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Lisa Maris McDonell

@lisamarismcdonell

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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

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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

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TAKE THE WHEEL WORKSHOPS JUNE 2026

FIND YOUR GROOVE
An improvisational dance workshop process led by choreographer and dancer Lisa Maris McDonnell. Participants created maps/pictures which they then explored through solo movement, and group movement exercises. Improvisation to music, trusting creative instincts, body confidence and movement as storytelling were some of the many skills developed through this workshop.

A project partnership between @thedisabilitytrust , @tdtsportandrec , @merrigongtheatreco and @thestrangewaysensemble
Supported by @creatensw Cultural Access funding

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Two incredible artists. Two opportunities to move.
We’re excited to welcome Reina Takeuchi and Lisa Maris McDonell into the studio this week

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 most 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.

Lisa Maris McDonell- A dance artist whose practice embraces performance, choreography, video, sound, visual art and therapeutic dance. She is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Lisa has been creating and presenting performance and video works in various contexts in Australia and internationally since 1996.
In 2020 Lisa began presenting her work under the title Proper Motion in an effort to provide further visibility and opportunity to Ilawarra / Shoalhaven based professional dance artists. Since its inception Proper Motion has undertaken a creative development with a group of dancers from Mexico and the Illawarra in partnership with La Compañia Infinita (Mex), completed series one of the Illawarra Dance Portraits project and launched the $20 Commissions Project, presenting its performance arm The Lobster as part of Merrigong Theatre Company’s MerrigongX season in June 2022.

Thursday 2 July | 10am - 11:30am
Saturday 4 July | 10am - 11:30am
Style: Contemporary & Ballet

📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.
Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/austi-open-studio
#austitheatre #dance #openclasses #openstudio #movement #illawarra

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We’re excited to welcome guest teachers Lisa Maris McDonell and Sophie Richards into the studio this week for Open Studio 🤍

Lisa Maris McDonell- A dance artist whose practice embraces performance, choreography, video, sound, visual art and therapeutic dance. She is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Lisa has been creating and presenting performance and video works in various contexts in Australia and internationally since 1996. In 2020 Lisa began presenting her work under the title Proper Motion in an effort to provide further visibility and opportunity to Ilawarra / Shoalhaven based professional dance artists. Since its inception Proper Motion has undertaken a creative development with a group of dancers from Mexico and the Illawarra in partnership with La Compañia Infinita (Mex), completed series one of the Illawarra Dance Portraits project and launched the $20 Commissions Project, presenting its performance arm The Lobster as part of Merrigong Theatre Company’s MerrigongX season in June 2022.

Sophie Richards - Based in the Illawarra region, Sophie Richards is a contemporary dance artist who completed three years of full-time training 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.

Thursday 11 June | 10am - 11:30am
Saturday 13 June | 10am - 11:30am
Style: Ballet & Contemporary
📍Illawarra Moving Arts Hub. 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Coalcliff.

#austitheatre #dance #openclasses #openstudio #movement #illawarra @whatsoninwollongong

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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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AUSTI. Open Studio schedule

17–31 May *UPDATED
Thursday 21st May 10am - 12pm: Hoyori Maruo | Contemporary (P)
Saturday 23rd May 10am - 11:15am: Louisa Poletti | Mat Pilates (C)
Thursday 28th May 7pm - 8:30pm: Lisa Maris McDonell | Ballet (C)
Saturday 30th May 12:30pm -2pm: Natalie Cunzolo | Contemporary (P)

📍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

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AUSTI. Open Studio schedule

1–16 May
Saturday 2nd May 10am- 11:15am: Louisa Poletti | Mat Pilates (C)
Thursday 7th May 10am - 11:30am: Hannah Brookes | Contemporary (P)
Saturday 9th May 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Amber McCartney | Contemporary (P)
Thursday 14th May 12:30pm - 2:30pm: Lucky Lartey | Afro Contemporary (C)
Saturday 16th May 10am - 11:30am: Lisa Maris McDonell | Ballet (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!
https://events.humanitix.com/austi-open-studio

#austitheatre #dance #openstudio #openclasses #community #movement #illawarra

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SUPPORT AUSTI.

A space where artists train, create, and grow. A space where young people find confidence
A space where community comes together through movement and creativity

Your support helps us continue delivering
▪️First Nations workshops
▪️Youth programs
▪️Artist development
▪️Accessible community classes across our region.

Right now, every donation made through our Australian Cultural Fund campaign will be matched (up to $5,000) doubling the impact of your contribution.

If you believe spaces like this matter, we invite you to support the work.
💛 Donate via the link in our bio

Together we can keep this community moving

#austitheatre #supportausti #donate #makeculturehappen #community

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Hugs all round to these legends for supporting AUSTI’s ACF Boost Matched Funding Campaign! 🤗

Support AUSTI!

A space where artists train, create, and grow.�A space where young people find confidence.�A space where community comes together through movement and creativity.

Your support helps us continue delivering

👉🏻First Nations workshops
👉🏻 Youth programs
👉🏻 Artist development, and
👉🏻 Accessible community classes across our region.

Right now, every donation made through our Australian Cultural Fund campaign will be matched (up to $5,000) — doubling the impact of your contribution.
If you believe spaces like this matter, we invite you to support the work.

⬆️ Link in bio

#austitheatre #acfboost #makeculturehappen #community #illawarra

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HAPPY HOUR #20: THE BUDGET!
LAST HAPPY HOUR OF THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE

Dates: Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December
Time: 6pm
Tickets: $15 - link in bio

CURATOR: Lisa Maris McDonell
Lisa has been creating and presenting performance and video works in various contexts since 1996 in Australia and internationally. She spent quite a while at a desk in the early 2000's when she worked as Course Coordinator and in other roles at NAISDA Dance College. Upon leaving NAISDA to pursue a more physically active role in the dance community she promptly fell pregnant with the first of her three children.
In 2020 Lisa began presenting her work under the title Proper Motion, consequently collaborating with a range of South Coast and international artists on a number of projects of varying scale. Lisa has never spent so much (often wasted) time behind a desk since really investing energy into an independent practice that involves collaboration with other artists.

Lisa regularly teaches workshops and classes and creates performances for professional and pre-professional dancers and actors. Teaching credits include the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Australasian Dance Collective, NAISDA Dance College, University of Wollongong, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa (Ireland) and Ankara State Conservatory (Turkey) amongst many others. She currently teaches the full-time students of Joanne Grace School of Dance and across Sydney Dance Company’s various programs. Many of these positions have offered a good balance between studio and desk time, with the weight leaning heavily toward studio time.

As a mature, independent artist Lisa regularly feels the magnetic pull that calls her back toward an official administrative job behind a desk in the arts. While she still resists that pull, she often questions whether she would be better off surrendering to it, because at least she would be earning some kind of an income.

Other Performers: Jane McKernan, Emma Saunders, Lizzie Thomson, + others TBA.
Live projection: Martin Fox
Happy Hour is supported by the NSW government through Create NSW and the City of Sydney

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KineStruct Contemporary Dance Workshop with @lisamarismcdonell 29-30 November with intimate performance 30 November 3pm.
Illawarra Moving Arts Hub - 270 Lawrence Hargrave Drive Coalcliff.
More info @ link in bio

#adultdance #adultdanceclasses #danceclasseswollongong #contemporarydancewollongong #wollongongdance #adultcontemporarydance #dance workshop

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