JO LLOYD is an influential Melbourne, Naarm based dance artist working with choreography as a social encounter, revealing behaviour over various durations and contexts. Her practice seeks to find a language that refuses the limits of history, form and aesthetic.

A graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts, Jo has presented and performed her work in galleries and theatres nationally and internationally, including commissions for RISING, Chunky Move, Dancenorth, New Zealand Dance Company, Tasdance, Keir Choreographic Award, Liveworks, the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, MONA FOMA, and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts.

Jo’s recent works include; Out of Theatre commissioned for Melbourne Now at NGV, FM Air for The National 4 Carriageworks Sydney 2023, Bang Stop for the opening night of RISING 2022 with musicians Jim White and Emmett Kelly performed at the State Library Victoria, Handsome at The Substation, Death Role for the Bundanon Art Museum, and Archive the archive for the NGA’s exhibition Know My Name: Australian Woman Artists 1900 to Now.

Jo’s work OVERTURE (Arts House 2018 and Melbourne Festival 2019) received three Green Room Awards, a Helpmann Award nomination and was programmed at the Sydney Opera House and Chaillot National Dance Theatre, Paris (both tours cancelled due to COVID-19).

Other recent major works include the highly successful DOUBLE DOUBLE, created and performed with Deanne Butterworth, Tina Havelock Stevens and Evelyn Morris with designs by Andrew Treloar (Dancehouse 2022, Mona Foma 2020, Liveworks 2019, Ian Potter Museum 2019), which received three 2023 Green Room Award nominations.

Jo was a commissioning artist for the Keir Choreographic Award 2020 and was recently commissioned to make major works for the New Zealand Dance Company, What They Said (Tempo Dance Festival 2022) and Tasdance, Collision for both Junction Festival 2022 (a four hour work involving 26 performers) and Unconformity Festival 2021.

Jo’s other works include; CUTOUT commissioned by ACCA, for the Melbourne International Festival, the film of CUTOUT was presented inTempo Festival NZ 2020, LIVE JUNK (2018 and 2019), Garden Dance for the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (2019), Confusion for Three (Arts House 2015 and PICA 2018), Mermermer, with Nicola Gunn, commissioned by Chunky Move for Next Move 2016, Dancenorth’s Communal Table Brisbane Festival 2019, choreography for Speak Percussion and Liza Lim's opera; Atlas of the Sky (2018) and Nicola Gunn's; Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster, which won numerous awards and toured world wide.

Jo has worked as a performer with Choreographers Gideon Obarzanek/ Chunky Move, touring throughout Australia and overseas 2003 - 2008, Shelley Lasica, Sandra Parker, Lucy Guerin, Lee Serle, Prue Lang and Rebecca Hilton. Jo has collaborated with visual artists David Rosetzky, Sally Smart, Helen Grogan, Stephen Bram, Alicia Frankovich and theatre makers Aaron Orzech, Nicola Gunn, Ranters Theatre, Back to Back Theatre and musician Helen Svoboda, Australian Art Orchestra and Jim White.

Jo has been the recipient of several residencies and fellowships; Asialink Japan 2004 and 2005, Dancehouse Housemate 2008, Resident Director of Lucy Guerin Inc. 2016, Creators Fund, Australia Council Dance Fellowship 2018, Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship 2021, Abbotsford Convent Studio Residency and a Chloe Munro Fellowship 2022.

Jo teaches regularly for Chunky Move, Lucy Geurin Inc., VCA  and has taught for Akram Khan Company, Jacobs Pillow, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Bangarra, Australian Dance Theatre, Tasdance, Dancenorth, Dancehouse and Art Gallery of NSW.

Jo currently works from her studio, The Booth at The Abbotsford Convent with Producer Michaela Coventry - Sage Arts.

Photo: Peter Rosetzky

AWARDS
2019 OVERTURE, three Green Room Awards Choreography, Production and Ensemble and a Helpmann Award nomination
2017 Mermermer, Helpmann Award nomination
2016 Mermermer, Green Room Award winner for Music Composition (Duane Morrison) and nomination for Female Performer
2013 FUTURE PERFECT, four Green Room Award nominations for Choreography, Male Dancer (Luke George), Ensemble and Music Composition
2008 Apparently That's What Happened, three Green Room Award nominations for Choreography, Female Performer and Music Composition
2005 I want to Dance Better at Parties (Chunky Move), Green Room Award nomination for Female Performer

CHOREOGRAPHY FOR OTHERS
Nicola Gunn, Piece for Person and Ghetto Blaster (2015), Green Screen (2014), In Spite of Myself (2013)
David Rosetzky, Air to Atmosphere (2023), Composite Acts (2019 and 2021), Half Brother (2014), Untouchable, Hothouse (2002)
Speak Percussion and Liza Lim, Atlas of the Sky (2018)
Ranters Theatre, Come Away with me to the End of the World (2016)
Tina Havelock Stevens, Performance Space Video (2017)
Shian Law, Personal Mythologies (2014)
Alicia Frankovich, Framed Movements (2014, Melbourne International Festival - ACCA)
Yellow Wheel, It's This (2014)
Back to Back Theatre Company, Democratic Set (2008)

CHOREOGRAPHERS
Gideon Obarzanek (Chunky Move 2003 – 2008) Shelley Lasica, Sandra Parker, Lucy Guerin, Prue Lang, Lee Serle, Frances d'Ath, Rebecca Hilton, Ros Warby, Sue Healey, Trevor Patrick.

RESIDENCIES
Resident Artist at The Substation (from 2018 - 2023)
Resident Directory – Lucy Guerin Inc. 2016
Studio residency – Lucy Guerin Inc. 2013 and 2020
Dancehouse Housemate Residency, 2008
Asialink residencies – with Nibroll Tokyo, Japan 2004 and 2005

TEACHING
Akram Khan Company, Jacob's Pillow, Bangara, ADT, Dancenorth, Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc., Australian Ballet, Victorian College of the Arts, Deakin University, Dance Massive Masterclass, Australian Youth Dance Festival, Yellow Wheel, Dancehouse, Hong Kong Academy, Tokyo, Korea, Vancouver, Moscow.

DANCE RELATED
Class Curator, Chunky Move, Green Room Awards, Dance Panel, Triple R, Smart Arts presenter Dancing on the Radio, Panel member – Creative Victoria, Ian Potter Cultural Trust, Arts House, City of Melbourne.

QUALIFICATIONS
Yoga Teacher Training – Power Living
Bachelor of Dance – Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School