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Michelle Maxwell

@chellenmax

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Creative Visionary committed to growth and learning through persistence.

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THIS WEEK | REINA TAKEUCHI

“Somatic” comes from the Greek word soma, meaning: the body as a living organism. Defined by Thomas Hanna, somatic practice is “the experience within and of the body from a first-person perspective”. Through somatic practice we are able to shift focus from external performance driven movement, to our internal physical worlds.

This Saturday the 17th of October, join the wonderful independent dance artist and practitioner, Reina Takeuchi, as she shares with us her personal somatic methodologies. Encouraging participants to discover a moment of presence and intuitively connect to self through movement, this class welcomes ALL levels of ability.

We can’t wait to see you at our Coalcliff studio.

Registrations essential - book via the link in our bio 🌱

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Images 2 & 4 credit | JustBe Temple (Seoul) by @chellenmax

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7 days ago

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT | Natalie Cunzolo

Since her time with AUSTI Natalie has been offered a diverse range of professional performing, teaching and choreographic opportunities.

“I feel incredibly grateful to have stepped into such a diverse range of creative spaces where I have been continually challenged to adapt and embrace new ways of thinking. Working across different environments and disciplines, alongside diverse collaborators and people, continues to offer me new perspectives that shape me as an artist and educator every day. These experiences have reinforced just how much I value this work and the impact it brings to the broader community.”

@natmarie_c

Image Credits
1: Kate Williams
2: @dance.artsunit
3: Brainwave digital art through dance at SXSW Sydney @neuro.art.hub
4: Choreographer for ‘The Red Shoes’ NIDA’s festival of emerging artists directed by @jasonforrest__
Photographer Daniel Moxham
5: ‘BONES’ Independent Film Project biancayeung
6: Open Classes @sydneydanceco.classes Photographer @wendellt by @chellenmax

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17 days ago

OPEN STUDIO | COMING UP

We warmly welcome Tom Kenttä and Reina Takeuchi into the studio, each bringing their own unique movement practice to our Open Studio community.

This Saturday, Tom will guide us through a beautiful combination of Qigong + Somatic Practice, exploring movement through awareness, breath and embodied connection.

Then next month, we welcome Reina into the space for a Somatic Practice, offering another opportunity to slow down, tune in and explore movement from within.

Open Studio is designed for all movers (18+), offering a supportive space to train, explore and grow.

🔺Saturday 26 Sep | 10am - 11:30am
🔺Saturday 17 Oct | 10am - 11:30am
🔺Style: Qigong + Somatic Practice
🔺Book: Link in Bio ⏫
🔺Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.

ABOUT TOM

Tom Kenttä is a Finnish-Australian movement artist from Dharawal Land, Australia. He specialises in freestyle football, dance and qi gong but enjoys exploring freestyle and mindfulness methodologies throughout many areas. He has performed for Riana Head-Toussaint’s Animate Loading at AGNSW and for Feras Shaheen’s Klapping at Danse Élargie in Paris and has taught dance to stateless children at The Rainbow School near the border of Thailand and Myanmar He is also the 2018 Australian Freestyle Football champion.

ABOUT REINA

Reina Takeuchi - A Japanese Australian independent dance artist interested in cross-cultural exchange, collaboration and creative facilitation. Her performance projects have included installations at Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, and SomoS Arts, Berlin, and performances for Liveworks Festival of Experimental Art, Performance Space, the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Late program, Australian Chamber Orchestra’s Pier 2/3 and Sydney Dance Company.

Her recent co-directed show Ghosts Between Streams (2024) was awarded highly in two categories at Sydney Fringe Festival – Best in Dance and Music. She’s a co-facilitator of Palette Session Australia, an experimental dance lab, and will be travelling and teaching in Asia and Australia throughout 2025.

Come move, explore and connect with us in beautiful Coalcliff! 🌿 by @chellenmax

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25 days ago

2027 APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON

There’s just a little over 24 hours to submit your 2027 Audition application!

Not sure if AUSTI. is right for you? Want to know more about the program before applying?

No problem - shoot us an email and we’ll be happy to answer any questions 👉🏻info@austitheatre.com.au

• In-person and video applications available via the link in bio 👆🏻 • Applications close 11:59pm Wednesday, 23 September • In-person auditions Saturday, 3 October

Build your artistic practice with AUSTI in 2027.
info@austitheatre.com.au

📸 Credit: AUSTI Artists featured in ‘LATO 2X’ by @buddy260 for uNCOILEd eXposed 2023 supported by Merrigong Theatre Company’s MerrigongX annual artists’ program. Photographer @childrenoftherevolutionphoto by @chellenmax

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a month ago

NEW SPACE. NEW PROGRAM. NEW POSSIBILITIES.

2027 marks an exciting evolution for AUSTI.

With a new home in beautiful Coalcliff, nestled beneath the Illawarra escarpment, our 2027 program has been expanded to offer emerging artists more time, more diverse training and more opportunities to develop their individual artistic practice.

Our part-time program now runs Wednesday–Friday, 10am–3pm, with training spanning contemporary dance, street dance, physical theatre, ballet, improvisation, and mental and physical conditioning, alongside creative development, performance opportunities, industry skills and professional pathway development.

Designed for emerging artists aged 17–25, AUSTI. offers the experience of working in a professional environment, while maintaining the flexibility to work, study and pursue other opportunities alongside your training.

2027 APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON

In-person and video applications available via the link in bio  ⬆️ Applications close Wednesday, 23 September  In-person auditions Saturday, 3 October by @chellenmax

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a month ago

We’re pleased to share that two partial scholarships are available for our 2027 Development Program.

Scholarships offered via application and are designed to support emerging artists to access AUSTI.’s training and development opportunities in 2027.

Applications are now open for more information contact info@austitheatre.com.au

📸 @angemaloney featuring @baddymackin & @danbarcelona in ‘Orígenes’ by Daniel Navarro Lorenzo for @formdanceprojects ‘Thats 2 Thank You’ 2025 Festival. by @chellenmax

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a month ago

AUDITION DEADLINE EXTENDED

There’s still time to apply to join AUSTI. Dance and Physical Theatre in 2027.

With a new faculty joining us for 2027, we’re looking forward to another year of training, creating and performing together.

Applications for our 2027 auditions have now been extended until 23 September.

Apply via the link in bio ⬆️

We’d love to hear from you.

📸 Carina Serray @carina.serray in Lisa Maris McDonell’s @lisamarismcdonell ‘Chamber Dances’ Image by Children of the Revolution @childrenoftherevolutionphoto

#deadline #extended #dance #physicaltheatre #austitheatre by @chellenmax

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a month ago

Oops, you missed that one! 😢 Applications for this audition are now closed, but don’t let the next opportunity slip away! Stay ahead & explore new dance opportunities at @audition360! 💃🏻

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#Audition360 #DanceAudition #DanceOpportunity #Australia taken in Coalcliff, New South Wales by @chellenmax

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3 months ago

2027 FACULTY

Warmly welcoming our 2027 Faculty!

Carefully curated for their individual artistry, expertise and experience, our 2027 faculty brings together an exceptional group of artists whose practices span the local, national and international dance and performance sectors.

Together, they bring a diverse range of disciplines and perspectives to the studio, spanning contemporary, street dance, physical theatre, ballet, improvisation, and mental and physical conditioning, alongside industry skills and professional pathway development.

AUSTI’s part-time development program gives emerging artists aged 17–25 access to professional training, creative development, performance opportunities and industry experience, right here in the Illawarra.

An ideal option for artists taking a gap year, transitioning from full-time training, or looking for a flexible pathway to continue developing their practice.

2027 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

📍In-person and video applications available via the link in our bio 📍Applications close Wednesday, 23 September 📍In-person auditions Saturday, 3 October

Link in bio ⬆️ OR
Contact info@austitheatre for more information

📸 Credits

1. Michelle Maxwell | Children of the Revolution
2. Amber McCartney
3. Natalie Cunzolo | Kate Williams
4. Rhiannon Newton | Gregory Lorenzutti
5. Evie Leah | Matt Dollin
6. Lachlan Grogan | Justin Huntsdale
7. Reina Takeuchi | Shane Rozario
8. Neville Williams Boney | Noni Carrol
9. Daniela Zambrano | Christian Escobar
10. Zachary Lopez | Jonathan VDK
11. Marni Green | Yang Jaemin
12. Bubblez Phan
13. Timothy Farrar | Moore Street Studio
14. Lisa Maris McDonell by @chellenmax

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a month ago

‘Backshore’ choreographed by Daniel Navarro Lorenzo featuring AUSTI Alumna Kate Arber & Tara Gilmour.

Backshore was originally created for AUSTI’s 2025 Merrigong season of ‘Nothing More’.

Special thanks and acknowledgement to the original cast, Jenaya Gladman, Sophie Richards & Tara Gilmour, who first brought Backshore to life.

📅 Sunday 30 August | 7.30pm 📍 Warners Bay Theatre

Presented as part of @impact_dance_festival @catapult_dance

CHORE: @danbarcelona
CAST: @katearber @tararosegilmour

#dance #choreography #nsw #impactfestival #regionalartsnsw taken in Dharawal Country by @chellenmax

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2 months ago

Rare opportunity to work with two internationally recognised artists with distinctive approaches to movement in an intimate studio setting.

Join us this August for two special pop-up classes with Cristina Commisso and Marni Green - an opportunity to deepen your practice, explore new perspectives, and connect with inspiring artists in a supportive and engaging environment.

CRISTINA: 06 & 08 August | 10am - 12pm

MARNI: 13 & 15 August | 10am - 12pm

Illawarra Moving Arts Hub, Coalcliff
Style: Contemporary (Pre-Pro - Professional level)

Whether you’re looking to train, reconnect, or simply experience a new perspective on movement, these sessions are not to be missed.

Link In Bio ⬆️

Limited places available.

📸 1: Cristina Commisso by Raymond Mallentjer @chilledmilk

📸 2: Marni Green by @yangjaeminphoto @i_gotthatdawginme taken in Dharawal Country by @chellenmax

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2 months ago

The view from here, special moments & highlights 💚

Thank you @lindakarakousis @donnamhenderson @sidsalt @asmosys @tararosegilmour @katearber @danbarcelona @catapult_dance @impact_dance_festival_ @pippa_samaya @austitheatre

Image 5 credit
Photographer Pippa Samaya
IMPACT Festival 2026
Catapult Dance Choreographic Hub by @chellenmax

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a month ago