INDEPENDENT CHOREOGRAPHIC WORK

Elise’s independent practice as choreographer has seen the creation of several notable works:

‘Plastic Fantastic’, a roving performance with eight bespoke lantern-style wearable art costumes created entirely from post consumer recycled waste plastics, for River of Art’s Luminous: Celebrate Place Event, Moruya NSW.

“Collider” for CIRCA as Choreographer-In-Residence. A site-specific work for Scoop Festival at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Gold Coast,

“Cube Studies” for CIRCA as Choreographer-In-Residence in Santiago, Chille. Festival Fundación Teatro a Mil / Santiago AMil (choreography conducted entirely online during the Covid19 Pandemic)

CIRCA’s Shaun the Sheep’s Circus Show Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Mackay & Wollongong Australia.

The Play of Light a site-specific interactive work, commissioned by the Curious Arts Festival, Toowoomba.

Oneself One’s Self for Dance19, QUT Dance Graduate performance season in collaboration with animation student Jordan Turner.

‘Return to Earth’ for Circa Zoo (CIRCA’s youth company) as part of Luke Jarram’s ‘Giah’ visual art installation at HOTA Home of the Arts, Gold Coast.

The Marriage of Figaro, Opera Queensland’s production, directed by Patrick Nolan and re-staged for the West Australian Opera

“Shifting Lenses” the creative outcome of Elise’s Master of Arts (Research), a performance installation investigates interdisciplinary approaches to the use of moving image and digital media in live performance. (Queensland University of Technology).

‘Memorandum’ (co-choreography) for ‘Dance 2012’ the Queensland University of Technology Dance Graduation program at the Garden’s Point Theatre in Brisbane.

“In between spaces” live solo performance and choreographic collaboration with Shaaron Boughen – presented as part of the 2011 QUT Dance Graduation Performance Season & shared program with Expressions Dance Company.

“Elise May’s Screen Dance Laboratory” a supported ‘Brisbane Front Residency’ – Judith Wright Centre Shopfront supported by Ausdance Qld, The Judith Wright Centre & Brisbane City Council.

“Close Proximity” solo performance installation (creative development showing at The Judith Wright Centre in 2008) and full production in the Brisbane Festival 09 Under the Radar Program.

Choreographic workshop presentation at the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific Bridge Conference in Singapore 2007

Recipient of the 2006 ‘Take Your Partner’ Australia Council grant for a supported mentorship period with Wendy Morrow and creative development of a new solo performance installation work – “Dare you Look” September/ October 2006.

In 2005 Elise was given the  opportunity to work with Taiwanese dance students to create a choreographic work as part of the Young Asian Choreographer’s Project in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan July/ August 2005.

Commissioned to create a work “Knee Deep in Sunshine” for the Queensland University of Technology’s first year students in their undergraduate performance season, ‘Dance Bytes’ at the Gardens Theatre, Brisbane, June 2004.

Choreographed “Elegance Thy Name…” and “Real Life Situation Failure” for the ‘Critical Mass’ independent choreographer’s seasons at the Brisbane Powerhouse in February and October 2003

EDC (Expressions Dance Company) COMMISSIONED WORK

“Written on the Body”  for EDC’s “Propel” program in 2017.

“Aida On The Beach” for Opera Australia. Choreography for 10 dancers (six EDC dancers and four guest artists) on Coolangatta Beach

Two short works for “Mozart Airborne” 2017 an EDC and Opera Queensland collaboration. Don Giovanni’s “Mi tradì quell’alma ingrata”  with opera singer Hailey Sugars and A trio for three dancers; Benjamin Chapman, Richard Causer and Jake McLarnon choreographed to Così Fan Tutte’s “Secondate, aurette amiche” collaborating with singers Samuel Piper and Dominic J. Walsh.

‘Dance With Me’ program in conjunction with Guangdong Modern Dance Company (GMDC) a work for Chinese independent dancers for the in the Guangdong Modern Dance Festival 2017

“Lumen Body”  (choreographer and director)  a site-specific work with animated visual forms by Paul Van Opdenbosch and electronic sound and live vocal performance  by Michelle Xen for Brisbane City Council’s Laneway series.

‘The Man of Many Talents’ (a sequel to ‘The Woman  With Two Smiles’) a solo work Benjamin Chapman in EDC’s ‘Solo Festival of Dance’ in 2014.

‘The Woman With Two Smiles’ a solo work Samantha Mitchell in EDC’s ‘Solo Festival of Dance’ in 2011.

‘End Up’ in March 2008 for  Expressions Dance Company’s “Core Borders’ choreographic season.

 Pictured: Alana Sargent. Choreography Elise May Written on the Body for EDC’s Propel Season. Photography: Fiona Cullen.

For more information on EDC Expressions Dance Company visit: www.expressionsdancecompany.org.au

View further examples of choreographic work by Elise May here