Originally from Ngunnawal Country, Australia, Penny Chivas moved to Glasgow in 2010 and since then has contributed prolifically to the dance scene. A co-founding director of @TheGlasgowJam with Tom Pritchard, Penny has provided platforms for the growth of Contact Improvisation in Scotland, alongside her teaching of the form both in the UK and overseas.
She is also a freelance performer and has worked on a variety of projects, including work by Ian Spink, Plan B, Scottish Opera, Christine Devaney, Lyra Theatre, Rosina Bonsu, Caroline Bowditch (Paragon Music Ensemble) Vanessa Grasse (Mesh and The Land We Are) and Stillmotion involving both British and international touring.
Penny has an interest in improvisation and has studied with Julyen Hamilton on numerous occasions, as well as receiving funding from Creative Scotland to further this practice. This has also taken her to Mexico to investigate further with Nicolas Nunez.
Her teaching work includes; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Anniesland College, Citymoves, Y Dance, Fusion Youth dance company, alongside international guest teaching in countries such as Iran, China, Mexico and Italy.
An Inaugural member of Quantum Leap in 1999, Penny is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) BA (Dance), and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Honours, and has recently completed the Master of Education and Teaching in the Performing Arts at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Penny was awarded the inaugural Sustainability Award from the RCS for her research into ecopedagogical dance practices, as well as her work ‘Burnt Out’ on the devastating Australian bushfires which has seen several Scottish tours and will premiere in Australia in January 2023.
