Annabel Saies

Born in Adelaide, Annabel Saies began her dance training 8 years ago initially learning from professional dancers Aidan Kane Munn and Michelle Buday at Terry Simpson Studios. In 2006 Annabel completed SACE Dance receiving a distinction overall and top marks for her choreographic group work. In 2012 Annabel gradated from the Bachelor of Arts in Dance at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts WAAPA). At WAAPA Annabel worked with various choreographers across the 3 years including Buzz Dance Theatre artistic director Cadi McCarthy, Melanie Lane, Gabrielle Nankivell, Justin Rutzou, Kristina Chan and Amelia McQueen and Michael Whaites. In her third year she was chosen along with 10 of her peers to represent WAAPA at the International Dance Academies Festival held in Taipei, Taiwan where they performed a work choreographed by Justin Rutzou. Annabel’s third year choreographic work was also presented at the 2012 ‘Bridge Dance Intensive’ held at Carriageworks in Sydney.

Since graduating Annabel spent 2013 gaining experience with various choreographers and companies on the generation of new work. Including Byron Perry’s ‘Light Entertainment at Tasdance, ‘Abandon’ at Dancenorth, Stephanie Lake’s ‘Aorta’ at Chunky Move, Lisa Griffiths at InSpace on the development of ‘Chance’, and with Carl Scriberras and Flatline on their development ‘Sketch’. She was also fortunate enough to participate in the first CounterTechnique Intensive run and lead by Anouk Van Dijik and Nina Woolney at Chunky Move in June 2013.

Independently Annabel also embarked on various persona and individual projects. One being a 4-week residency at the Chapel Space in Perth, in which her and 4 recent graduates embarked upon the development of individual and collective ideas finishing with 2 shows of small snippets of work. From this Annabel formed a partnership with graduate Ashleigh White in which they developed and performed a short duo titled ‘Bounce’ for STRUT’s ‘Short Cuts’ Season in May 2013. 2014 will see further development of the duo into a full-length work.

Annabel is new to Sydney so 2014 is about the collaboration with new dancers and artists, networking and becoming involved in Sydney’s independent scene in all forms.