At times, let art be a balm, at others, a bomb.

My work begins with the possibilities of ease, curiosity, play and integration as a foundation from which increasing evolving complexities arise. My creative work comes from a series of curiosities and research questions where I interrogate culturalism, domestic violence, gender roles, and hypocrisies within a so-called enlightened society.

By focussing on the radical act of taking time and space, of awakening to one’s own sensory experience, and connecting with others, I explore the space between performers and audience members, the possibilities and meanings that emerge from the visuals, sounds, texts, contexts, and performers' states that come together to create performance.

Vandellous is a performer, emcee, producer, dramaturge, choreographer, director, voice teacher, and performance educator.

Vandellous holds a BFA in Physical Theatre Performance through Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, with a focus on writing, dramaturgy, directing, and multidisciplinary performance, and a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland, specialising in LGBTIQ+ occupational justice, mental health, chronic pain, and neurology. Vandellous is a certified teacher of Fitzmaurice Voicework® and a certified Organic Intelligence® coach. They hold an Associate Performer Diploma (ATCL) with Trinity College, London, UK, and are a certified Speech Arts Teacher with Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), Toronto, Canada. They have studied and performed butoh for over 15 years, learning from teachers around the world, and began learning and performing burlesque in 2010.

Vandellous co-designed a performance and modified acrobatics pilot program for children with cerebral palsy through the Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland. They also formed United We Dance to create dances throughout Brisbane CBD to bring the community together in support of marriage equality. UWD was then invited to perform at Brisbane’s mental health day. Their work resulted in Occupational Therapy Australia issuing a public statement of unequivocal support for LGBTIQ+ folks, recognizing the health impacts of occupational injustices that uniquely impact the community.

Vandellous has emceed and programmed several events such as

• Alchemy, Brisbane Square Library’s immensely successful monthly showcase of spoken word poetry, dance, circus, burlesque, and music

• Bang on a Boa, the annual fundraiser for the acquired brain injury organization Synapse;

• Lost Movements, a bi-monthly “happening”  of street art, music, burlesque, body art, and dance

• Celebration of The Female Form, an annual art showcase co-organized with the painter Vanessa Swift. 

Vandellous co-created the steering committee for and served as the first president of BLP, bringing art, entertainment, education,  and community events centered around alternative lifestyles in Queensland.

With a career spanning Canada, Australia, and the US, they are known for their creative concepts and range while connecting with audiences and taking them on a journey, their style plays in the dramatic, comedic, ecological, site-specific, and political fields.

Their dance film “/ Edges /“ was selected for RogueDancer FilmFest and their film “Salt & Stone” was selected for the NYC UNFIX Festival (2021). Both films were featured in the Human Lights Festival: A Curious Encounter (2021) at 7 Stages.

2021 Hambidge Cross-Pollination Art Lab Fellow

2022-2023 Reiser Art Lab recipient

2023 - Present Artist in Residence at Windmill Arts