Leisa Prowd
Leisa is a dancer, performance artist and life model based in Naarm (Melbourne). Her main interests lie in Butoh, Contact Improvisation and Pedestrian Movement, particularly looking at the uniqueness of her own body in relation to space and other bodies.
Leisa has been a member of Weave Movement Theatre since 2014 and performed in Weave’s short film – Will You Go Round With Me, directed by Kat Worth in 2015, White Night in 2015, White Day Dream, directed by Yumi Umiumare in 2016. She performed in Weave’s most recent productions of Wannabe A Rabbit for the ButohOut Festival in 2018 and 2019 at the Abbotsford Convent.
Leisa has also performed internationally in events and festivals in Sweden, Indonesia and Germany. She was part of Beyond Access Europe in June 2019 with delegates from other European countries and participated in a two-week residency at Skånes Dance Theater in Malmo, Sweden. Together the participants explored the theme of “Unexpected Bodies in Unexpected Spaces” engaging in site specific interventions around Malmo.
In 2018, Leisa and her burlesque partner, Willow J Conway (Miss Burlesque Australia 2016) were guest performers at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada with their act – Bauhaus Burlesque, an act of Immeasurable Proportions. This act was also performed at the Australian Burlesque Festival, 2017 and the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 2018.
In September 2020, Leisa travelled to Berlin, Germany to undertake an Internship with Theater Thikwa, a company comprised of people with and without disability. Leisa researched inclusive theatre practice during her time and often led physical training with members of the ensemble as part of her research.
In November 2021, Leisa will again be travelling to Germany to work with Hodworks at Theater Bremen to create a new work with an inclusive, diverse ensemble.
Leisa joined Rawcus Theatre Company in 2016 and performed in Song for a Weary Throat at Theatreworks in 2017 and at Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival in 2018. She has also worked on the Rawcus Public Program as part of Fanaticus.
Rawcus Productions: Song for a Weary Throat (2017 & 2018), Glass ( 2021)