While On The Way (2003).

Anton has also made Clara’s Artic Dream for the South Australian Children’s Ballet and two short dance films When You’re Alone (a finalist in the ReelDance film competition in 2004) and Hansel & Gretel. In July 2004 Anton created a section of work for the Canberra based youth dance company Quantum Leap’s Eternity season.

top

SHANNON ANDERSON
Dancer

Shannon graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 1997 with an Associate Degree in Dance. From 1998 through to 2001, he performed with Dance North, Buzz Dance Theatre in Perth and Expressions Dance Company in Brisbane. In 2002, he joined Carte Blanche in Norway for a year, and most recently worked for Wilda Dance Company in Copenhagen. Shannon joined ADT following performances as a guest dancer in several works for ADT’s Ignition 4 season and choreographed Simple for Ignition 5. He has performed in HELD, Nothing, The Age of Unbeauty and Birdbrain.

top

KRISTINA CHAN
Guest Dancer

Kristina was a member of ADT from 1999-2002, performing in Birdbrain, The Age of Unbeauty, Plastic Space and Attention Deficit Therapy. She toured nationally and throughout Canada, USA, Asia and the UK with the company. In 2001 and 2002 Kristina choreographed two short works for ADT’s annual Ignition season.

In 2003 Kristina worked on a solo performance, Endstation Wunderkind, choreographed by Tanja Liedtke. She also worked with Chunky Move, performing Stephanie Lake’s The Loop, Tasdance on Tresured Island and with Narelle Benjamin on Insideout as a part of a One Extra company season. Kristina returned to ADT as guest artist, touring to London and Melbourne.
In 2004 Kristina danced in River Woman, a film directed by Michelle Mahrer. She then worked with Tanja Liedtke on Twelfth Floor at the Australian Choreographic Centre, Chunky Move on Crumpled & Corrupted in Korea and with Stalker Theatre Co, Sydney.

Recently Kristina worked as assistant to the choreographer at De Anima Ballet Contemporaneo, Rio de Janeiro, on the remount of To My Suite and Forever You, both choreographed by Tanja Liedtke.
Kristina has returned to ADT for the 04/05 tour to Europe, UK and America.

top

VICTORIA COLOMBUS
Guest Dancer

Victoria Colombus grew up in Christchurch, New Zealand. She began dancing at Southern Ballet and went on to study at the New Zealand School of Dance. After graduating in 2002 she joined Black Grace Dance Company as a guest female artist for their national and international tours. She has also performed as a guest dancer in ADT seasons including Igniton 4, Ignition 5 and the collaborative project with Restless Dance Company.

top

DANIEL JABER
Dancer

Daniel began his dance training with Christine Underdown in Adelaide in 1999. He moved to Brisbane in 2001 where he studied dance at Queensland University of Technology and spent three months in the Queensland Ballet’s Professional year course. In May 2003, he transferred to AIT- Arts as a second year student in the Bachelor of Dance Performance program and is currently in his final year. Daniel joined ADT as a full time member in 2004 and has since appeared in HELD and Nothing.

top

LINA LIMOSANI
Dancer

Lina began her dance training at the Box Hill College of TAFE, Melbourne, before travelling to the UK where she undertook a year's professional training at the Thamesdown Dance Studios, Swindon College. During her time in the UK, Lina worked with RJC Dance Theatre. On returning to Australia, she continued her training at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, before transferring to the Victorian College of the Arts to complete her degree. She has worked with Neil Adams, Brett Daffy, Alita Chase, Simone Clifford, Tracey Mitchel and Phillip Adams.

Lina joined ADT in March 2000 and has performed in HELD, Nothing, The Age of Unbeauty, Birdbrain, Plastic Space and Attention Deficit Therapy. She created It's not 4 me, Oh what fun it is to… Blind Spot and This Time for Ignition. In 2003 she was awarded the Emerging Artist prize by the Adelaide Critics Circle for Blind Spot.

top

ROSS McCORMACK
Dancer

Ross McCormack graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2001 with an award for Excellence in Choreography and rave reviews for his graduating performance. During his final year he work on the solo piece Anthem, choreographed by Douglas Wright. His choreographic work includes Triptytch, Jiggery Pokery and Ping. He also made The Bag, a short dance film. Ross performed in Douglas Wright’s Dance Company’s Inland at the 2002 New Zealand Festival of Arts. He went on to work with the Royal New Zealand Ballet for the 2002 season of Carmen. Since joining ADT in January 2003, he has performed in HELD, Nothing, The Age of Unbeauty at the Melbourne International Arts Festival, toured to the UK and Holland Dance Festival as part of the ensemble for Birdbrain and choreographed Tui and Wallflowers for the Ignition series. Ross recently won the 2004 Helpmann Award for Best Male Dancer in a Ballet or Dance Work.

top

LARISSA MCGOWAN
Dancer

Born in Brisbane, Larissa began her dance training at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE), where she won the Queensland Ballet Scholarship to the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), as well as the prize for 'Most Outstanding Dancer' in 1997. While at the QDSE, Larissa danced with Opera Queensland in Samson et Delilah, a work choreographed by Gideon Obarzanek, and in Bizet's Pearl Fishers.

She has choreographed two works for VCA students, Stratagem and Without Conscious Thought, the latter work being performed at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in 1999. In her graduating year, Larissa won the Mary Orloff award for 'Most Outstanding Talent'.

Larissa joined ADT in 2000 and has since performed in HELD, Nothing, The Age of Unbeauty, Birdbrain and Attention Deficit Therapy. She has created four works for Ignition and won the 2003 Green Room Award for Best Female Dancer. Larissa recently won the award for Best Female Dancer in a Ballet or Dance Work at the 2004 Helpmann Awards.

top

CAITLIN MCLEOD
Dancer

Caitlin trained at the Adelaide Institute of TAFE, formerly known as the Centre for Performing Arts. She graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor in Dance Performance. Whilst studying she worked with prominent choreographers such as Michael Whaites, Rosetta Cook, Xiao Xiong Zhang, Li Han Zhong and Peter Sheedy.

Throughout her training she danced commercially, gaining the position of Dance Co-ordinator at Heaven Nightclub where she danced three times per week for four years. She has also performed as a cheerleader for the Adelaide 36ers Basketball Team and appeared in numerous parades throughout Adelaide.

Caitlin began working with Australian Dance Theatre in 2002 under a traineeship program, joining in the creative process and performing in The Age Of Unbeauty. She has performed in Nothing, Ignition and the European premiere of Birdbrain as a guest artist. She became a full time member of the company in 2004 and has since performed in HELD and Nothing.

top

CRAIG PROCTER
Guest Performer

Craig studied both ashtanga and hatha yoga intensively since 1989 with various teachers in Australia and India. During his early 20s Craig began studying dance at Bodenweisser in Sydney in addition to yoga. Craig has returned to learning dance at the Sydney Dance Company studios and occasionally still does dance classes. He allso performs yoga contortion at private functions, nightclubs and special events. Craig has worked with Garry Stewart on two works, Helmet and Birdbrain.

top

XIAO-XUAN YANG
Dancer

Xuan began her studies in Chinese dance in 1979. She studied Martha Graham’s Modern technique in 1987 and joined the National Institute of Arts in 1994. Her training has also included studying the techniques of Limon and Merce Cunningham. She was invited to participate in a cultural exchange program with CPA (now AIT) with Zhang Xiao-Xiong in 1997. In 1999 she joined Cloud Gate 2 and toured with the company to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan before leaving in 2003. She joined ADT in 2004 and has performed in HELD and Nothing.

top

PAUL ZIVKOVICH
Dancer

Born in Canberra, Paul trained as a gymnast for four years and successfully competed in both state and national competitions. Paul began dancing in 1999 with the Australian Choreographic Centre’s ‘Quantum Leap Youth Choreographic Ensemble’. Over the two years spent with the ensemble Paul worked with many choreographers and also performed in Luke Hockley’s Folding on forever, a Choreographic Fellowship at the Centre in 1999.

In 2002 Paul completed an Associate Degree in Dance at Queensland University of Technology where he worked with choreographers Harold Collins, Dianna Laska Moore, Csaba Buday, Natalie Weir, Jean Tally, Tiina Ali-Haapala and Anna Smith. Whilst training Paul danced with Opera Queensland, appeared as an extra with The Royal Ballet, danced in a Darren Hayes’ video clip and performed in Out of your skin, a video/dance project choreographed by Shaaron Boughen.

In 2003, under the direction of Garry Stewart, Paul worked with Australian Dance Theatre as a guest artist, performing in Nothing for Womadelaide and The Age of Unbeauty for the Adelaide season and the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Paul joined ADT full-time later in 2003 and has since performed in HELD for the 2004 Adelaide Festival and the Sydney Opera House. Paul also performed in Ignition 5 – Reincarnate, a season presenting new works by ADT dancers and independent artists. Paul will be touring extensively with ADT towards the end of 2004 and into 2005 throughout Europe, United Kingdom and America, performing Birdbrain, The Age of Unbeauty and HELD.

Paul has choreographed and presented several works in the Australian Choreographic Centre’s season of Hot to Trot and has choreographed The pull of weight for ‘Quantum Leaps’ season Out of Bounds. This year he has choreographed his second work for the company Thrill, for the season Eternity.

top