Entangled Labours

Artist Bios

Rhonda Dixon Grovenor is a Gadigal/Bidgigal/Yuin Elder and Traditional Descendant from the Sydney (Warrane) and saltwater basin and the South Coast of NSW. She is the daughter of First Nations activist and advocate, Dr Charles “Chicka” Dixon, who was an MUA union activist. Dixon has over 50 years’ experience in the performing arts having received a scholarship to UCLA and she also has experience within the theatre sector as a writer, actor, collaborator and consultant. Dixon is a compassionate advocate in the fields of social and environmental justice and human rights self-determination, decolonisation, self-governance, community strengthening and cultural revitalisation for the future generations.

James Hazel is a composer; sound artist; and researcher who has worked w/ contemporary dance, performance, new-music ensembles, soloists, and various collaborators across disciplines. James is currently interested in scoring/ritualising resistant text and sonic practices (and making) that emerge within conditions of precarity – working with found and bricolaged materials through scores, installation, performance texts, spoken word, and video.

James has presented work at/with Bundanon Trust, Vivid Sydney, Arts Incubating and Oil Tank Culture Park (Seoul, South Korea), Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Legs on the Wall, International Video Dance Festival of Burgundy, Metro-Arts (Brisbane), Gondwana Choirs, Backstage Music (AU), Pinnacles Gallery, Scanlines, Sydney Fringe Festival, City of Sydney, Catapult Dance/March Dance, Spineless Wonders, Lock Up Gallery, and Create NSW. James has scored an Australian Dance Award winning production; awarded the NIDA-Sponsored Emerging Artist Award; and been featured as a finalist in the 7th International Media Arts Award.

Kaz Therese (they/them) grew up on Darug land in Mt Druitt, Western Sydney. They are an interdisciplinary artist and cultural leader with a practice grounded in performance, activism and community building. Their work is inspired by place and narrative from working class & underclass settings. In 2022 Kaz completed a residency at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and in August will premier their solo work SLEEPLESSNESS commissioned by Carriageworks.

From 2013- 2020 they were the Artistic Director of PYT Fairfield. Kaz directed the Helpmann nominated PLAYLIST (premiered 2018), UnWrapped, Sydney Opera House (2019) Other works include JUMP FIRST ASK LATER (HELPMANN AWARD WINNER) TRIBUNAL presented at Griffin Theatre, ArtsHouse Melbourne, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Festival; WOMEN OF FAIRFIELD with MCA C3West and STARTTS, winning the Sydney Myer Arts & Cultural Award for Best Arts Program (2016).Kaz is the Founder of FUNPARK ,Mt Druitt (Sydney Festival 2014) and a graduate of the 2019 Australia Council Cultural Leadership program.

Sonya Holowell is a vocalist, composer, writer and educator of Dharawal and Inuit descent. Her practice spans many contexts and forms, with improvisation as a primary mode towards emancipatory aims. Sonya’s work as a vocalist and composer has been shown at Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Resonant Bodies Festival, Sydney Biennale, Vivid, VOLUME, soundSCAPE Italy, Soft Centre, Liveworks, the Now Now, Sydney Fringe, Moorambilla, The Banff Centre, Canberra International Music Festival, Chamber Made Hi-Viz Practice Exchange, and others. She has collaborated with the Song Company, JACK Quartet, Ensemble Offspring, International Contemporary Ensemble, Decibel, Tura and the Australian Art Orchestra, and has presented her work at the Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Carriageworks, Institute of Modern Art, The Powerhouse Museum, MUMA and the National Gallery of Australia.