Chimene Steele - Prior

Originally from Darkinjung Country, Chimene has worked as a performer with an array of independent artists and companies. Most recently, Chimene performed in Project Animo’s inaugural season in 2022 in works by Alice Topp, Cass Mortimer-Eipper, Izzac Thomas and in solo work In Real Life by Kristina Chan. Chimene joined Australasian Dance Collective in 2023 for Lucie in the sky, by Amy Hollingsworth and in 2024, she was engaged to perform Future Cargo by Requardt and Rosenberg (UK) throughout the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Chimene worked extensively with Opera Australia between 2011-2021, touring throughout Australia and China. Chimene’s choreographic work has been presented at the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Lawler Theatre, Dancehouse, Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub and the Winter in Banyule Festival. Her solo work INFORMATION II was nominated for a Green Room Award for Concept and Realisation in 2015. Recently, Chimene has been exploring larger scale choreographies on students at Transit Dance, NICA, and Albert Park College. Chimene is a Certified Counter Technique Teacher and is passionate about facilitating dancers’ connection to joy and trust in their own bodies.

Yuiko Masukawa

Yuiko Masukawa is a Japanese choreographer based in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia. Her work brings together the inclusive and iconoclastic ethos of contemporary performance with her deep expertise of ballet. She is a current recipient of the The Australian Ballet’s Telstra Emerging Choreographer’s Award for her work 3. She is working to create a context for independent and inclusive dance in Australia through art creation, teaching and local and international residencies and platforms. Her performance work includes Yugen (The Australian Ballet, 2023), Running Machine (Arts House, 2022), why we are who we are (Bowery Theatre, 2022), Between Clouds (VCASS, 2021), Karaoke Project (Cave Yokohama, 2018). She was also Director/Choreographer for Melbourne City Youth Ballet (2013-2019). In 2020, she undertook choreographic secondments with New York City Ballet and Milwaukee Ballet, supported by the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. Her works have been nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Youth Dance in the 2018 Australian Dance Awards (Melbourne City Youth Ballet) and Design/Technical Achievement in the 2023 Green Room Awards (Running Machine).

Lucas Jervies, an Australian choreographer and director, traverses the diverse landscapes of ballet, contemporary dance, opera, and theatre.
Lucas has crafted dance for esteemed companies in Australia, including The Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, and Opera Australia. His work has been presented at the Sydney Festival, Perth Festival, Darwin Festival, Vivid Festival, Dark Mofo, and Out of the Box Festival. His international reach extends to the Finnish National Ballet, Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, Singapore Dance Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Korzo Theatre, Noverre Society Stuttgart Ballet, and Co-Darts Rotterdam.
In 2018, Lucas choreographed the bold three-act ballet SPARTACUS for The Australian Ballet, captivating audiences in Melbourne, Sydney, and later Helsinki, at the Finnish National Ballet. His repertoire extends to the Louisville Ballet, where he has created five compelling works, notably reimagining Stravinsky's THE FIREBIRD and the thought-provoking HUMAN ABSTRACT. In 2021, Lucas choreographed BUTTERFLY, marking the first original story ballet crafted for The Australian Ballet School in nearly two decades. The production premiered to acclaim at Melbourne’s Playhouse, embarked on a successful tour to Sydney, and then delighted Melbourne audiences with a return season.
Lucas' artistic journey encompasses a spectrum of projects, from directing and choreographing an immersive cabaret HIDDEN SYDNEY: THE GLITTERING MILE to collaborating on acclaimed productions as assistant director and choreographer for Belvoir Theatre's MR BURNS, adapter and director of Roald Dahl's THE WITCHES for Griffin Theatre’s 2016 & 2017 national tours, to assisting David McAllister AC on The Australian Ballet’s SLEEPING BEAUTY and David Hallberg for SWAN LAKE. Lucas has also assumed leadership roles, including Artistic Director of Buzz Dance Theatre, Rehearsal Director of Sydney Dance Company, Director of JACK productions, and Affiliate Director at Griffin Theatre. His rich background in both classical and contemporary dance, coupled with his training from The Australian Ballet School and the National Institute of Dramatic Art in directing, underscores his multifaceted interests. Currently, Lucas serves as the Contemporary Teacher at The Australian Ballet School, nurturing the next generation of dancers.

Tim Harbour

Australian choreographer Tim Harbour has been working professionally within Australia and internationally since 2008. His work, encompassing classical, contemporary and theatrical performances, has been praised for its dynamism, emotion and rich invention. His choreography has received multiple awards nominations. Dance Australia Magazine has described Tim as ‘a truly original and creative Australian talent’, and his works have been praised by critics and audiences around the world. From 2014 to 2021, Tim was a Resident Choreographer with The Australian Ballet, creating celebrated works Squander and Glory and Filigree and Shadow which has been performed throughout Australia and in the U.S.A. Tim’s choreography has been performed by the Australian Ballet, Houston Ballet, Singapore Ballet, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Louisville Ballet and New York City Ballet. His work has been presented in London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre, New York City’s The Joyce and City Center, as well as the Sydney Opera House and Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre. His work has also been shown at the Melbourne International Festival for the Arts and the Fall for Dance Festival, New York City.

Jayden Hicks

Jayden Hicks is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and the Artistic Director of Transit Dance. Based in Melbourne, he is dedicated to mentoring emerging artists and fostering creativity across disciplines. His performance credits include Opera Australia, Vertical Shadows, Melbourne Ballet Company, and Collaboration the Project, with a standout role in Yours Truly earning him Green Room and Victorian Dance Award nominations. As Artistic Director of Origins Dance Company (2016–2022), he developed young talent and led acclaimed projects, including an international collaboration with The National Youth Dance Company of Scotland. Since joining Transit Dance in 2015, Jayden has been a principal artist in productions like BOYZ, Small Parameters, ID, and Fuze. His 2022 appointment as Associate Director paved the way for his 2024 transition to Artistic Director, where he continues to champion innovation in the performing arts. Jayden’s collaborative work includes serving as Rehearsal Director for Project Animo’s And Now We Move On (2021) and Creative Associate for The Australian Ballet’s Identity (2023). His choreographic work Opus toured regional Victoria that same year.