WORKS IN DEVELOPMENT
TOUGH LOVE
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/
GENERATION WTF
IMAGE BY ELLA CLARKE-KING FROM DHARIWAA YULUGI PERFORAMCE OF GENERATION WTF BY AMELIA JEAN O’LEARY
Circling the images of indigenous women living in modern day so-called Australia. A conflicting story of unity and expression that shares the casual nature of destruction in this country.
PART 1: A RIB, MY SISTER
A sister is a rib, lays in form becoming the cage. This is the machine, the formation of pure riot. With a softness unimaginable. Another sister is formed. They prepare, they observe, they form themselves, they form each other.
PART 2: A PARTY ON UNCEDE LANDS
A ship is coming we must act. A radical act of expansion and flow in a world that tries to restrict motion. After they consume all the colonisers they grow so strong that they turn into huge mountains and trees, they never leave, their spirits so large in unity.
CHOREOGRAPHER & SOUND DESIGNER: @ameliaa.jeann
DANCERS: @karliamay_ @keia_mcgrady44 @ameliaa.jeann
COSTUME @_mayanderson
I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU, 2025, photo by Ella Clarke-King
‘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)
BLAK IRISHMAN
TOUGH LOVE
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/
GENERATION WTF
Circling the images of indigenous women living in modern day so-called Australia. A conflicting story of unity and expression that shares the casual nature of destruction in this country.
PART 1: A RIB, MY SISTER
A sister is a rib, lays in form becoming the cage. This is the machine, the formation of pure riot. With a softness unimaginable. Another sister is formed. They prepare, they observe, they form themselves, they form each other.
PART 2: A PARTY ON UNCEDE LANDS
A ship is coming we must act. A radical act of expansion and flow in a world that tries to restrict motion. After they consume all the colonisers they grow so strong that they turn into huge mountains and trees, they never leave, their spirits so large in unity.
CHOREOGRAPHER & SOUND DESIGNER: @ameliaa.jeann
DANCERS: @karliamay_ @keia_mcgrady44 @ameliaa.jeann
COSTUME @_mayanderson
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)
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.
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.