Living Sculptures: How the birds got their colours

Robbie Curtis is the Artistic Director of ARC Circus Co and has worked extensively for over twenty years nationally and internationally, directing, performing, teaching and choreographing. Robbie has worked for companies including Cirque du Soleil, Circa, Circus Oz, Legs on the Wall, Cirque de Paname, Australian Ballet, Australian Opera, Theatre of Image, Circus Monoxide, Shaun Parker Co and Footnote Dance Company. Robbie has directed all works with ARC Circus that have been performed in eight different countries at theatres and major festivals to over 90,000 people. Robbie is internationally recognised for his unique style mixing dance and circus and has been an artistic consultant at the National Institute of Circus Arts. Robbie has performed in notable theatres around the world, including Barbican, Sadler’s Wells, BAM, Theatre Grec, Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne, and he has performed at every major Australian arts festival.

Luther Cora is a proud Yugambeh man, cultural educator, storyteller, artist and performer whose family has deep ancestral connections to the Gold Coast and Tweed region. As a respected cultural leader and leader of the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dancers, Luther has spent more than 30 years sharing First Nations culture through dance, storytelling, visual art and education. His work has been featured at major cultural events across Australia, including the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. Passionate about preserving and sharing the stories of Country, Luther works closely with communities and artists to create meaningful cultural experiences that celebrate identity, belonging and connection.

Lizzie is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ARC Circus. Lizzie is also a unique performer and creator performing with ARC. Lizzie has been a key creative in all of ARC’s shows and has performed nationally and internationally with the company in the US, UK, Korea, New Zealand, Cambodia and more. Lizzie’s unique blend of live music, acrobatics and circus has been celebrated with five-star reviews and awards. She has taught all levels of flute, also plays piccolo and is a juggler and clown. Lizzie holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from the University of Sydney and has worked in management all over the world, including Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan, the UK and the USA.

Tayvonne Cora is a proud Yugambeh performer and artist from the Gold Coast. Raised within a family renowned for sharing First Nations culture through dance, storytelling and education, she has spent much of her life performing and connecting with audiences through the arts. As a member of the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dancers, Tayvonne is passionate about celebrating and sharing the stories, traditions and cultural knowledge of her people. Through performance, she continues a strong family legacy of cultural leadership while inspiring the next generation to connect with culture, Country and community.

Sarah was originally a WA girl, competing in dance and acrobatics for most of her life before ‘running away to join the circus’. Now, she is a well-respected graduate of the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA, 2016) and officially holds a Bachelor of Circus Arts. Specialising in several different skills, including trapeze, handstands and group acrobatics, she has spent her time sharing her love of performing, expansive skillset and knowledge both on and off stage. Some of her most notable career highlights include performing as an ensemble acrobat for Barnum: The Circus Musical (Melbourne VIC, 2019), Leviathan and Humans by Circa (Perth, Paris & Brisbane 2020) and The Pulse by Gravity & Other Myths Circus (Sydney 2022). Other companies Sarah has and continues to perform with include Na Djinang Circus, One Fell Swoop Circus and ARC Circus. In 2019 she was also awarded the Grand Champion Dancer of the World at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Long Beach, California. During 2024, Sarah was cast in an ABC Kids television show to perform in a giant character suit, showing off her diverse skills not just as an elite-level acrobat but as an all-round performer.

Gerramy began his circus training at the age of 14 with Flipside Youth Circus in Brisbane. After graduating from high school, he was accepted into the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA), where he expanded his repertoire and specialised in acrobatic basing and rolla bolla. From 2013 to early 2026, Gerramy performed as an ensemble member with Circa, contributing to the creation and presentation of numerous productions across the globe. During his time with the company, he developed a deep passion for group acrobatics and collaborative skill creation.

Among his proudest achievements is basing a four-high during a hometown season at QPAC, an accomplishment that remains a career highlight.

Kathryn (Kat) O’Keeffe is an internationally recognised circus artist, aerialist, choreographer and acrobatic consultant whose career spans more than 20 years across Australia and abroad. Originally trained in gymnastics and dance, she completed a Bachelor of Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts before building an extensive career across circus, physical theatre, aerial harness, puppetry and swaypole performance in more than 25 countries. Kat has performed at prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including the Sydney Opera House, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Barbican Centre, TOHU Montréal, Lincoln Center's White Light Festival and World Expo Shanghai. Renowned for her exceptional strength, artistry and stage presence, she has worked with acclaimed companies including Circa, Strange Fruit, Liquid Skin, Highwire Entertainment and ARC Circus. Alongside her performance career, Kat is a sought-after choreographer and acrobatic consultant. Most recently, she co-created the full-length circus productions Velvet Carousel and Valise with her husband and creative partner, Paul O’Keeffe, which premiered internationally in 2026.

Paul O’Keeffe is an internationally acclaimed circus artist, director, trainer and acrobatic consultant with a career spanning almost three decades. Since 1996, he has performed across circus, aerial harness, dance, puppetry, swaypole, musical theatre and physical theatre in more than 25 countries. His work has taken him to some of the world's leading venues and festivals, including the Sydney Opera House, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lincoln Center's White Light Festival, Barbican Centre, TOHU Montréal, Chamaeleon Theatre Berlin and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Festival. Paul has performed with many of Australia's leading contemporary performance companies, including Circa, Circus Oz, Highwire Entertainment and ARC Circus. A highly respected trainer and creative collaborator, he has spent more than 30 years developing artists and consulting on major productions. Most recently, he co-created and performed in the full-length circus works Velvet Carousel and Valise alongside his wife and creative partner, Kathryn O’Keeffe.

Dylan Singh is a proud Wiradjuri artist, second-generation circus performer and cultural practitioner with more than 15 years of experience performing, creating and touring across Australia. A graduate of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, Dylan has worked with some of the country's most respected contemporary circus companies and is known for weaving First Nations culture, storytelling and music into dynamic physical performance. As founder of The Dreaming Project, he creates immersive works that connect communities, celebrate culture and empower the next generation of artists through contemporary circus and the arts.