Unveiling Shadows

Joshua Taliani is a First Nations (Bidjara/Kullali/ Wakka Wakka) Italian Artist and Performer. Working across genres, from street dance to dance theatre, Joshua’s practice has been grounded in hip-hop but his experience includes contemporary dance.

Joshua’s signature style is heavy on open choreography and infused with the art form of vogue (a part of the Ballroom culture). Joshua is also the Father of the Trailblazing House of Alexander – a leader in the queer BIPOC community which continues the legacy of Harlem’s Ballroom culture of creating space for, and helping to nurture, Trans and queer BIPOC. From 2023 to 2025, Joshua has been a Metro Arts Artist in Residence. During this time, he has received artistic support, access to creative space, and dedicated development time, resulting in the 2025 premiere of Unveiling Shadows.

Wanida is a Creative Director, Choreographer, and Performance Artist who has been professionally working for 15 years. Recognised as a leader in the dance industry, she has made her mark by producing original work, educating emerging artists, hosting and judging events, and continually redefining the possibilities of movement. Through her collective, Pink Matter, Wanida is committed to diversifying the dance landscape—championing dancers of all backgrounds, body types, and experiences, and breaking down barriers within the industry. A key focus of her practice is to elevate and showcase street dance as a legitimate and respected artform, both on stage and in digital spaces.

Her creative highlights include the acclaimed stage works Betwixt and The Type, as well as the innovative digital dance series Grounded. She has also choreographed major campaigns for brands such as Bonds and Adidas, and her choreography has featured in festivals and events both nationally and internationally.

Ebony Webb is a multidisciplinary artist working both on and off the stage in Meanjin/Brisbane. When not performing, Ebony works as a writer, director/choreographer and in production and costume design. Ebony majored in Acting at the Aboriginal Centre of the Performing Arts and has also trained at The Actors Workshop and with Zen Zen Zo’s Actor’s Dojo. Since finishing her tertiary studies in 2017, Ebony has been working in the independent sector, as an actor and creator with companies such as La Boite Theatre Company, Zen Zen Zo, The Dead Puppet Society, Magnetic North Theatre Company and immersive, interactive companies Counterpilot, Folly Games and Broad Encounters. Having created and performed works in festivals, including MELT, Splendour in the Grass and Woodford Folk Festival, in venues big and small, and sometimes in no venue at all, Ebony is a versatile artist with a passion for boundary breaking work that challenges the actors and the audience alike.

Her practice is characterised by its holistic approach and focus on audience experience, which is reflected in a career spanning the arts, community engagement and event production.

Josephine graduated from QUT in 2022 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Technical Production) with Distinction, and has since gone on to become part of the team at Australasian Dance Collective. Within her career she has worked alongside groups such as Brisbane Festival, Studio Winter, The Farm, Counterpilot, Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery, and Asia Pacific Architecture Festival.

Steven May is a lighting designer and audio-visual technician and has worked technician and designer roles in many spheres of live events, including theatre, dance, circus and burlesque. This has led to providing lighting services within Meanjin for unique events and driving a larger focus on technical elements and integration to advance aesthetics and storytelling.

Recently his attention has turned to found-space theatre and fringe arts, building a production business with focus on smaller shows and unconventional arts projects. This has included lighting designs with a focus on site-specific design language and flexibility, as well as automation to allow for retooling with future touring and multiple venues in mind as a core element.