Bahala/o

Buddy Malbasias is an independent artist-researcher, creative director, choreographer and performer of Filipino Bukidnon descent. His practice exists at the intersection of contemporary dance, waacking and interdisciplinary experimentation, expanding into cultural/familial reconnection, queer identity and imaginative world-building. Grounded in the Filipino diaspora, Malbasias crafts unconventional thought-provoking narratives – a profound exploration of the self, an inquiry on cultural hybridity and a meditation on duality. His work weaves gestural intensity, dramatic theatricality and found objects to create evocative experiences that challenge, connect and resonate.

A University Medalist (Summa cum laude) and scholarship recipient, Malbasias holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Min.Dance Performance) from QUT. His choreographic work spans live performance and digital media, with notable works including Lato2x (uNCOILEd eXposed), Obserbahi:Observe (Queensland Museum), 610X (QACI) and Anino (Award- Winning Dance on Film). He has worked with prestigious organisations including Stephanie Lake Co., Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Studio1 and Ars Electronica.

Clare Dark is a contemporary artist, choreographer and qualified RAD dance teacher based in Meanjin. A graduate of the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance), Dark has become a dynamic presence in Brisbane’s independent arts scene, contributing to esteemed artists, such as Stephanie Lake Dance Company, Guy Lobwein and Phluxus2 Dance Collective. Dark’s work reflects a unique blend of technical precision and creative expression, drawing on her balletic foundations and theatrical influences to shape her contemporary practice. Actively involved in local festivals, project-based works and education, she is passionate about pushing artistic boundaries through collaboration and experimentation. As both an educator and performer, Dark is committed to inspiring the next generation of dancers while continuing to expand her impact on the Australian dance landscape.

Liesel Zink is an award-winning choreographer of Ukrainian and German descent interested in collective bodies as a tool for social change. She has developed and presented work around Australia, Asia, and Eastern Europe. Liesel’s practice explores the intersection of contemporary dance and community engagement, often seeing her create performances in public-space and use her creative process as a means for artistic, cultural, and intergenerational exchange. As an Independent choreographer, Liesel creates large-scale performances in public space. In 2023 she premiered en-masse public space performance Us And All Of This (Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre and Bunjil Place), commissioned by Arts Centre Melbourne with the support of the Betty Amsden Foundation, engaging over 250 community members in a powerful resistance to atomized ways of living. As a choreographer, Liesel has also
been commissioned to choreograph for Expressions Dance Company, Tasdance, and LINK. More broadly, Liesel is a dramaturg, facilitator, movement coordinator, producer and advocate.

King is an Irish multidisciplinary composer, producer and DJ based in Berlin. Also known as, ‘ELLLL’ moniker, King has carved out a distinctive voice in both contemporary and club-music contexts, with compositions etched by abstract experimentalism, fragmented rhythms and bass-heavy club. From shimmering melodies and gliding breakbeats to left-field, icy, percussive drum tracks and cinematic ambient, King has released several EPs showing the breadth of her talents as a producer. She has worked extensively as a multidisciplinary artist for projects across visual, film, installation, dance and performance art. As a founding member of Ireland’s first fem-electronic music collective Gash Collective, King has advocated for diversity and visibility within the music scene. Through workshops and masterclasses she has facilitated female, queer and non- binary participation in the DJ circuit worldwide such as the Embassy of Ireland, Berlin, CTM Festival, Berlin, MUTEK festival, Tokyo, and Redbull Music Academy, Dublin.

Briana Clark (She/Her) is an emerging queer Asian Australian technical production artist based in Meanjin. While completing her
degree she has found a fascination with lighting design and its multi- dimensional power to transform space, time, and atmosphere. Over the course of her professional career, she has found pure enjoyment for story making in contemporary dance and circus, with the magic of lighting design. Alongside this she is a skilled technician and is exploring stage managerial roles. Her ultimate passion is uplifting BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ stories in and behind the scenes of live performance. For future practice, she hopes to create and uplift art that is fulfilling and ignites politically important conversations in Meanjin.

Aeron Maevin is a Filipino-Australian fashion and costume designer, as well as a skilled pattern maker, based in Meanjin. Drawing inspiration from his Filipino heritage and a deep appreciation for avant-garde fashion, Aeron’s distinctive style is rooted in precision and craftsmanship, a reflection of the influence of his builder grandfather. Specialising in monochromatic designs, his work is defined by intricate pattern-making, meticulous tailoring, and striking silhouettes. Aeron’s award-winning collection, Sweeping Shadows, artfully combines traditional Filipino attire with elements of British chimney sweep uniforms, creating a powerful narrative of unity and the emergence of beauty from unexpected pairings. Currently, Aeron contributes his expertise to the costume departments at Queensland Theatre and Queensland Ballet, where he continues to expand his impact within the fashion and performing arts industries.