AMELIA JEAN O’LEARY

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CODED
A Night of Queer Storytelling

Amelia Jean O’Leary welcomes the audience into her creative space as she gives an inside glimpse of her most recent creative projects. Performed by some of the most exciting and talented young dancers in Melbourne.

Witness three fifteen minute new First Nations femme queer contemporary dance works, choreographed by O’Leary, Including Ngambaa (Mother in Gamilaaraay), a trio; Winangaylanha ngaya nginunha (I love you in Gamilaraay) a group work and CODED a duet that explores the embedding of queerness within landscapes in fear of personification of physicalised queerness.

TICKETS HERE

WHEN 23-25 Jan | Thu-Sat 7pm
DURATION 50m
LOCATION Abbotsford Convent — Oratory
1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford

Cast and Crew:
Dancers:  Emily Earther, Carmen Yih, Wendy Feng, Keia McGrady, Amelia J O'Leary & Cora Hughes
Lighting Designer:  Giovanna Yate Gonzalez
Production and Stage Manager: Georgie Bright
Choreography and Sound: Amelia J O'Leary

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COMING SOON

SAD EYES



This new contemporary work leans into multiple perspectives of youthful, cultural functionality of femininity in society. Bringing up complications of politics, identity and environmental concern, through dance and storytelling.

This new First Nations lead contemporary dance work by O’Leary brings up important conversations on choice and action. Within an “Australian” context they dissemble the structures around them and try rebuild them and shift the narrative. This queries the importance of dance as a vehicle for change, what if we rebuild the engine? What if this work becomes the world we choose to live in? how can we shift the fantasy to reality? what are your politics? what do you value?
Performnace dates: 3-5 April 2025

Venue:  Dancehouse

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT SAD EYES

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IN DEVELOPMENT:

CODED


CODED, a new First Nations femme queer contemporary dance work that explores the embedding of queerness within landscapes in fear of personification of physicalized queerness.

This work and research will attempt to decode the delicate weaving of resistance and fear to unravel and re-weave her queerness with love, acceptance, and openness. CODED will be created from the lens of Amelia’s Gamilaroi understanding of the world, spirituality, culture, and history; as well as her experience in queer communities and urban/suburban life. O’Leary was commissioned to develop her new work CODED for the Queer Development Program by Performance Space in Sydney May 2024.  

Ngambaa I’m Tired


Ngambaa, I’m Tired (Ngambaa means Mother in Gamilarraay language). A Gamilaroi First Nations Queer artist, Amelia utilises theatre, dance, writing, sound and film to alchemise her diverse ensemble’s response to the increasing pressure to function and produce in a failing society. The company seeks original expressions that refuse the silent lack of care for their existence – a healthy prosperity of storytelling and dance that hopes to shift perspectives and create softnesss.

I LOVE YOU


‘Winangaylanha nagoya nginuha’ I LOVE YOU is a queer femme group dance work that explores the experiences of queer femmes, relationship, queer loneliness and culture. With a play on diverse realistic queer experiences and not just queer fantasy.

‘Winangaylanha nagoya nginuha’ translates to 'I love you' in Gamilaaraay)

TOGETHER




Together is an inter-cultural dance performance that conjures the ancestral presence of human
and non-human kin, through the meeting and co-existing of four pan-indigenous dance
artists.

This project is a collaborative and co-led initiative involving Bella Waru (Ngāti Tukorehe,
Taranaki Tūturu), Danni Cook (Ngāpuhi), Amelia O’Leary (Gamilaroi Yinarr) and Karlia Cook
(Ngāpuhi). It is grounded in the rich tapestry of kinship-based indigenous knowledge, linking
all of existence in mutually beneficial relationship across deep time and space. Through the
process of making and researching this work, we are constantly cultivating and deepening
our personal connection with ancestral beings that exist within and around our bodies,
alongside the meeting and journeying of our collective bodies. Existing together, journeying
together, honouring together.

https://www.instagram.com/ausdancetheatre/reel/C8n2d5lynEf/

PEGGY SUE


A theatre work conceptualised by Amelia Jean O’Leary in collaboartion with Melbounre Theatre Company’s First Nations Young Artist Program  
Written by Amelia Jean O’Leary and Emma Salmon
Directed and Choreographed by Amelia Jean O’Leary

Presenting in Yirramboi 2025

PEGGY SUE follows the story line of Joan, a 23 year old blak woman who moves to a shared house in North Melbourne acting as a portal for self growth and discovery as well as a distilled representation of the settler colony.

SUPPORT AMELIA’S CREATIVE JOURNEY BY DONATING HERE