My exploration of the natural environment has continued and expanded with my work with one of my younger amazing mentees, Nicole Tsourlenes, with her leading the project. The performance will be at the Melbourne Recital Centre later this year.

This will be an AirSticks, movement and music performance.

Right now I am currently in production rehearsing for November performances of the big end of year show celebrating 35 years of the Women*s Circus. I will get to utilize the AirSticks in my performance, which is a duet with another performer who I admire and am loving working with. Stay tuned.

I went to Cork, Ireland last August where I did an environmental dance project with Tara Bendel and made a dance film. 

I went to New Zealand in March this year and collaborated with Suzanne Cowan on a creative development. It was Auckland Piha Beach and the Coromandel Peninsula.

It really enhanced my dance practice to include the natural environment. 

I have made some short films of the outcome from both my NZ trip and Ireland with videographer Peter Frith.

Thanks to Creative Australia for helping to make the travel happen.

For the last few months I have been working as a research assistant at Monash University where I have been working on the AirSticks. Alon and the team at Sensilab are working on making the AirSticks accessible to a wider variety of people with complex movement disabilities. We’re working on updating the software, new colourful designs, and different methods of wearability. We’ve had several sessions with artists with disabilities to gather more information about how they use the AirSticks and the features they’re hoping to see in the future. The AirSticks are still being developed and are currently in their research phase. As such they are not commercially available, but if you’re interested in taking part in ongoing research please reach out.

I was delighted to take part in Holobody, a mixed reality technology project lead by Kim Vincs, as a research assistant between April and June of this year. The project focuses on creating a map of your body. This map is adaptable based on a person’s movement capabilities, with a big focus on mobility aid users. To control the fish I need to move my body instead of relying on gestures or a controller. Our session started as moving a school of fish and evolved into an impromptu dance practice.

Time is Just a Thing is an album I co-created with Ciaran Frame and Alon Ilsar that explores an emotional and personal journey. It was recorded over several sessions at ABC Southbank in December 2024. I was able to throw myself into this amazing experience and use my poetry, natural voice, and played various instruments using traditional percussion instruments and also using the AirSticks. 

If you’d like to check it out digitally you can find a link here.

A physical release is coming later this year.

In January I flew over to Wellington, NZ for the ICTMD (International Conference for Traditional Music and Dance) conference to present a paper on Conduit Bodies. The conference was a whole different experience which has lead me to new contacts and I was able to explore ideas I had never considered before. My highlight was connecting with the Indigenous Australian people, where I learnt more about their traditional songs and dances.

While there I met Alice, and fell in love with the painting she is holding in the above photo. I purchased it the same day. I loved the story behind the painting, which you can read below.

Thanks to Creative Australia, Melbourne Fringe Festival and Alter States Festival I was able to do my season of Conduit Bodies in October 2024. This was an incredibly rewarding and satisfying weeks and yes the first time I experienced being the leading artist in this project. I am fortunate to have such a wonderful team of creatives and professionals behind me, including Loom Arts Management and Arts House who went far beyond to bring my dream performance to the stage.

I never imagined having enough fine motor skills to use ink and fine detailing brushes. Ink runs and spreads in seconds and fine (thin) brushes could easily snap between my chunky, moving fingers but I am surprise none of this happens to me. I feel totally immerse by the experience – this delicate medium is delightful. The brushes are special to me because they were my Dad’s – I get the sense he would be proud to see how much I am using and admiring his paint tools. Being able to explore with ink and brushes has taught me things about gentle lines, shapes and movement. My hand relaxes and my mind delves into my peaceful world. Since moving house last October I have found my creative juices to be pouring through beautifully – it is like being on a new planet. The painting above is an inspired piece of a gorgeous dog, who resides in the same building as me. Bobby is a 3 year old labadoodle and is a therapy friend for children who are unwell. When I see Bobby and he sees me – our connection is real and no barriers between us. I instantly feel the urge to know I’m safe and loved.

I have now relocated after 20 something years of living in the same place.

Now I am finally living in an area where I can walk or ride independently directly from my own front door. This is a new sense of freedom. My new office has a sky view! A lot of creative juices are flying out, particularly in my writing. I am writing a lot at the moment, professionally and for pleasure.

My work never seems to stop, and since I am self employed, this is great. I love the fact that I work as an Artist, even in my mentor role these days. I have a few projects on the go for 2024. So, watch this space!