lizzie vilmanis

Born in Tanzania, East Africa, Lizzie grew up in Adelaide before moving to Brisbane where she gained an Associate Degree in Dance in 1999 from the Queensland University of Technology.

In 2000 she joined the Brisbane-based Expressions' Dance-In- Education team, touring Surf's Up and Lines in the Sand to primary schools throughout Queensland. In 2001 she danced in Opera Queensland's production of The Pearl Fishers choreographed by Rosetta Cook and performed in the collaborative dance project, The Sanctuary, directed by Dale Johnston.

Lizzie was invited to join Expressions Dance Company in 2002 and made her company debut at the Beijing Modern Dance Festival. Until the end of 2007, Lizzie toured both nationally and internationally with the company, performing major roles in Virtually Richard III, Score, The Fifth Door and Fragments of Memory. During her time with the company, Lizzie worked with choreographers Maggi Sietsma, Natalie Weir, Sue Peacock, Cheng Tsung Lung, Lisa Wilson and Justin Rutzou. She also worked with dramaturges Jennifer Flowers and Veronica Neave and voice coach, Melissa Agnew.

Lizzie choreographed Café 3941 for Expressions' Either Side of Forty season in 2006 and in 2007 performed in Katie Noonan's music film clip Time to Begin, choreographed by Natalie Weir. In 2008, Lizzie worked with the Elbow Room Collective led by Lisa Wilson and performed with the ensemble at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Lizzie has been a sessional dance lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology and an adjudicator for the Queensland Cecchetti Medals in Brisbane. She has also taught for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the Wellington Summer School, the Development of Contemporary Dance in Noumea, Mad Dance House in Brisbane and has led workshops in contemporary dance, ballet, choreographic techniques, movement for drama and repertoire.