Russell Thorpe
Russell Thorpe is an independent artist, educator and performer based in Boorloo/Perth Western Australia. Russell has been a contributing member of the WA dance sector for over a decade having performed and toured extensively across the state. Russell’s practice is based on the accumulation of different physical forms, improvisation and has recently been studying traditional art forms from India, as well as community-based art practices.
In 2013 Russell graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) with a Bachelor of Performing Arts and joined The Contemporary Dance Company of Western Australia (Co3) as a founding dancer in 2015. During his time in Co3 Russell toured and performed Australia working with renowned choreographers such as Gavin Webber (The Farm), Larissa McGowan, Antony Hamilton (ChunkyMove), Garry Stewart (Australian Dance Theatre), Douglas Wright (staged by Megan Adams), Chrissie Parrott AO and current artistic director Raewyn Hill.
Russell has also worked independently across various projects including a re-staging of Hofesh Shechter’s Uprising & tHE bAD for the Perth International Arts Festival, the Daksha Sheth Dance Company India, STRUT Dance, Chrissie Parrott Arts and the Barking Gecko Theatre Company. Most recently Russell has been taken under the wing by award winning community arts practitioner Annette Carmichael Projects. Annette’s grassroots, community based organisation has had a profound effect on Russell’s practice, no more so than being a soloist in the monumental project The Stars Descend.
Russell is also a founding dancer of Co3 Australia and has performed in Re:Loaded, Reason for Being, The Cry, The Zone, The Inside, Archives of Humanity, Architect of the Invisible as well as a company teaching artist for various projects including The Bird Markers Project, CONNECT25 and The Chain Project.
