In-Conversation: Deb Roach + Katia Schwartz + Danni Wright

Deb Roach and Katia Schwartz are soaring high as two of Australia’s most exciting performers with backgrounds in erotic dance, aerial dance, circus and burlesque.

Together these unique artists are trailblazing their own performance path, fusing sensuality and athleticism as well as d/Deaf and disability pride.

Deb and Katia will discuss their development as performers, their approach to their creativity and careers, what it’s like being a performer with disability and how Australia’s live performance industry is responding to the need for diversity and authentic representation.

Deb and Katia will be interviewed by filmmaker/writer Sam Martin.

This is the first edition of our FREE In-Conversation series for 2021. Our In-Conversation program profiles arts practitioners with disability.

When & Where
Wednesday 12 May 2021
9:30am – 11am
Zoom (link sent following registration)
REGISTER NOW: https://aartsincon12apr2021.eventbrite.com.au
Panellists
Deb Roach (pictured right)

Deb Roach is 3 times Ultimate Pole Champion in the International Pole Dancing Championships. She toured the world with Extraordinary Bodies Circus throughout 2015 and 2016 and presented a TEDx talk on where the disabled and able-bodied worlds intersect. Today she is the owner of Stargazer Pole Studio in Blacktown and teaches barre, pilates and yoga across the city.

https://www.facebook.com/DebRoachPole/about/?ref=page_internal

Katia Schwartz (pictured left)

Smooth, silky and sensual, the owner of Sydney’s “Sky Sirens” Katia Schwartz is the hypno-teasing siren of the sky. This foxy fatale is known for melting her erotic roots with aerial artistry, creating slinky performances that are both provocative and dreamy. With her strawberries and cream silhouette, Katia’s unique erotic-esque style has mesmerised audiences across Australia since 2008. As a Deaf artist, Katia remembers every count and pattern of the song, the placement of her moves and relies on vibrations as cues. She says, “Being Deaf is my superpower”.

https://www.gooddaygirl.com.au/blogs/news/hello-katia-schwartz

Danni Wright (pictured centre)

Danni Wright (she/her), works within the film, television and theatre industry as a director, actor and language, cultural and accessibility consultant across diverse projects. She has studied internationally enriching her skills as a versatile theatre practitioner and performer. Danni is passionate about creativity and accessibility being entwined from the work’s inception rather than as an add-on or afterthought. Incorporating accessibility as part of performances normalises the experience for everyone. Danni was a co-writer, interviewer and language consultant on a recently produced short documentary about Katia called Deafying Gravity which was funded through the 2021 Screen NSW Screenability Filmmakers Fund.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-07/sign-language-naplan-tourism-in-covid-era/12847578