Presented by Critical Path and Performance Space
Critical Path and Performance Space are thrilled to announce Juliet Widyasari Burnett and Ishvara Devati as the recipients of the 2025 Experimental Choreographic Residency.
Juliet and Ishvara will be using this residency period to undertake research anchored by Indonesian spirituality and mythology. The two artists will consider how cis women and trans women’s bodies can form new languages and rites, rewriting patriarchal histories to create their own mythologies.
JULIET WIDYASARI BURNETT AND ISHVARA DEVATI
Juliet Widyasari Burnett (she/her) is an Indonesian-Australian dancer, choreographer and founder-director of A__PART, connecting Indonesian and Australian artists and communities. She was a Senior Artist at The Australian Ballet (2003-2015) and at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Belgium (2016-2022) and has guested with Chunky Move, Dutch National Ballet and West Australian Ballet. As a choreographer she co-created dance film ‘Letting Blood’ for MONA/Dark Mofo (2016), dance theatre work ‘in situ’ (2019) for Opera Ballet Vlaanderen and music clips for Melbourne band Cool Explosions (2018) and Icelandic artist Gyda Valtysdottir (2021). She was Winner of the Arts and Culture category of the 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians Awards 2021, Most Outstanding Dancer in Dance Europe 2020 for Edouard Lock’s ‘The Heart of August…continued’ and Standout Solo Performance in Portland Dance Film Festival 2021 for Sam Asaert’s short film ‘Exaltation’. In 2024 she starred in and choreographed for Indonesian director Garin Nugroho’s film ‘Samsara’.
Ishvara Devati (she/her) is a trans-artist based in Jakarta, Indonesia. She focuses on interdisciplinary exploration in performing arts. Her practice tends to explore ideas about transwoman identity, transhumanism and the interplay between technology and body transformation. Her works have performed in Indonesia and internationally, including dance film ‘less than an ounce’ at Indonesia Bertutur 2024, and performance work ‘Deliberated Weirdness’ at Festival Avant-Garten in Hamburg, Theater der Welt in Germany and Theater Spektakel in Switzerland. Her piece “The Synthetics of Hybrid Beings” was also presented as work-in-progress at Indonesian Dance Festival 2024. Ishvara is actively engaged in residencies such as Invisible Dance-The Body in Friction in Ahmedabad, India; Farm-Lab Exhibition in Tokyo, Japan; ARTEFACT#11 – Dance Nucleus, Singapore. She also collaborates internationally with various artists, such as in the project “Bodies of Care” with artists from Germany.
The Experimental Choreographic Program supports the development of innovative, bold and experimental approaches to choreography. This two-week residency at The Drill Hall for an artist or collective offers financial, production, technical and creative support.
This year, we are excited to offer the second year of a two-week Experimental Choreographic Lab for NSW based artists. This is an opportunity for a small group of artists to participate in a facilitated lab. The artists will connect with an experienced practitioner, explore their work in a collaborative setting, and expand their choreographic skills and techniques.
Together, the Experimental Choreographic Residency and the Experimental Choreographic Lab make up the Experimental Choreographic Program. At the conclusion of this program, all participants will have the opportunity to share their work in a public showing.
The recipients of the 2025 Experimental Choreographic Lab are Emma Maye Gibson, Sarah Kalule, Keila Terencio de Paula, Kino McHugh and Mitchell Christie.
EMMA MAYE GIBSON
Emma Maye Gibson (AKA Betty Grumble) is a Sydney/Warrane based performance artist. Largely through the avatar/war mask/love letter/critter of Grumble she engages her body as a hopeful and medicinal site for catharsis and pleasure. Often moving in a genre smash of ritual theatre, autobiography, cabaret, performance art and multi-media, she is a proud ecosexual and believes in art as an action of her spirituality. She has her Masters in Fine Arts/Arse and has presented work at The Sydney Opera House, Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe, Perth & Adelaide Fringes, The Melbourne Comedy Festival, The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Belvoir St Theatre, The Bearded Tit, Red Rattler Theatre, OUTsider Festival (Austin,Texas), MoMA (NYC), Joe’s Pub (NYC), The Glory (London), LiveWorks, AsiaTOPA, Dark Mofo, Mona Foma, Berlin Fringe and beyond. She believes in the flesh riot, leads Grumble Boogie ‘Thank You Body’ aerobic psychic love energy dance classes and is currently engaged in developing a new work under the guidance of mentors Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Burton and Victoria Spence. Major works include: Sex Clown Saves The World, Love & Anger, The Unshame Machine, Grumble n’ Friends, Grumble Boogie, Goddess – The Elizabeth Burton Story & Enemies of Grooviness Eat Shit.
SARAH KALULE
Sarah Kalule is an artist and performer interested in Black womanhood, choreography, theatrical jazz, and her diasporic histories. She is committed to presenting the ‘body in space’ with bold experimentation and imagery. Her portfolio includes notable productions, DOUBLE ACT (Brand X, Create NSW, City of Sydney 2024), Bubbled Up – In Development (Full Circle & PACT 2025), Infinity Bias (WAH Company 2024), Encounter (Four Winds Festival 2019, Sydney Festival 2020, Sydney Opera House 2022, Bleach Festival 2023), Radical Transparency (WAH Company, Form Dance Projects, City of Sydney 2022), and Home Bodies: “GOT YOUR BIKE?” (Dance Makers Collective 2021). Additionally, Sarah has been honoured with residencies and awards, including Steps on Broadway NYC (SSNYC 2022), March Dance Artist In Residence (March Dance & PYT Fairfield 2023), The Flying Nun Residency (Brand X 2024) and The Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture Dean’s List for Academic Excellence (University of New South Wales). Sarah recently presented her solo work, Fancy Jazz Dance (Brand X & Create NSW) and she is currently in development for Bodies Hold Histories (PYT Fairfield & The MARCS Institute).
KEILA TERENCIO DE PAULA
I’m a performance artist, arts facilitator, and creative producer based in Sydney, born and raised in Brazil. My creative practice is driven by curiosity about physical theatre and visual arts, weaving puppetry, movement, and aerial dance to craft multi-dimensional experiences that invite audience interaction. My work has been featured at festivals and events across Australia and internationally. I’m currently developing Two Bodies One Mind, a project combining puppetry, movement choreography, and visual theatre. This work emerged from the Critical Path Research Residency 2024 and the Red Rattler AIR Program and was shared at Indonesia’s international festival, Pesta Boneka 2024. As a performer, I had the privilege of puppeteering for Belvoir St Theatre’s production of The Weekend and touring nationally and internationally with Erth Visual & Physical shows for the past few years, as well as collaborating with the Centre for Creativity at the Sydney Opera House. I also have an ongoing creative relationship with Strings Attached, engaging in training and performances. I am always searching for new and unexpected ways to tell stories through the poetic embodiment of narratives.
KINO MCHUGH
Kino McHugh, is an award-winning choreographer and movement artist with a career that spans across the globe. Born in Japan, Kino moved to Australia at a young age and has since worked internationally in Europe, UK, Asia, and Australia. One of Kino’s career highlights was winning first place in the Juste Debout Battle Opera in London. This victory led to her representing the UK in the World Finals at Palais Garnier in Paris. Kino has worked on various productions in the West End, including lead roles in “Some Like It Hip Hop” and “Message In A Bottle” by Zoo Nation and Sadler’s Wells. She also worked as an assistant choreographer for Kate Prince on the film “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” in the UK, which then led her working in Belgium with Frank Dragone on his production of “Casse Noisette,” In Australia, Kino appeared in the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” as the top 14 finalist. Kino’s diverse range of experience also includes working with a First Nations Company – Karul Projects, on the Commonwealth Games and “[MIS] Conceive” in Canada. Her list of previous clients for choreography and performance include Sony, Adidas, Red Bull, Uniqlo, K-Mart, Kanebo, ZOZO Town, X-Factor and Aus Dance. Kino has also had the privilege of working with numerous artists, including: Paula Abdul, Robbie Williams, Sting, Aston Merrygold, Jason Derulo, Ellie Goulding, Robyn, Ru Paul, 360, and Horrorshow. Kino’s innovative choreography has been recognised with several awards and nominations, including the San Francisco Dance Film Festival (USA), Homescreen Movement Festival (USA), Anim!Arte Festival (Trinidad & Tobago), and BIFA, Bolton International Film Festival (UK).
MITCHELL CHRISTIE
Mitchell Christie is an independent dance artist and educator living and working on unceded land of the Gadigal and Dharug people – Sydney, Australia. Mitchell studied at SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, receiving his BFA in 2017 and launching his career as a freelance dancer and guest artist for numerous companies and choreographers in New York City. He is a founding member of BIRDHOUSE Collective, a Brooklyn-based company critically acclaimed for their innovative site-specific works and advocacy for accessible art. Mitchell has worked closely with the Merce Cunningham Trust since 2015 and became an authorised teacher of the technique in 2024. Mitchell frequently leads programs for community, pre-professional and professional dancers across Sydney. He is an artist support worker and passionate advocate for accessible dance for people living with and without disability. In 2024 Mitchell was an international Artist in Residence at South East Dance, Brighton UK for his research on inclusive dance practices. Mitchell is currently a member of Dance Makers Collective’s Artistic Directorate. His role involves designing and delivering responsive public programs, as well as choreographing and performing with the company. With DMC, Mitchell presented his largest ensemble work Trackwork on 8 dancers at Riverside Theatres 2023. Mitchell’s other independent choreographic work includes Uh Oh for 4 dancers at The Old Fitz Theatre in 2022, and his first solo work Way of Escape produced by Catapult presented at The Lock Up in 2024.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Juliet Widyasari Burnett (left) photo by Dani Huda, and Ishvara Devati (right), photo by Faiijoo.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Portraits (left to right, top) Kino McHugh, Emma Maye Gibson (left to right, bottom) Mitchell Christie, Sarah Kalule, Keila Terencio de Paula.
