Born in Wigan, Abbie’s dance journey began at age three, fuelled by a love of movement (and Angelina Ballerina). After moving to Western Australia, she continued her ballet training at the only studio in her regional town offering exams. Soon exploring various other styles and going on to be captivated by both contemporary dance and the excitement of performing on stage.

At 17, Abbie relocated to Perth to attend the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she pursued a bachelor’s in dance. Her studies included performing classical works such as “La Bayadère” and “Don Quixote”, whilst deepening her connection to contemporary dance, working with the Tannhauser Foundation on remounting Pina Bausch’s, “Tannhauser Bacchanal”, and engaging in workshops with DV8’s Lloyd Newson.

Abbie remounted excerpts of Rafael Bonachela’s, “2 One Another” and performed repertoire from Crystal Pite’s, “Solo Echo”. Going on to choreograph her own works and facilitate the ideas of her peers through dance. Abbie’s experiences extended to secondments with Sydney Dance Company and The Australian Ballet Company, enriching her knowledge of elite contemporary creation and performance and fostering a love for education and community within dance.

Since graduating, Abbie has combined her passion for dance with education. This year, she has worked with the Western Australian Ballet’s outreach department to facilitate workshops across the state. Additionally, she coaches gymnasts and school students while continuing to dance and collaborate within Perth’s contemporary industry. Abbie enjoys outdoor adventures, learning new sports, baking, and engaging in creative pursuits like drawing and painting. But mostly enjoys sharing any of those with her friends and family.

With a fascination for the intersection of dance, music, and community, Abbie is committed to connecting through dance. Now in Salford, she looks forward to furthering her artistic and personal growth with Emergence and hopes to advance her professional performance career in the future.

Photo credit: Josh Hawkins