Johanna Puglisi, Co-Stage Director/Choreographer

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Born in Sydney and trained in ballet and contemporary dance, Johanna Puglisi studied at the McDonald College Ballet School and later graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a bachelor of arts in dance and from National Institute of Dramatic Art with a post-graduate diploma in movement studies.

Puglisi’s dance career began in 1997 with Opera Queensland where she performed in SAMSON ET DALILA, FALSTAFF, and GIULIO CESARE.  In 1999 she joined the Opera Australia as a dancer and actor in their productions of RINALDO, LES PÊCHEURS DE PERLE, DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG, LULU, LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, IOLANTHE, FAUST, LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN, DON GIOVANNI, and IL TRITTICO.

As the Dance and Movement Tutor for the Opera Studio at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2005-2008, Ms. Puglisi was choreographer and assistant director for their productions of DIE FLEDERMAUS, IL CAMPANELLO and LA FEDELTÀ PREMIATA.   She regularly teaches Dance and Movement for the Opera Australia Young Artist Program.

For Opera Australia she has directed/choreographed the "Sunday Concert Series 2012-2013"; AIDA, DON GIOVANNI, LA BOHÈME, MIKADO and PIRATES OF PENZANCE; the 2014 Opera Ball, New Year’s Eve Opera Gala and “Christmas at the House”.

 

In the 2016 season she directs the "Great Opera Hits" gala for Opera Australia where she assists also on IL BARBIERE DI SIVILIGA, LOVE OF THREE ORANGES, and MADAMA BUTTERFLY.  She was also co-director for FAÇADE - AN ENTERTAINMENT for Operasmith & Co, and LA BOHÈME for the Hennessy Concert Series. 

 

Ms. Puglisi’s other companies credits include:  director/choreographer for BEFORE/AFTER (Sydney Theatre Company); Yellow Moon, Bliss (Belvoir St Theatre); Girl in Tan Boots (Griffin Theatre); Metamorphosis and Great Expectations (Bakehouse Theatre Company); 2008 & 2009 Chinese New Year Parades (The City of Sydney); and TANGO BAROCCO (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra); dancer/dance captain in Giulio Cesare (Los Angeles Opera).