The 77 artists who participated in the 2009/2010 SCOPE for Artists program are an extremely diverse range of people. They represent a valuable and broad chain of knowledge, abilities and influence, and as such, demonstrate the creative capital that dance, physical theatre and circus artists are able to contribute to a creative economy.
Two of the artists are profiled below:
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 | Jhuny-Boy Borja performing
with Bangarra Dance
Theatre
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| Jhuny-Boy Borja joined Bangarra Dance Company in 2003, and is currently a senior member of the ensemble. After graduating with an Associate Diploma (Dance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2002, Jhuny followed up his course with an Honours thesis, which he completed in the first few months after joining Bangarra. The thesis – Evolutionary Dance - incorporated choreography, video editing and movement modelling application, as well as exploring the employment of an evolutionary algorithm (used primarily to solve engineering problems) to serve as a basis for solo performance.
Ten years ago, Jhuny completed a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in pure maths, with a strong focus on software engineering. During and immediately after this study, he worked on contract basis with a software firm in Canberra. However science was not Jhuny’s only interest at this time. In 1996 he also pursued an interest in dance.
'The impetus for me to begin dancing was to simply get fit after a few years of intense academic study. I guess I just needed to move. I was fortunate to receive many varied perspectives on dance from all of my teachers, as well as the choreographers I worked with early on in my training. The contrast from my academic pursuits gave it all even more significance.'
Making the decision to concentrate full-time on his dance studies led Jhuny to WAAPA in 1998. In his final year, Jhuny was involved with the pre-professional program facilitated through the Link Dance Company. This provided Jhuny with invaluable experience in experimental choreographic practice, working with professional creators such as Chrissie Parrott and Sue Peacock.
'While it was important to develop technical and practical skills in dance, my analytical background was something that complemented and supported my training. I tend to find most interesting, the space between - the unexpected rewards of invention and synthesising contrasting ideas.'
Now, after more than four years working with Bangarra’s Artistic Director and choreographer Stephen Page, and resident choreographer Frances Rings, Jhuny’s field of artistic experience has developed considerably. And the cultural significance of Bangarra has afforded Jhuny the opportunity to be part of a unique Australian arts practice, including roles in the collaboration of the Australian Ballet/Bangarra production of Gathering in 2006.
Still maintaining his interest in computer science, Jhuny is currently developing further skills in web technology, with a view to create opportunities for dance artists to increase their presence on the internet, in order to share with each other, and broadcast to a wider audience, dance-specific practices and perspectives.
Regarding professional development - 'What are you supposed to do after your professional dance career, when you've trained your body so specifically and with so much dedication? This thought has been with me pretty much for my entire dance career because I do have quite strong interests in lots of other things besides dance. I would like to think that I can harness the experiences and skills I’ve gained to keep learning and keep contributing.'
'It's amazing to think about what this program (SCOPE) offers - it's an extraordinary idea. I applied to SCOPE so that I could stay in dance. The dancers chosen for the program in 2008 are all so diverse, but there is one thing common amongst us all - none of us want to leave the dance profession.'
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 | Paul Cordeiro
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| An eclectic career in dance is how Paul Cordeiro would describe his professional life thus far. Contemporary dance and dance theatre, commercial mainstage shows, outreach workshops in regional areas, director of dance parties, actor, large scale event choreographer and/or assistant director, self devised solo performance maker, guest artist and collaborator in works of different cultural practices, teacher and more - Paul’s journey through performance and choreography has been rich and enormously varied.
After graduating from WAAPA in 1989, Paul moved to Sydney and worked with the One Extra Company, Opera Australia and the Balai ensemble. He toured nationally with ‘The King and I’ and ‘West Side Story’ and in 2000, was assistant choreographer of the Nature and Arrivals segments of the Sydney Olympic Opening Games Ceremony. Paul was also segment director and co-choreographer of the Sydney 2002 Gay Games Opening Ceremony. In 1999, he created and performed a solo production, Gaysia, for the Downstairs Belvoir Street Theatre.
A great deal of Paul’s work has been working with artists and themes relating to aspects of diverse ethnic communities and cultural production, within the contemporary social and artistic tapestry. This has included a feature role in ‘The House Plus’, created by flamenco artist Antonio Vargas for the Carnivale festival, a guest season with the Odyssey Dance Theatre in Singapore, and as an actor, the role of Rosendo in ‘Tango Masculino’ at the New Theatre in 2007. Recently Paul was the recipient of the Goethe Institute Artist Language Scholarship, which enabled him to spend a month in Berlin learning German.
'I have always had an interest in those who fall outside the margins - those who identify as minorities. As an artist working across cultures and disciplines, I feel I have an ongoing opportunity to use my collected experiences to be productive within these communities, both in what I create and how I work.'
'As a mature artist I am completely in awe of the creative process, and yet need to be able to cultivate some security in my life. Being a part of the SCOPE program may enable me to discover where my skills are transferable and can be utilised in a profitable way for now and the future.'
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Other 2009/2010 Artists
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 | - Alex Wagner
- Alexa Consandine
- Andrea Briody
- Avril Huddy
- Benjamin Read
- Bradley Chatfield
- Carlee Mellow
- Cecilie Farrar
- Charmene Yap
- Christian Parr
- Chylie Cooper
- Daniel Crestani
- Daniel Jaber
- Danielle Micich
- David Carberry
- Elizabeth Vilmanis
- Fiona Malone
- Fryja Edney
- Gabrielle Nankivell
- Grant Dale
- Helen Herbertson
- Ingrid Weisfelt
- Jacob Lehrer
- Jade Dewi Tyas Tunggal
- Jane Casson
- Jannah Partington
- Jason Lam
- Jason Northam
- Joanna Pollitt
- Joel Corpuz
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| - Kalman Warhaft
- Kate Achilles
- Kate Sherman
- Kathryn Niesche
- Kathy Cogill
- Katie Joubert
- Kiri Morcombe
- Kyle Kremerskothen
- Laura Levitus
- Lizzie Thomson
- Louise Clarke
- Luke Smiles
- Lynette Wills
- Mariaa Randall
- Megan Futcher
- Mellissa Fyfe
- Michael Whaites
- Nalina Wait
- Natalie Cursio
- Nathan Sheens
- Nicole Johnston
- Olivia Ansell
- Paea Leach
- Patricia Wood
- Paul White
- Peta O'Doherty
- Phoebe Robinson
- Rachelle Hickson
- Rhiannon Newton
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| - Sally Smith
- Sally Wicks
- Sandra Parker
- Sara Ritchie
- Sarah Cartwright
- Sarah Neville
- Sarah-Vyne Vassallo
- Seung Hi Lee
- Shona Erskine
- Stephen Noonan
- Steven Heathcote
- Teagan Lowe
- Tim Darbyshire
- Wendy Laraghy
- Zaimon Vilmanis
- Zebastion Hunter
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