Biographies
Biographies of Gala and Michael
Having both worked as dancers over 2 continents, Gala and Michael share an impressive body of work which is always growing and in flux with the changing needs of both themselves and the world about them.
Gala Moody (1984, Beeliar nation/Fremantle – The Whadjuk people are the traditional owners whose land was never ceded) graduated from the West Australian Academy of Arts (WAAPA) in 2004, after attending John Curtin College of the Arts and STEPS Youth Dance Company.
After graduation, Gala joined Leigh Warren & Dancers (Kaurna Country/Adelaide) for four years, touring both around Australia and internationally. Gala represented Australia on a DanceWEB residency at Vienna Impulstanz Festival in 2007. Meanwhile, her own choreographic works were shown at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, at the Nextwave Festival in Eastern Kulin Nation/Melbourne. at the Melbourne National Theatre and the Playhouse in Ngunnawal country/Canberra, and in Lucy Guerin’s Studio. During this time, Gala started collaborations that still last to this day, with Australian directors including Frances d’Ath (now based in Berlin), Amanda Phillips, Sarah Cartwright, Alison Curry and Laura Wills.
In 2009 Gala moved to Brussels to join Charleroi Danses-Michelle Anne de Mey for the creation of ‘Neige’, also performing in ‘Sinfonia Eroica’, touring extensively in Europe.
In 2012, 2013, Gala worked with directors including Romeo Castellucci (Italy), Louise Chardon/andwhatbeside(s)death (Antwerp), Cie.TPO (Italy), Anuschka Van Oppen/Cie.SOIT (Brussels) and Gabrielle Nankivelle (Adelaide). During this time Gala created the solo ‘A Body’ for Ivo Dimchevs Volksroom in Brussels.
From 2014 to 2016 Gala performed with the company Ultima Vez/Wim Vandekeybus for ‘Talk to the Demon’, ‘Spiritual Unity’ and ‘Booty Looting’.
In 2016, Gala joined choreographer Pieter Ampe for ‘It’s in the Small Things’ a production of the Koninklijke Vlaamse Schouwburg. Gala was artist-in-residence at the WAM! Festival in Faenza, creating an anthropological performance, ‘Re-Gesture Study’.
In 2017/2018 Gala worked with various fashion houses, such as Hermès, Issey Miyake, Youjia Jin, Y/project, Kenzo, Flora Miranda.. appearing in fashion shows in London, Paris and Shanghai. She also choreographed fashion shows in collaboration with Hexagon Collective for London Fashion Week.
In 2018, 2019 Gala appeared in films “Suspiria” (2018) Luca Guadagnino, The Raft (2019) Sylvain Cruiziat, Anima (2019) Paul Thomas Anderson, Redemption (2020) Yael Bartana. Gala received an independent spirit award (U.S) for her work in Suspiria and is represented by Baumbauer Actors (London/Munich).
Gala has worked for artist led initiative Engagement as one of the core staff. Engagement works on combating sexism, racism in the arts industry, working with the arts community against sexual harassment. With Engagement, Gala is a trained and registered “Confidant” to freelance artists,
Gala also teaches the University of the Arts Philadelphia Masters and Bachelor Dance students during their annual European Program in Paris and Brussels.
Gala presents her research in performativity in the context OFEN Co-Arts Platform with long time friend and collaborator Michael Carter.
Gala lives between Brussels, Belgium, and Kaurna Country/Adelaide, Australia.
Michael Carter (1980, Eora Nation/Sydney, the Gadigal people are the traditional custodians of Sydney whose land was never ceded), trained at The Australian Ballet School before joining The Australian Ballet Company, with whom he danced with from 2000 until 2003, and then again in 2006. Between these engagements, he started creating his own works and worked for several contemporary dance directors throughout Australia, including Leigh Warren, Sue Healey and Meryl Tankard.
In 2007, he moved to Spain, where he first joined Ballet Victor Ullate and then later Compañía Nacional de Danza under director Nacho Duato, where he worked for several years, during which time he also created works for the company.
In 2012, Michael moved into the creation of theatre works, forming the company Cía. del Sr. Smith, with a group of actors, directors and artists. He also produced “NOW!”, a series of one-off improvised performances in site-specific locations. Michael has produced 16 short dance films, and a series for youtube called Inside CND for Compañía Nacional de Danza.
He performed in the Australian feature film The Book of Revelations, directed by Anna Kokkinos, and in the short dance film Homing, directed by Xabier Iriondo, with choreography by Marina Mascarell. Michael is also a teacher and rehearsal director and has taught workshops on dance for camera.
In 2014, Michael accepted a position as a guest artist with the company Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, afterwards joining the company full time 2015 -2020. Since 2021, Michael has continued to appear as a guest artist but left his full-time position to focus on OFEN Co-Arts. He is a research associate for the Pina Bausch Foundation for the project PINA100.
Michael is based in Cologne, Germany.
From 2021-2023, Michael has been the receipient of funding by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media in the NEUSTART KULTUR programme, DIS-TANZEN of the Dachverband Tanz Deutschland.)