Guest Choreographer

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. Liesel was awarded the Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance for project The Stance (presented 10 cities world-wide between 2015-2019). Other Independent projects include Us And All Of This 2023 (Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre and Bunjil Place), The Future Is… (Museum of Brisbane 2023), Daruvaty (Bleach Festival 2022), Our New (IMA Gallery 2020) and We and the Uncertain (Ukraine 2019). Liesel is currently an Associate Artist for Force Majeure, a board member of Theatre Network Australia and more broadly, a dramaturge, facilitator and producer.

Projection and Exhibition Designer

Throughout his career, Troy has always had a passion for technology and education. After almost a decade in industry working on large-scale audiovisual and home automation projects, Troy decided to study at the HITLab in Launceston. After completing a Masters of Creative Media Technology, he helped found the Battery Shed hackerspace and oversaw development projects including the redevelopment of the Penny Royal Dark Ride.

Education has always played a part in Troy's career, with teaching opportunities at Murdoch University, RMIT, and UTAS, where he is currently a unit coordinator. Troy is also he co-director of BitLink, a technology education company, dedicated to helping young people learn more about technology.

Troy is a co-founder of the Soma Lumia tech-art collective. With deep experience in audio visual integration, Troy has overseen the delivery of large-scale automation projects. Troy’s projects mix technology with real world interactivity, as well as exploring a storytelling component to create immersive experiences.

Projects with Soma Lumia include Lacunae: Flow (2023), Vestigia Arborum (2023), No Entry While Mill is Operating (2022), Homecoming (2022), Lacunae (2021-22), Hypnos’ Cave (2020), takayna Anthropocene Blues (2019).

Guest Choreographer and Stomper Mentor

Ebony Nichols is a graduate of a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts (2021), majoring in contemporary dance at Unitec Institute of Technology, in Aotearoa. Ebony is a queer dance artist living and working throughout so-called Australia, who has experience in the realms of dance-making, performance, leadership, site-specific performance and youth dance. Based in Naarm, Ebony is an alumni of Stompin Youth Dance Company, having performed with the company from 2016 - 2019. Through her involvement with Stompin she has worked with and been mentored by national artists such as Caitlin Comerford, Alisdair Macindoe, Alice Lee Holland, Liesel Zink, James Batchelor, Lucas Sitbbard, Jenni Large, Gabriel Comerford, Joshua Thomson, Adam Wheeler and Bec Reid.

In 2022 she choreographed a new work, 'The Ball Is In Your Court', for the Stompin triple-bill 4site, which was performed as part of Junction Arts Festival. In April 2022 she was Rehearsal Director for the performance season of Stompin's HQ, and was also a cast member. In 2022 she was offered an internship through Stompin to take part in the development of

Jenni Large's 'Body Body Commodity', and completed another creative development in February 2023 as an understudy for the work in Mona Foma Festival.

Sound Designer and Mentor

nna Whitaker is a multi award-winning Meanjin/Brisbane based sound designer and composer. She graduated from Queensland Conservatorium of Music with a Bachelor of Music Technology, and since has designed and composed for productions including MONA FOMA, Sydney Dance Company, Australasian Dance Company, The Farm, tasdance, Stompin', Aha Ensemble, La Boite Theatre Company, Brisbane Festival, Bleach* Festival, HOTA Gold Coast, Festival 2018, Vulcana Circus and Playlab.

Her vast background in classical music and technology-based sound art result in musical concoctions from the traditional and contemporary worlds. Anna received the 2020/2021 and 2019 Matilda Award for Best Sound Design for her work on Michael Smith’s ‘Cowboy’ and The Farm’s ‘Throttle’ respectively. Anna's unique voice is also evident in her installation works which have exhibited at Bleach* Festival, HOTA, MetroArts and QPAC Museum. Anna has a strong interest in composition for contemporary dance, and making and collaborating with regional artists and communities.

Anna premiered her own work “Full Spectrum” alongside collaborating visual artist Riley Towers at Metro Arts in February 2024, entailing a 360 degree sensory experience investigating the relationship of live projection art and sound. Anna is interested in exploring the junctions of sound and other artforms in more depth in a performative setting as she develops her craft.Description goes here

Youth Project Leader

Amy is a sculpture & performance artist, currently studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UTAS. Amy’s artistic practice involves sustainably sourced materials and investigates the relationship between the material and the body. Amy has a vigorous passion for the arts and fostering community and has danced and created with Stompin since 2020.

Amy has been a vital contributor to the 2024 Stompin Major Project. She has shared her skillset and lead in the rehearsal space in a gentle and caring way. She has generously contributed to the creative development in movement, tasks and in leading Company discussions.

Amy’s presence at meetings with key stakeholders and presentation partners has been influential for those operating outside of Stompin - to observe how young people are leaders in their own right.

Amy is an intuitive, creative collaborator and always shows up with openness and a willingness to be an active participant, engaged and engaging.

Workshop Leader - Dance + Visual Art

Keia is a Githabul, Migunberri – Yugumbeh woman, residing in nipaluna lutruwita. Keia is a multi-faceted artist and choreographer, performing at festivals and events such as Junction arts festival, 10 days on the island, Panama festival, Perth festival, Sydney contemporary and more. With the desire of truth telling through movement Keia has performed in seasons such as Taree Sansdbury’s MI:WI season at QPAC, Mel O’callaghan exhibition ‘centre of the centre’, Jo Loyds work ‘collision’, and recently joining the national tour with Karul projects for their show ‘Silence’.

Keia has a passion in guiding the next generation through the arts with song writing and movement workshops. Facilitating and performing in Assembly197 educational program ‘trolls’, Drill performance company dance nexus program and facilitating song writing and movement workshops throughout lutruwita (Tasmania) and Ieramugadu (Roebourne) WA.

Keia’s practice is rooted in deep listening, weaving stories through visual art and movement while valuing collaborations to create safe spaces to express.

Cinematographer

Lusy Productions was started by film maker, Scott Atkins, and Photographer, Jesse Hunniford but is now run solely by Scott. Since collaborating on their first projects in Launceston, Tasmania, this duos originality, imagination and eye for detail have kept them in high demand over the years, and are recognised by clients all over Australia. Past and present clients include Tourism Tasmania, Snooze Australia, Museum of Old and New Art, Honed Architecture and Design, Big Pineapple Festival, LaunTel, Two Tone Tasmania Wines, Moo Brew, Junction Arts Festival, Party In The Paddock, Routley’s Menswear, Lume Magazine, University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Government, Audi Australia, Tasmanian Eye Institute, Foundry, Blundstone, McKillops Insurance, Luca Brasi, Akouo, One Agency, Elitivia, The Kitchen Centre, Ritual Coffee, Amelia Coffee Co, Stompin Youth Dance Company, CityProm, Pure Bride Magazine, Stonesthrow, Hillwood Berry Farm, Zest, Cataract on Paterson, Oscar Hunt Tailors.

Production Manager

James moved from Sale, Victoria to Launceston in 2016, and has been a local ever since. He fell in love with the community and country town vibe of Tassie and created strong networks across both the events, arts and hospitality industries.

James started working in festival site management in 2017 working on Junction Art Festival from 2017 through to 2023, Party in the Paddock 2017 through to 2024, Haydays and Great Escape, among other festivals.

His work with Stompin is deeply inline with his interest in supporting others to achieve their creative vision and is an exciting chance to up-skill into production and stage management roles.