Two for one at Chunky

Following the resignation of Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk and Executive Director Vanessa Pigrum, Chunky Move has appointed two new people to the leadership role.

Antony Hamilton and Kristy Ayre have been appointed joint CEOs of the company, with Hamilton as Artistic Director and Ayre as Executive Director. They will  be joined by Freya Waterson who will be responsible for the company’s national and international touring program. 

“We feel enormously privileged to lead Chunky Move and energised to steer the company into a bold new creative era," the pair say. "It’s especially significant for us to return as joint CEO’s to a company that has had such an impact on our professional careers. We are honoured to continue the company’s legacy, and look forward to working with Chunky Move’s staff, artists and Board to develop an adventurous and dynamic program.” 

Both are former dancers with Chunky Move, in particular during founding director Gideon Obarzanek's tenure. Both have extensive and impressive experience in their fields, Hamilton as a choreographer (including with his own independent Antony Hamilton Projects). He is the inaugural recipient of the Russell Page Fellowship in 2004, the Tanja Liedtke Fellowship in 2009 and an Australia Council for the Arts Creative Australia Fellowship in 2012. Ayre was most recently Executive Producer of Phillip Adams BalletLab in Melbourne, and has previously co-produced the 2015 National Dance Forum and was an associate producer for the 2012 and 2014 Next Wave festivals. 

Hamilton and Ayre will outline their vision in the coming months. “Together, we feel propelled to cultivate the company’s reputation and champion a culture of generosity within the dance sector. We plan to deliver new opportunities for artists, and bring ambitious new performance works to audiences in Melbourne and around the world.”