Amy Hollingsworth new director of EDC

Brisbane’s Expressions Dance Company (EDC) has announced the appointment of Amy Hollingsworth as its new artistic director.

With over 20 years’ experience as a dancer, choreographer, director and industry advocate, as well as in film and dancer education, Amy is highly regarded for her passion and leadership within the Australian dance industry.

Amy said she is honoured to assume the artistic leadership of one of Australia’s most respected contemporary dance companies.

“I am deeply committed to building on the legacy created by Natalie and her predecessor, Maggie Sietsma,” she said.

“I cannot wait to step into this role with vigor and passion to deliver a bold fresh new vision. At the heart of my vision for EDC is to lean in to making incredible new work, showcasing the stunning dancers and delighting our audiences, but also to creating an environment for creativity to truly thrive. In this environment, our artists and collaborators will work as a collective, forming a creative tribe where conversations crackle with energy and ideas. We, with the help of our partners, supporters and stakeholders, will make a truly profound contribution to the landscape of dance and more broadly to our community.”

Amy will join EDC following three years as the creative associate and ballet mistress at Queensland Ballet where her talent as a curator and choreographer was particularly evident through the successful 2017 and 2018 Bespoke seasons.

Her vision for EDC includes furthering the company’s respected work in dance education and increasing collaboration opportunities with dancers and other artists to bring exceptional dance to existing audiences and the wider community.

Hollingsworth is a multi-award winning dancer and director, based in Brisbane and was described by the UK Observer as one of "the most compelling and intelligent dancers on the world stage".

Born and raised in Australia and classically trained at The Australian Ballet School, she performed as a leading dancer in companies such as Rambert Dance Company, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Peter Schaufuss Balletten, Bonachela Dance Company, Michael Clark Company, Hofesh Shechter Company, George Piper Dancers and Sydney Dance Company.

Hollingsworth has an impressive international performance and creative career spanning large-scale classical ballet to independent contemporary dance, film and pop music. Outside of her career as a performer she has been a founding member and assistant director at Bonachela Dance Company in the UK, dance director for Sydney Dance Company and rehearsal director for Expressions Dance Company. She is also a sought-after keynote speaker at dance industry events, and is currently the chair of Brisbane's Supercell Dance Festival.

Hollingsworth steps into the shoes of outgoing director Natalie Weir, who held the helm for 10 years.

See our interview with Weir here.