Yolanda Lowatta

Yolanda is a Geidei woman born on Thursday Island, and grew up in Mackay. Her family come from Yam Island in the Torres Strait and is also of Papua New Guinean and Fijian heritage. In 2016 Yolanda was awarded a Helpmann award for Best Female Dancer in a dance or physical theatre. During her four years with Bangarra Dance Theatre Yolanda danced nationally and internationally. She was also a part of Ochre Contemporary Dance Company in 2014. Moving to Brisbane in 2011 Yolanda graduated from The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in 2013. Her arts credits include MABO directed by Rachel Perkins, Stolen directed by Leah Purcell and Up The Ladder directed by Wesley Enoch and choreographed by Penelope Mullen. After leaving Bangarra Yolanda has danced for Yt dingo, Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and from 2019-2021 she danced with Jannawi Dance Clan. Yolanda choreographed and performed her own solo named "As I Am" in the 2022 Bold Festival along with a workshop in Torres Strait Contemporary and has done some roving work with Little Dove Theatre Art and Australian Dance Party. Yolanda has also ventured into teaching dance with Austinmer Dance Theatre, Brolga Dance Academy, Classical Ballet Centre Canberra and QL2. In 2021 Yolanda choreographed and was featured in the short film Nataptedi, collaborating with composer Alyx Dennison and cinematographer Cass Mortimer-Eipper, for A_PART.