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Madeleine Backen

@baddymackin

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~ Living on unceded Gadigal land ~
it's all make believe

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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.

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Join us tomorrow for Day 2 in the studio with the amazing Cristina Commisso.

Cristina is an Australian dance artist and maker based in Belgium, with over thirteen years in European contemporary performance, voice and embodied research.

Trained in New York, she danced in companies including Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, where she performed works by Jiří Pokorný and Marco Goecke, before moving into the independent scene, with ongoing research at CocoonDance (Rafaele Giovanola) and performing at festivals such as ImpulseTanz and Avignon.

She has collaborated on cultural exchange projects in India and Thailand, and authors her own work in physical research and film. Her practice draws on Feldenkrais, Gyrokinesis® (which she teaches), improvisation, physical and vocal research across forms, alongside her ongoing psychology studies and trauma-informed community work - an attentive practice of accompanying artists through their creative processes.

This is a valuable opportunity for pre-pro/professional artists to work with a practicing European artist while building international networks.

Sat 8 Aug: 10.00am -12.00pm
📍270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff

Link in Bio ⬆️

#dance #theatre #creativity #nsw #illawarra

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at the bus stop. amongst the big trees

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We’re excited to welcome Madeleine Backen into the studio this week.

Madeleine lives and creates in Sydney, on Gadigal land. In her first five years of practice as an emerging artist and maker, she has performed nationally and internationally in projects with Stalker Theatre, Dance Makers Collective, Proper Motion, DirtyFeet, and FORM Dance Projects. Madeleine has experienced professional development and performance opportunities internationally in Mexico City (Festival Internacional De Danza Contemporanea) and throughout Europe (ImPlusTanz ATLAS choreographic program and SHARE mentoring and intensives), allowing her to soak up new methods of creative exploration, learning from an incredibly diverse range of artists and seeking fresh perspectives from rich cultures. Madeleine’s initial contemporary dance training began at AUSTI. Dance and Physical Theatre.

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

Thursday 16th July | 10am - 11.30am
Style: Contemporary
Level: Pre-pro | Professional
📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.

Link in bio ⬆️ OR Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/austi-open-studio

#austitheatre #dance #openclasses #openstudio #illawarra

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This week, Open Studio welcomes guest artists Sophie Richards and Madeleine Backen for two classes designed to inspire, challenge and connect.

Sophie Richards- Based in the Illawarra region, Sophie Richards is a contemporary dance artist who trainied with AUSTI. Dance and Physical Theatre. She has performed and created work across both community and professional platforms. Across 2024 and 2025, Sophie worked with local and international choreographers, including Evie Leah and Daniel Navarro Lorenzo in NOTHING MORE, and performed in the uNCOILEd eXposed 2025 season. She has also worked alongside Chloé Fournier, Elizabeth Arifien, Lee-Anne Litton, and Buddy Malbasias. In addition to her performance practice, Sophie is an active dance educator, teaching across studios throughout the Illawarra region. In 2025, she choreographed a work for Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts that was selected for the South Coast Regional Dance Festival.

Madeleine Backen- Lives and creates in Sydney, on Gadigal land. In her first five years of practice as an emerging artist and maker, she has performed nationally and internationally in projects with Stalker Theatre, Dance Makers Collective, Proper Motion, DirtyFeet, and FORM Dance Projects. Madeleine has experienced professional development and performance opportunities internationally in Mexico City (Festival Internacional De Danza Contemporanea) and throughout Europe (ImPlusTanz ATLAS choreographic program and SHARE mentoring and intensives) allowing her to soak up new methods of creative exploration, learning from an incredibly diverse range of artists and seeking fresh perspectives from rich cultures. Madeleine is hungry to continue to further explore her choreographic interests and deepen her ever-evolving dance practice.Madeleine’s initial contemporary dance training began at AUSTI. Dance and Physical Theatre.

Thursday 9 July | 10am - 11:30am
Saturday 11 July | 10am - 11:30am
Style: Contemporary
📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff
Link in bio

#austitheatre #dance #openclasses #openstudio #movement #illawarra @whatsoninwollongong @open.dance.classes

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AUSTI. Open Studio schedule
1–31 July

Thursday 2nd July 10am - 11:30am: Reina Takeuchi | Contemporary (C)
Saturday 4th July 10am - 11:30am: Hannah Brookes | Contemporary (P)
Thursday 9th July 10am - 11:30am: Sophie Richards | Contemporary (C)
Saturday 11th July 10am - 11:30am: Madeleine Backen | Contemporary (P)
Thursday 16th July 10am - 11:30am: Madeleine Backen | Contemporary (P)
Saturday 18th July 10am - 11:30am: Demi Martin | Ballet (C)
Thursday 23rd July 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Lucky Lartey | Afro Contemporary (C)
Saturday 25th July 10am - 11:15am: Louisa Poletti | Pilates (C)
Thursday 30th July 10am - 11:30am: Hannah Brookes | Contemporary (P)

📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.
COST: 1.5 hour = $15 | 2 hour = $20
Book your spot with the link in bio!

#austitheatre #dance #openstudio #openclasses #community #movement #illawarra @whatsoninwollongong @open.dance.classes

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AUSTI. Open Studio Schedule
1–14 June
Thursday 4th June 10am - 11:30am: Madeleine Backen | Contemporary (C)
Saturday 6th June 10am - 12pm: Rhiannon Newton | Contemporary (C)
Thursday 11th June 10am - 11:30am: Lisa Maris McDonell | Ballet (C)
Saturday 13th June 10am - 11:30am: Sophie Richards | Contemporary (C)

📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.
COST: 1.5 hour = $15 | 2 hour = $20 | 4 hour = $40

View the full schedule & more info on our website via link in bio!

#austitheatre #dance #openstudio #openclasses #community #movement #illawarra @open.dance.classes @whatsoninwollongong

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@shareintensive danke , for sharing and caring 🌻💛

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Cassidy McDermott, the 2024 Choreographic Lab recipient, speaks about how her journey with DirtyFeet helped shape her artistic future.

“The DirtyFeet Choreographic Lab was incredibly beneficial to my artistic development and solidifying my career as a choreographer. This opportunity came at the perfect time in my career, just as I was beginning to find my voice and distill my values as an artist within the community. Without experiences like this, emerging artists like myself might never get the chance to realise their potential.” - @cassms

Cassidy began her pathway as the Choreographic Lab 2024 recipient, then continued with DirtyFeet at Emerging Makers 2025 and Out of the Studio 2025.

The Choreographic Lab is just the first step in DirtyFeet’s full pathway.

Your pathway can begin in 2026. Applications for the Choreographic Lab are open now and close on 30 January. This opportunity could be yours.

Apply now at the link in bio.

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As we look back, we’re filled with gratitude for our dancers, collaborators, audiences, supporters and wider community who made this year unforgettable.

Swipe to see our achievements throughout the year:
1. 2025 Summer Workshop
2. Illawarra Moving Arts Hub, Studio Launch
3. ‘Nothing More’ presented @merrigongtheatreco
4. Westfield Sports High School Creative Workshop @westfieldssportshighschool
5. ‘Orígenes’ presented by FORM Dance Projects for That’s Two, Thank You choreographed by Daniel Navarro Lorenzo @formdanceprojects
6. Open Field Arts Festival @openfieldartsfestival
7. Premier’s Community Recognition Statement Awards held at Parliament House, Sydney
8. Soirée Fundraiser
9. uNCOILEd eXposed, featuring first site specific work by @reina.brigette
10. November Industry Month
11. NSPC weekly strength and stamina training @nspcentre
12. AUSTI. Youth Program led by @jess.hewett
13. Movement Movement @campbelltownartscentre
14. Hosted the first international choreographer since 2019 @danbarcelona
15. Installed Ballet Barres funded by @wollongongcity
16. Performed at WHSPA
17. 2026 Auditions 
Thank you for showing up, cheering us on, and believing in what we do. Here’s to more movement, more collaboration and more community in 2026

Special thanks to @maryanne.stuart_heathcote @nswgov @joannegraceschoolofdance @tjsdanceacademy @thedanceaffinity_woonona

#austitheatre #dance #dancecompany #movingartshub #illawarra

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