Emily Amisano graduated from the Queensland University of Technology in 1996, with an Associate Degree in Dance. She has performed and collaborated on many works from both local and internationally renowned choreographers. Emily has been a member of Expressions Dance Company in Brisbane (1997-2000, 2004-6), Carte Blanche in Bergen, Norway (2001-3), and Dansgroep Krisztina de Chatel in Amsterdam (2003). She has appeared at arts festivals around the world, including in New York, Mexico City, Oslo, Seoul, Ludwigsberg, Taipei, Karmiel and Guangzhou.
Emily has choreographed three works; a solo work titled incursion (2004) to critical acclaim; a duo the last best girl (2006) – both for Expressions Dance Company’s Atelier/ workshop seasons; and most recently Bending the Map for Sydney Dance Company presented as part of New Breed during the Sydney Spring Dance Festival at the Sydney Opera House. Bending the Map began its development in 2008 with the assistance of a Summer Space Grant at Dancehouse in Melbourne.
In December 2006, Emily moved to Melbourne to engage in work as an independent artist. 2007 saw her work with choreographer Anton and composer Kate Neal as part of the Arts Centre’s Full Tilt Season 1. Emily also performed in Orpheus and Eurydice (Victorian Opera) directed by Stephen Page, Musicircus with Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal (Melbourne Festival) and Being There with choreographer Clare Dyson (Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Art, Brisbane).
Early in 2008 she collaborated with dancer Emma Strapps on the new work if I am everywhere, supported by the City of Yarra and Dancehouse. More recently Emily performed and collaborated with Malia Johnston in Broken By Design at Dancehouse, Telia Neville in Zoetrope for the Melbourne Fringe, and Emma Strapps and actor Nicola Gunn in Exquisitely boring small pleasures.
Emily joined Sydney Dance Company in January 2009 and has since worked with choreographer/director Rafael Bonachela, performing in we unfold (2009-2011); 360° (2009); 6 Breaths (2010-2011); LANDforms (2011) and The Land of Yes & The Land of No (2011). She has also performed in Aszure Bartons’ Sid’s Waltzing Masquerade (2009); New Breed (2009); Kenneth Kvarnstrom’s Mercury (2009); Adam Linder’s Are We That We Are (2010); and Emanuel Gat’s Satisfying Musical Moments (2010).
Emily won the Green Room Award for Best Female Dancer for her performance in the 2010 tour of Rafael Bonachela’s we unfold.
In November/December 2011, Emily was part of the highly acclaimed tour of Between Breath & Form to New York, Barcelona and London.
