Amaara Raheem

Amaara Raheem’s practice of choreography and performance is deeply shaped by her history of migration. Born in Sri Lanka, grown in Melbourne, she lived fifteen years in London, and is now based in regional Victoria. In her life and work Amaara practices multiple belongings, and is fascinated by creative / cultural collaborations; uniting experiences, skills, and efforts with others to develop new tools for transformation and decolonisation. Amaara is completing a practice-based PhD at School of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University. Significant projects include: ‘FORTUNES OF THE FOREST’ with artist Caitlin Franzmann and Indigenous scholar, Dr. C.F Black, as part of Ensayos: a collective of artists, scientists, activists, policymakers, and community members with a focus on the ecopolitics of archipelagos (New Museum, NYC, 2020); ‘SATELLISER’ by choreographer Janine Harrington, dance and conversation with eleven dancers for galleries (Turner Contemporary, 2021, UK); ‘KINSHIP’, with Katye Coe and Thomas Goodwin exploring inter-relations with environment, and animals (Dance4, 2021, UK); ‘GATHERING’ seven regional Victorian artists invited to explore shared practices in relation to climate change (Castlemaine Festival, 2020); ‘WIND MEETING’ with three interior designers (Performance Arcade, 2018). Amaara has been awarded a number of residencies and commissions: ‘Witches’ Dance’ (Arts House, 2021); ‘23 Days at Sea’, sailing aboard a cargo ship from Vancouver to Shanghai, curated by Access Gallery (Vancouver, 2016); part of the acclaimed ‘Writing In The Expanded Field’ art-writing program at ACCA; ‘In-Resonance’, a year long residency at Dancehouse (2018-19); ‘Responsive Residency’ (Critical Path, 2017) in dialogue with a neurosurgeon investigating brain-body pathways. Amaara sits on the Artistic Advisory Group for Bus Projects and Chunky Move.