Top Choreographers in Sydney, NSW, Australia
As one of Australia’s main cultural hubs, Sydney is home to some of the country’s top dance companies and schools. So it makes sense that many talented choreographers choose to call the “Harbour City” home, creating impactful works and inspiring other dancers to follow in their footsteps.
Ready to start your search for choreographers in Sydney? Check out this list of some of the city's top talent to find the best match for your project.
Jana Castillo
Originally from Wodonga in Victoria, Jana Castillo is a highly acclaimed contemporary dancer and choreographer, as well as an emerging film writer and actor. She graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2009 before touring internationally with Opera Australia, Projections Dance Company, and Force Majeure.
Jana has starred in several music videos, including “The All-Seeing Hands” and “Kung Fu Grip” and has worked at the Australian Dance Theatre under Garry Stewart.
Ashley Wright
It was at the age of four that Ashley Wright first attended dance classes at Sydney’s Wendy Gibbs School of Ballet. Her professional career began in 2006 at the Royal Ballet of Flanders and three years later, she choreographed her first piece “Better Left Unsaid” for the company, which won 2nd prize at the Copenhagen International Choreographic Competition.
In 2012, Ashley joined L’Opera de Lyon and later worked alongside French film director Christophe Honoré for the world premiere of “Don Carlos.”
Maya Sheridan
Maya Sheridan is a leading name when it comes to dancehall in Australia and is the co-owner of Dance Studio 101, a boutique studio in the heart of Surry Hills. It offers dance classes in a variety of styles, drawing on Maya’s background in contemporary, ballet, jazz, and Afro-derived dance styles.
Not only has Maya performed in various commercials and films but she has choreographed works for the Annual Chinese New Year Parade and the International FIFA World Cup Congress.
Graeme Murphy
Born in Melbourne, Graeme Murphy is one of Australia’s most celebrated choreographers and the recipient of an AM for his services to dance. He studied at The Australian Ballet School before going on to dance with the company and was appointed the artistic director of the Sydney Dance Company in 1976.
Over his 30-year tenure at the company, Graeme choreographed more than 50 works and received a Helpmann Award for “Body of Work - a Retrospective.”
Cass Mortimer Eipper
With multiple awards under his belt, Cass Mortimer Eipper is a highly acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. He trained at The Australian Ballet and performed with the Sydney Dance Company before serving as the co-director of the Ludwig Dance Theatre.
Over the years, Cass has created works for the Milwaukee Ballet, the Queensland Ballet, and the Link Dance Company, as well as working on the Australian version of “So You Think You Can Dance.”
Janessa Dufty
Can you tell us a little about your dance background?Originally from the small coastal town of Yamba in New South Wales, Janessa Dufty received a scholarship at the age of 15 to train at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence. She went on to study at the New Zealand School of Dance before joining the Sydney Dance Company in 2009.
Since that time, Janessa has had the privilege of working with some of the world’s best choreographers, including the Sydney Dance Company’s artistic director, Rafael Bonachela.
Stephen Page
Stephen Page is one of Australia’s most well-known choreographers as the long-serving artistic director of Bangarra. He's a descendant of the Nunukul people and the Munaldjali clan of the Yugambeh Nation and has been a leading figure in reinventing First Peoples storytelling.
Stephen was director of the Indigenous sections of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies and was awarded a Helpmann Award for “Bennelong” and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2017.
Olivia Jenkins
Olivia Jenkins’ dance training began in Sydney with Joan and Monica Halliday before she moved to France to study at the École Nationale Supérieure de Danse de Marseille. At the age of 16, she went to train at the English National Ballet School and danced for 10 years in Europe with various companies.
Upon returning to Australia, Olivia worked with Opera Australia as they toured “Faust” around the country before performing in Graeme Murphy’s production of the “Merry Widow.”
Stefano Olivieri
Stefano Olivieri is the director and award-winning choreographer behind DanceXS, which is one of Sydney’s premier dance studios. He has been competing since the age of 10 and has won every major national Australian DanceSport championship throughout his career.
Not only that but Stefano has represented Australia in several international events. He's all about sharing his passion, celebrating life, and bringing community together through the power of dance.