Helen Herbertson
Choreographer, performer, director, educator, curator, mentor, Helen has been fascinated by dance & the performance form for multiple decades. She began crafting work in the freelance environment of the 80’s e.g. Tasdance, Dance North, Australian Dance Theatre, One Extra Company, 2 Dance Plus, Jolt, Outlet Dance and has been influential in the evolution of seminal organisations that helped shape the development of dance & performing arts in Australia:- Artistic Associate Qld Modern & Contemporary Dance Company (70-74), Foundation Member Dance Action Network SA (84-88), Artistic Director Danceworks (89-97), Foundation Member Moriarty’s Project Inc (00-18), Artistic Director Dancehouse (01-03), Co-Director hhprojects (ongoing).
Honored with the Kenneth Myer Medallion for Distinguished Contribution to the Performing Arts in 2007, a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australian Dance Awards in 2017, Helen was recipient of the prestigious Australia Council for the Arts Award for Dance in 2022.
Her choreographic work has presented in traditional theatrical settings, intimate non-theatre venues, large-scale outdoor sites, drama and opera performances, educational projects, festivals and touring programs. She has multiple Green Room Nominations with Awards for Best Production, Original Choreography, Direction, Outstanding Creative Collaboration and the inaugural 2003 Australian Independent Dance Award which she shared with long-time collaborator Ben Cobham (Morphia Series). Her expressive, detailed pieces regularly present in significant festivals - Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Singapore, Zurich, Paris, Dublin, Glasgow, Tokyo, Portland, New York.
Most recently Helen has pursued in-deep creative engagements with a range of artists through education and mentorship while developing a range of new work. A sort after performance coach and staging consultant, she has worked internationally at residencies in Paris, Singapore, Finland, Banff Canada. Helen holds a Masters of Arts and as Senior Lecturer, lead the Postgraduate and Honours Coursework & Research programs at VCA Dance, Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne (05-20).