Michael Leslie (dancer)

Michael Leslie is an Indigenous Australian dancer and choreographer.^[1]

Career and achievements

Leslie was part of a team which created the following organisations:^[2] the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts;^[3] the Black Swan Theatre Company;^[4] Marrugeku Physical Theatre; and the NAISDA Dance College. He also created the Michael Leslie Pilbara Performing Arts Program to expose local children to the performing arts.^[5]

In 1993, he choreographed the first Aboriginal Australian musical, Bran Nue Dae.^[6]

In 2018, he performed at the Ochre Contemporary Dance Company's Australian Premiere Season of 3 point 3.^[7]

In 1979 Leslie was awarded the Churchill Fellowship to further his studies,^[8] which he used in 1981.^[9]

In 2010^[10] he received the Red Ochre Award from the Australia Council for the Arts, receiving A$50,000.^[11]

^ Fulton, Adam (27 May 2010). "Television ad inspired welder from the bush to a lifelong love of dance". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Michael Leslie Foundation for the Performing Arts". YMAC. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Reclaiming language through dance". 23 May 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "The Quiet Achiever - Michael Leslie" (PDF). Deadly Vibe.
^ Paterson, Sharna (14 May 2008). "Michael Leslie Pilbara Performing Arts Program". abc.net.au. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Michael Leslie:". AustLit. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "On the Couch with Michael Leslie". Australian Arts Review. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ Donovan, Thomas; Lorraine, Brody T. (2002). Media Ethics, an Aboriginal Film and the Australian Film Commission. iUniverse. ISBN 9780595252664.
^ "Ochre 3.3 and Beyond". Community News Group. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Leslie, Michael's Fellowship Profile". Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
^ "Thorpe gives Red Ochre to leading dancer | Australia Council". www.australiacouncil.gov.au. Retrieved 28 October 2019.