Team

PERFORMERS

Janice Florence

Janice is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Weave Movement Theatre. She trained in dance in Australia and the USA. In 1983 she completed a Graduate Diploma of Movement and Dance at Melbourne University. For 10 years, she was a performer, teacher and researcher with State of Flux, one of the first Australian companies to include a dancer with a disability. Janice has worked and had residencies with Karen Nelson, exponent of ‘diverse dance’ in the USA and with Blue-Eyed Soul, Touchdown and CanDoCo in the UK. Janice is the recipient of the inaugural 2019 Disability Arts Award for an Established Artist from the Australia Council for the Arts.

Antony Riddell

Antony is a performer, poet, novelist and visual artist. Antony has performed with Weave Movement Theatre since 2000. He was involved in the punk and fringe music industry in Sydney and Melbourne playing with bands such as Nada and Volvox and performs regularly at spoken word nights across Melbourne. Antony is a trained visual artist from the Sydney College of the Arts. He exhibited a solo exhibition at Blindside Gallery in 2015 called Fingerprints on the Surface of the Brain, collaborating with Christopher LG Hill and Liquid Architecture to present a performance program for the exhibition. Antony is a prolific writer and has self-published over 15 books. In 2018 he was awarded the Writeability Fellowship through Writers Victoria to develop his manuscript The Sun Is Not Fun. In 2019 he was highly commended for Writers Victoria’s Publishability Fellowship. Antony’s absurdist characters from his writing are often used as the basis for scripts or dialog for Weave’s performances.

David Baker

David completed Ignition theatre Training (2005, NMIT), VCAL Arts and Multimedia (2007, Swinburne TAFE) followed by a Diploma of Theatre Arts (2009, Swinburne TAFE). David performs as a stilt walker and balloon artist at various events across Melbourne. In 2011 David completed a two year Internship at Red Stitch Actors Theatre, in the role of ASM when this production was remounted at the Fairfax Studio, Melbourne Arts Centre in 2012. David is a founding member of Rollercoaster Theatre, and volunteer artist with FOG Theatre (City of Port Phillip), RAG Theatre and Dream Theatre. In 2013 he was a member of the cast of “Casa Del Crip,” a pilot sit com about people with disabilities. He was selected for a Professional Development opportunity at the Unlimited UK Arts Festival in London in 2012 where David learned techniques for body mapping, which he shared in masterclasses in Melbourne in 2012/13. David is employed as an Usher at The Melbourne Arts Centre. David joined Weave in 2015.

Emma Norton

Emma is an emerging dancer and choreographer. Currently studying at NMIT (Ignition Theatre), Emma’s passion is to become a performer and develop her own dances to be seen by wide audiences. Already, Emma has taken lead roles in various performances including as a member of BoilOver Inc. In 2009 /10 Emma performed at the Awakenings Festival and participated in Rawcus’Flashmobat Federation Square. In 2013 she was a street performer at Sunfest where she developed an improvised routine to engage local attendees. Emma is developing her public speaking skills and this year was a key speaker at the Have A Say Conference and is a committee member of BoilOver. Emma joined Weave in 2015.

Greg Muir

Greg is a Yorta Yorta man, who is a visual artist and performer. Greg joined Weave in 2011 and has been involved in all Weave performances to date including the most recent performance of Forbidden Laughter in the ButohOUT 2019 Showcase at the Abbotsford Convent. Greg is an accomplished artist who was awarded the Creative Victoria Award for Excellence at the Koorie Art Show in 2016. In 2017 Greg won Best Achievements in Arts (Visual) at the Funds in Court Inspire Awards, by the Supreme Court of Victoria. Greg has been involved in the promotion of the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Melbourne Museum and the Aboriginal Heritage Trust at Federation Square. In his spare time he enjoys playing Balloon Football League.

Leisa Prowd

is a writer, public speaker and performance artist based in Melbourne. Known for her blog, ‘Life At My Level’, Leisa writes about her musings on everyday observations, the habitual and the intriguing. Nominated as one of 6 emerging writers by Writers Victoria (Writeability 2014), Leisa was a regular contributor to ABC Ramp Up and appears in 3CR – Smalltalk, among others. Currently working at Arts Access Victoria (she no longer works at Arts Access Vic), Leisa believes variety is the spice of life and in 2012 turned her hand to hosting 'Take Five with Leisa'. Leisa has been a member of Weave since 2014. Leisa is also a member of Rawcus Theatre.

Trevor Dunn

Trevor graduated with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts from the Victorian College of the Arts/Melbourne University in 1995. Trevor was a co-founder of Weave Movement Theatre, and has performed in all Weave productions since 1997. Trevor has taught drama and dance to young adults with disability at the Art Life program at Footscray Community Arts Centre and has worked alongside many well-known improvisation teachers such as Al Wunder and Nick Papas. Most recently Trevor performed in ‘A Normal Child’, directed by David Woods, performed at the Northcote Town Hall.

Willow J Conway

Willow is a multi-disciplinary theatre practitioner and actor/performer working in a variety forms including acting, burlesque, bouffon, butoh, cabaret and performance art. Graduating with an Ad. Dip in Acting in 2001 she has worked extensively in film and television and with many independent theatre companies. She has a successful solo career touring nationally and internationally with her self-devised and directed pieces making headlines in Japan, USA, Paris and London. Some of her credits include DasSHOKU SHAKE!, White Day Dream, Dirty Pictures, Voodoo Trash Dolls, Measure for Measure, Empire, All of Which Are American Dreams, Elmo, Burlesque Hall of Fame(2013 & 2018) and is the director/creator of The Living Museum of Erotic Women.Willow joined Weave Movement Theatre in 2016 for White Day Dream directed by Yumi Umiumare and has been an enthusiastic and proud ensemble member ever since.

Zya Kane

Zya Kane is an inclusive arts practitioner, theatre maker, director, performer, producer and facilitator, running workshops and teaching regularly with a diverse range of companies and people of all abilities. Zya has been involved in creating and co-devising works for events, theatre productions and festivals in Australia and internationally over the past 25 years. Zya is a member of ‘Weave Movement Theatre’ and has led and directed numerous creative workshops for the company. She performed in Weave Movement Theatre's most recent productions of 'Wannabe A Rabbit' for the ButohOut 2018 and 2019 Festival at the Abbotsford Convent. Additionally, Zya runs a newly established performance ensemble ‘FUSE’ with YourDNA creative art and has been the Artistic Director of the Onemda/Araluen inclusive theatre group since 2016.

WEAVE
BOARD

Fiona Seers

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Chair

Fiona is an experienced arts administrator having worked in the performing arts sector for many years for various orchestras, opera companies, dance companies and choirs. She has also worked as an instrumental music teacher at numerous schools teaching piano, winds and theory. Fiona has a Bachelor of Music, a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies and a Diploma in piano. She currently works for the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) as Head of Examining.

Ellen Connor

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Treasurer

Ellen is a CPA with over 15 years of experience in strategic management accounting, operations, governance and corporate services management. In her day job she designs reporting and analysis to drive process improvement, create efficiencies and enhance performance. Ellen is serving her fifth year on the Weave board and loves the opportunity to bring her finance and governance experience to an organisation with incredible spirit and artistic integrity.

Toni Kirk

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Secretary

Toni has worked in the community arts sector for 20 years and is currently Chief Operating Officer at Burrinja Cultural Centre where she has responsibility for governance and the financial, hr and operational management of 3 galleries, 2 performance spaces, artists’ studios and café. She started her arts management career in the UK with roles including Capital Fundraising Administrator at Salisbury Arts Centre, Community Project Coordinator at The Junction, Company Administrator for Razors Edge Theatre and Centre Director at Acorn Arts Centre.

Krysia Birman

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Krysia has a Bachelor of Business (Property) from RMIT, a Masters in Art in Public Space (RMIT) and has recently completed her Professional Writing and Editing qualification (RMIT). Krysia is well regarded for her disability knowledge and currently works at the Australian Network on Disability as a Relationship Manager. She has most recently developed online learning tools which enable disability services in both Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania to improve their understanding of restrictive practices and is now developing a National tool about Restrictive Practices for the NDIS Quality And Safeguarding Commission.Krysia has been short-listed for various awards including the ‘DHHS Excellence Award’ for her innovative approach towards stakeholder engagement, including her work with members of the Yorta Yorta people in Northern Victoria. Krysia is a passionate advocate who believes changing employer and community attitudes towards the employment of people with disability is a critical part of improving the social and economic participation of people with disability.

Sophie Boardley

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Sophie is the Major Gifts Manager at Melbourne Theatre Company and the former Philanthropy Associate at Melbourne Recital Centre. Sophie is an experienced arts administrator, specialising in fundraising for creative, non-profit organisations. Prior to her philanthropic career, Sophie trained as an actor at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and worked both as an administrator and performer for arts organisations in both Australia and the UK.

Fiona Cook

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Fiona has worked in the arts and community sectors for over 25 years in NSW, Qld, SA and Victoria including roles as manager, producer, mentor, curator, consultant, teacher and facilitator. She has worked with Arts Access Victoria, Weave Movement Theatre, The Delta Project, St Vincent de Paul, Scope Victoria and numerous other organisations and independent artists. She has held roles as Arts Program Manager, Strategic Projects Manager and Director of Learning Development with Arts Access Victoria, Manager of Community Inclusion and Development with Scope Victoria as well as managing art galleries in Brisbane and Sydney. Fiona was Co-founder and Manager of Cecil St Studio, performer and facilitator with Weave Movement Theatre and Arts Project Leader for The Multiple Sclerosis Society. She is known for initiating and delivering highly successful professional development, mentoring and employment initiatives in the arts and is passionate about access, diversity and inclusion. Currently she is working as a freelance consultant, mentor and trainer.

Jonathan Homsey

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Jonathan Homsey is an arts maker and manager interested in the intersection of street dance, visual art and social engagement. Born in Hong Kong and raised in the United States of America, he immigrated to Australia in 2010 where he is a graduate of Victorian College of the Arts (BA Dance) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (MA Arts Management with Distinction); Jonathan is also a Doctoral candidate at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). His choreographic practice has evolved from a theatrical context with works such as the award-winning Together As One (Arts House, Melbourne Fringe 2013) to an interdisciplinary practice in galleries and public spaces from Footscray Community Arts Centre (Melbourne) to 107 Projects (Sydney), Design Festa Gallery (Tokyo) and most recently his internationally-presented dance film Caca-capitalismo which is audio described in two languages and captioned in one. Jonathan is passionate about community outreach, using the moving body as a source of empowerment and is committed to expanding his knowledge in the aesthetics of access in the contemporary dance industry.

Fraser Orford

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Fraser has spent his career working in commercial theatre and musical theatre as a producer, arts manager and administrator. He is currently the Associate Producer for the City of Melbourne on the Flash Forward public-art program having held previous roles at various entertainment management groups such as the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM), Michael Cassel Group, Peter Rix Management, GWB Entertainment, Ambassador Theatre Group, ABC, Opera Australia, ATYP and Belvoir St. As a curator, Fraser serves on the curatorial panels for TEDxSydney and Pause Fest. He currently sits on the boards of Midsumma Festival and Weave Movement Theatre. For Saxton Speakers, Fraser hosts the podcast Let's Talk.

WEAVE
COLLABORATORS

Yumi Umimare

Yumi Umimare has worked with Weave for the past 5 years over multiple productions, directing performances that have showcased in ButohOUT! Festival (2018 and 2019), as well as performances at the Melbourne Museum, fortyfivedownstairs for premier season of White Day Dream(2016) and Wannabe A Rabbit (2021). Born in Hyogo, Japan, Yumi is an established Butoh Dancer and choreographer from Australia. She has been creating her distinctive style of works over the last 25 years and her works are renowned for provoking visceral emotions and cultural identities. Yumi’s works have been seen in numerous festivals in dance, theatre and film productions throughout Australia, Japan, Europe, New Zealand, South East Asia and South America, and have received critical acclaim and garnered several Australian Green Room awards. Her own major production’s credits include DasSHOKU Butoh cabaret series (1999-2014), EnTrance (2009-2012) and recent PopUp Tearoom series. Yumi was a recipient of the fellowship from Australian Council (2015-16) and the recent winner of the Green Room Awards of Geoffrey Milne Memorial Award for her contribution to Contemporary and Experimental Performance. As a choreographer, Yumi has worked with many socially engaged theatre projects in Australia with aboriginal communities (BighART and Marrugeku), refugee communities, (Asylum Seekers Resource Centre), culturally diverse people (Brunswick Women’s Theatre) and with Weave Movement Theatre. Yumi has become an important artistic partner for Weave over a five year collaboration, bringing her unique blend of Japanese Butoh, Cabaret, wicked humour and physical theatre.

COMPANY
MEMBERS

Fiona Seers

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Chair

Ellen Connor

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Treasurer

Toni Kirk

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Secretary

Krysia Birman

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Sophie Boardley

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Fiona Cook

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Jonathan Homsey

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Fraser Orford

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WEAVE
COLLABORATORS

Janice Florence

Antony Riddell

David Baker

Emma Norton

Greg Muir

Leisa Prowd

Trevor Dunn

Willow J Conway

Zya Kane

Fiona Seers

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Chair

Ellen Connor

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Treasurer

Toni Kirk

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Secretary

Krysia Birman

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Sophie Boardley

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Fiona Cook

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Jonathan Homsey

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Fraser Orford

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Yumi Umimare

Willow J Conway

Emma Norton

Antony Riddell

Greg Muir

David Baker

Leisa Prowd

Trevor Dunn

Zya Kane

Janice Florence

Fiona Seers

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Chair

Ellen Connor

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Treasurer

Toni Kirk

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Secretary

Krysia Birman

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Sophie Boardley

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Fiona Cook

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Jonathan Homsey

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Fraser Orford

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Yumi Umimare

Accessibility

ACCESS SYMBOLS