WORKS IN DEVELOPMENT
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 space 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/
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.
A 15 minute version of CODED was presented along side two other fifteen minute works by O’Leary in ‘CODED: A NIGHT OF QUEER STORYTELLING,’ (JAN 2025)
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.
A 15 minute version of Ngambaa was presented along side two other fifteen minute works by O’Leary in ‘CODED: A NIGHT OF QUEER STORYTELLING,’ (JAN 2025)
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)
A 15 minute version of I LOVE YOU was presented along side two other fifteen minute works by O’Leary in ‘CODED: A NIGHT OF QUEER STORYTELLING,’ (JAN 2025)
ANOINTED
ANOINTED is a dance work about alchemising pain into power, O'Leary is interested in the golden tapestry and regalness of her country. It’s powerful colours, feeling, smells and natural ancient architecture that connect O’Leary to the way they see the world. O’Leary will develop a new solo dance work that aims to embody the gloriousness and abundance of her country, culture and stories. These elements allow O'Leary to have agency and autonomy over the way they choose to live their life and inevitably who they are becoming.
O’Leary wishes to anoint themselves and be reborn in the spiritual landscape of their soul that births their physical form. O’Leary hopes to declare that what they are becoming is what they should have always been. Colonisation dims the lights of so many and blocks people from living in their full form. O’Leary craves the sensations of full body awareness, control and release. Aiming to declare and understand how rich their body is. O’Leary will create a dance of not just reclamation but of forever truth and knowing
BLAK IRISHMAN
O’Leary will create a time jumping dance theatre work called BLAKIRISHMAN it will share how colonisation impacts individuals through generations. From the acceptance and survival of being Irish, followed by stripping away of self and the impacts of Christianity. To the modern issues of imposter syndrome, mental health issues and relearning. The pinnacle is in the past few years the O’Leary’s have risen from the bounds of colonisation and poverty, although still viscously dealing with the impacts of colonisation, it is evident that the Yinarr have risen to the call of country, family, healing, love and forgiveness.
This story follows the narration of an actress who plays Amelia O’Leary followed by three dancers who play various Yinarrs (Aboriginal women in Gamilaraay.)The three Blak women help share this story by supporting the characters, places, events and dances. From the spiritual realms to the historical times and events. Moments such as the when the language was forced to stop being spoken and taught to the moment we spoke and taught it again. This is one of the major storyline’s as language is powerful, it makes you see the world In gamilaraay. Followed by Amelia’s journey of dance and spiritual/cultural discovery. Layering many moments of growth and devastations.
This is an insightful dance theatre work shines on the storyline of Blak Women in O’Leary’s family. The way O’Leary can tell that herself and her family are healing and decolonising is because we are shifting back to Matriarchal control.