Dalisa Pigram

Biography

A Yawuru/Bardi woman born and raised in Broome, Dalisa also has Malay and Filipino heritage. A co devising movement artist of Marrugeku since their first production Mimi (1996), Dalisa joined Rachael Swain in 2008 as Co-Artistic Director. Dalisa’s solo work Gudirr Gudirr (2013) earned an Australian Dance Award (Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance 2014) and a Green Room Award (Best Female Performer 2014). Dalisa co-conceived Marrugeku’s Burning Daylight (2006) and Cut the Sky (2015) with Swain, co-choreographing both works as well as Marrugeku’s Le Dernier Appel (2018) with Serge Aimé Coulibaly receiving a second Green Room Award for Best Performance (2020). Together with Swain she co- directed Buru (2010), Ngalimpa (2018) and co-curated Marrugeku’s four International Indigenous Choreographic Labs and Burrbgaja Yalirra [Dancing Forwards]. Dalisa co-conceived with Swain and Patrick Dodson Marrugeku’s award winning Jurrungu Ngan- ga (2021), choreographing the work with the performers. Dalisa co-choreographed and performed in Marrugeku’s digital work, Gudirr Gudirr video and sound installation and for Marrugeku’s Mutiarawhich premiered in Broome for Shinju Matsuri (2023) followed by Sydney and Perth Festivals (2024). Dalisa co choreographed Nyuju as part of Burrbgaja Yalirra 2 (2023) and received Creative Australia’s 2023 Dance Award. In her community, Dalisa is committed to the maintenance of Indigenous language and culture through arts and education working closely with and for her community. Dalisa is co-editor of Marrugeku: Telling That Story—25 years of trans-Indigenous and intercultural exchange (Performance Research 2021).

Photo credit: Jessica Stancomb