Yolanda Lowatta is a proud Geidei woman from Iama in Zenadth Kes, with Papua New Guinean and Fijian heritage. An award-winning dancer, choreographer and educator, she has built an impressive career grounded in culture, storytelling and connection. After graduating from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA) in 2013, she went on to perform nationally and internationally, receiving a Helpmann Award for Best Female Dancer in 2016 and establishing herself as a respected force within Australia’s dance industry.
Throughout her career, Lowatta has worked with some of Australia’s leading companies and creatives, including Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ochre Contemporary Dance Company, Hot Brown Honey, Opera Australia, Jannawi Dance Clan and Australian Dance Party. Alongside her performance work, Lowatta is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of dancers, sharing her knowledge through teaching, mentorship and community engagement. As she continues to grow her choreographic practice, she is carving out new pathways with works such as Kab Lag, Essorand her first ensemble work, Karbai, developed through Canberra Theatre Centre’s New Works Program 2025.
In this Colour Box interview, Lowatta reflects on her creative journey, the role culture plays in shaping her practice, and what it means to move between performer, educator and choreographer. She also speaks about The Drover’s Wife – The Opera with Opera Australia, and the ways she continues to create meaningful spaces for storytelling, connection and future generations of artists.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
Hello my name is Yolanda Lowatta I am a Geidei women from Iama Zenadth Kes, I’m also Papua New Guinean and Fijian. I’m a performing artist that practices contemporary dance, choreography, physical theatre, voice, and I just love dressing up.
How did you start your creative practice and why?
I consciously started working on my creative practice because I got annoyed with myself for waiting for other people to give me opportunities and thought, I should just train and build my own movement style. Over the years I’ve come to realise that the way I dance and tell stories is unique. I’m inspired by Country, from conversations and human interactions, and from the energetic realm. I want to share this type of story telling with other performers.
Where did you grow up and how has it influenced your practice?
I grow up in few two main places. Firstly on Iama an island in Zenadth Kes and secondly in Mackay in Queensland. I’m influenced by the island vibes of my island home. The colourful, beachy, playful energy comes through in my movement. I grew up in two main places. Firstly on Iama an island in Zenadth Kes and secondly in Mackay in Queensland. In both places I had a lot of adventures both physically and mentally or in my dreams and that made me feel like I was in a fairy tale or a movie. I feel like that is when I laid the foundation for my telling stories with my body (dance) and being an emotive dancer. My practice is about taking human experience into dance and dissecting it.
Tell us about your past creative projects. What has been your most treasured highlight so far?
The biggest highlight for me so far would have to be the amazing, generous, kind and respectful people that I’ve worked with over the last few years. People who have helped me reignite my love for arts and dance in particular. The Australian Dance Party was a very pivotal company for me because they helped heal and rebuild me after moving away from dance. Hot Brown Honey’s: Hive City Legacy – Naarm Chapter was groundbreaking to me because that experience was liberating, empowering and broke down barriers that I had put on myself, and working with Melanie Lane showed me that movement is infinite.
Tell us about your current project work?
I’m not working on a work of my own at this time however I’m dancing in an
Australian Opera called The Drover’s Wife The Opera.
Who or what inspires your practice?
My practice is inspired by my culture and the want to share its beauty, its what makes me feel connected.
Where do you feel most creative and why?
I feel most creative at this point in my life when people watching. I think human connect is so beautiful and powerful.
What do you hope audiences take from your work? What feedback have you received?
I hope when audiences watch my work that they leave feeling lighter or like something has shifted for them. I purposely don’t read any reviews because if I believe the good reviews then I believe the bad reviews. I’d rather not spiral today.
However, I listen to people when they have something to say in the moment good or bad. My hope for audience members who watch a show that I’m in or that I have created, is for them to feel like they have been transported, and immersed in the story like it’s their own. I also leave room for the audience to make up their own mind about the show.
Whose work are you digging at the moment?
I’m really digging Melaine Lane and Stephanie Lakes works and their dancers right now.
Where can we find and follow you online?
You can follow me on Instagram @yolandonartsy
Next show: The Drover’s Wife The Opera. 7 – 15 August 2026 at Joan Sutherland Theatre: https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/opera-australia/2026-season/drovers-wife
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