We carry stories in our bodies.

Step inside the world of the dance studio, where movement, memory and identity intertwine. 

Self Portrait is a “live portrait” of award-winning dancer and choreographer Annalouise Paul, who shares stories of her Sephardi (Jewish Spanish) ancestry and invites the audience into the intimate space where her art and ancestry meet.  

Through contemporary flamenco, song and story, Self Portrait blends themes of migration, memory and identity, unveiling the existence of multiple cultural affinities and the many layers of life’s experiences passed down to each of us.

Rich in music, movement and meaning, the inner life of the dancer is expressed through humour, wit and curiosity, revealing the deeply hidden histories of Jewish flamenco and reflecting on and how art and DNA collide in powerful, unexpected ways.

This new work is being developed and supported by Waverley Council’s Local Creative Collaborations Program

About Annalouise Paul Dance Theatre 

Annalouise Paul is a choreographer and performer whose work is anchored in cultural, ancestral and social memory. She trained formally at the Laban Centre in London in contemporary dance and Spain in flamenco dance. Annalouise won an inaugural 2012 Australian Arts in Asia Award in Dance and NSW Premier’s Export Scholarship 2013 for international touring in India.

She has brought together teams from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand presenting new works in Penang supported by the Australian High Commission. In2025, Flamenco for Everybody created during COVID toured to regional NSW supported by Create NSW.

Self Portrait is a new work that explores themes on ancestry and spirituality of Sephardi songs, poetry, dance in Flamenco. Research support has been received through Memorial Foundation of Jewish Culture.

Annalouise is a first-generation Australian, raised on Gadigal land, where she currently resides. 

Waverley Council's artistic program supports the free expression of ideas. All artists, panellists and guests reflect and speak their own views.