Gabrielle Leah New

Artistic Director of ‘The Space Between Performance Collective’

Director, Movement Artist, Choreographer,

Designer, Butoh Dancer, Actor,

Mentor, Therapist and Educator


Gaby is a Director, Movement Artist, Choreographer and Therapist with a passion for Butoh. She obtained a Certificate in Dance from The Northern Rivers Conservatorium in 1999, and has since trained with International and Australian Butoh and improvised movement practitioners including: Dairakudakan, Min Tanaka, Frank van de Ven, Lemi Ponifasio, Yumiko Yoshioka, Kit Johnson, Tadashi Endo, Tess de Quincey, Yumi Umiumare, Cheryl Hazelwood and Aven Darling. In 2005 she received a Certificate in 3D Art (sculpture), which she incorporates into her performance and costume design. In 2009 Gaby was a recipient of a solo residency through Victoria University where she completed a Diploma of Theatre Arts in 2010.

In 2010 Gaby completed a six month Directing Internship with Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre. As part of her role with Zen Zen Zo she was assistant Director to Canadian Stephen Atkins for ‘Dante’s Inferno-Living Hell ‘ In The Raw Season, also acting and performing in a major role. She directed ‘Menagerie of Innocence’ (Part 2 of CREATURE) a site-specific Butoh piece with 9 performers in the Gardens of The Old Museum Building, Brisbane.

During 2002 Gaby was a company member of Lemi Ponifasio’s MAU Dance Theatre (Auckland) and toured New Zealand and the Pacific. She co-created ‘Scratch and Sniff Dance Shorts I & II’, (with Wilhemeena Monroe) a multimedia, improvised movement and dance film showcase for TEMPO- Auckland Dance Festival (2002 & 2003) and has been choreographing her own and others’ works since 2002 in both New Zealand and Australia, including: Soulstream, Lying in the Shadows, Dark surrounding Dark(2007) Nest (2006), Instinct(2002), Safe in Sound (2001), Red Earth, White Yogurt(2001,2002).and Choreographed for Foxy Fantastic Circus Cabaret (2005, 2006). In 2009 she performed with Dairakudakan in Hakuba, Japan and created an improvised solo that she performed at Kabuso ,Norway .She also Directed, Produced and performed in ‘The VOID;-part 1 CREATURE, as part of the ‘One Of ‘Series curated by Camilla Gough in the Nicholas Building, Melbourne. In 2009 Gaby founded ‘The Space Between Performance Collective’. In 2010 she was involved in three creative development projects: Emergence (Part 3 of CREATURE), Tidal –with Gretel Taylor, and The ROCK- for Kurunpa Live Arts as Mentor, choreographer and performer.

Gaby’s work invites audiences to participate in an archetypal world of strong imagery and otherworldly landscapes. Her profound interest in transformation is central to her creations, not just thematically, but embodied in the movement/choreography, costumes, and props.

Her professional Development has taken her around the world and she is strongly invested in developing her Art and her skill base to deliver quality, original, transformative theatre for Australian and overseas audiences.

Her interest in Transformation and Movement come together in ‘Moving Mountains’ which she has developed utilizing her skills as an Occupational Therapist and a Butoh practitioner to provide structured, therapeutic movement experiences to assist people move through Mental and Emotional blocks and transform their lives. She also teaches Butoh Dance Theatre to Adults and Youth and Mentors Emerging Artists.