Brian Lucas

Brian Lucas is a Brisbane-based freelance performer, choreographer, and teacher. Trained in both acting and dance, he has worked with many of Queensland’s most well-known companies, including Rock’n’Roll Circus, Brink Visual Theatre, Queensland Ballet, Queensland Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre, The Lyric Opera, and for 8 years with Expressions Dance Company (4 of those as Assistant Artistic Director).

Since returning to freelance work in 1994, Brian has created works for the Rock’n’Roll Circus, the Victorian College of the Arts, Queensland Ballet, The Queensland Dance School of Excellence, The Brisbane Fringe, and the Brisbane Festival’s ‘VOLT’ programme (among others). He has also been involved in an extensive range of performance and creative development projects, as well as initiating (and participating in) a wide variety of independent and fringe projects.

He is heavily involved in the Brisbane independent dance scene, and in 1995 was one of the four artists who initiated and administered the Crab Room Performance Space. In 1996, Brian became a founding member of the Cherry Herring Collective, and presented numerous original dance works at their Ann Street studios and in other venues.

Brian’s interests extend well beyond the borders of the traditional dance form, and he has been involved in staging and choreographing a number of events outside the dance sphere, including works for theatre companies, fashion agencies, choirs and orchestras. Probably his largest excursion beyond the dance world has been his co-direction of the Welcome Ceremony for the Brisbane World Masters’ Games in 1995 (with its cast of over 2000 - including umbrella-wielding school children, marching girls, mounted police, silk-fabric-animals, elderly flag carriers, and athletes!)

Brian has served on both the Australia Council Dance Panel, and the Arts Queensland Performing Arts Assessment Panel, and in 1997 completed a Masters Degree in Choreographic Research through the Victorian College of the Arts.

During 1997, Brian was also involved in developing, co-ordinating, and tutoring in Australia’s first Physical Theatre and Circus Training course for Rock’n’Roll Circus. In 1998, he worked extensively on creating and developing the original show ‘SweetMeats’ for R’n’R. Also in 1998, he commenced work as a Teacher within the Performing Arts Department at SouthBank Institute of TAFE (where he co-ordinated the Movement and Physical Theatre Programme).

During the second half of 1999, Brian undertook an Australia Council funded Artist-in-Residence programme at the Academy of Arts at the Queensland University of Technology, conducting a creative development process and researching the development of a solo performance work which focussed on autobiographical themes.

In 2000, Brian choreographed for Extensions Youth Dance Company, and was one of only seven Australian artists to participate in the New Moves/New Territories Choreographic Laboratory in Adelaide and Glasgow. He was also commissioned to create a new work for the Qld Dance School of Excellence, and his highly-acclaimed solo performance piece - ‘monster’ - premiered at Brisbane Powerhouse.

In 2001, Brian undertook the position of Artist-in-Residence at Brisbane Powerhouse, working on the creation of his next solo piece - ‘the book of revelation(s)’. He also taught extensively at a number of schools and private studios, oversaw a variety of community dance projects, created an original work for Clayfield College in Brisbane, performed with the Queensland Ballet, and actively filled the position of President of Ausdance (Qld).

In 2002, Brian continued his residency at Brisbane Powerhouse, where he helped to curate the dance programme and acted as Front-of-House co-ordinator. He also creating commission works for Dance North and Clayfield College, directed a circus project on the theme of fatherhood, performed at Brisbane Powerhouse and The Performance Space, taught at a number of Secondary Schools, and continued his work with Ausdance.

2003 will see Brian continuing at Brisbane Powerhouse, while also creating works for the QUT Creative Industries faculty and Clayfield College. He will also be continuing to develop his latest solo work, "the book of revelations", with the work premiering in March 2004.