Liesel Zink is an award-winning, socially-engaged choreographer of Ukrainian and German descent who has developed and presented work across Australia, Asia and Eastern Europe. Working in collaboration with local artists and communities, her practice exists at the intersection of contemporary dance and community engagement. Liesel is passionate about using her creative process as a means for artistic, cultural and intergenerational exchange, with a particular interest in collective bodies as a tool for social change.

As an Independent choreographer Liesel is most well known for the creation of large-scale public space performances.  Her recent and ongoing en masse project Us And All Of This (BLEACH*, Brisbane Festival, Horizon Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, Geelong Arts Centre and Bunjil Place between 2023-2025) gathers people of all ages and backgrounds to move together in an act of radical slowness. Over 500 community participants between the ages of 15 – 84 have taken part in this project to date. Liesel’s other significant public space project The Stance (presented 10 cities world-wide between 2015-2019) saw her receive the 2017 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance. Other Independent projects include The Future Is… (Museum of Brisbane 2023), Daruvaty (Bleach Festival 2022), ‘Awesome: a state of wonder and fear’ (World Science Festival 2021),Our New (IMA Gallery 2020) and We and the Uncertain (Ukraine 2019).

As a choreographer Liesel has also been commissioned to create works for companies including M.A.D.E (Mature Artists Dance Experience), Stompin. Youth, Tasdance, Australasian Dance Collective Youth and Mature Ensembles, Expressions and LINK.

In her capacity as a dramaturge, Liesel has collaborated with artists and companies including Stompin., Bridie Hooper, Sprung Integrated Dance, Courtney Scheu, Ivy Tsui (Hong Kong), Aha Ensemble, Ashleigh Musk and Michael Smith. She’s also worked extensively in theatre including choreographing for companies and directors including Dead Puppet Society and Dan Evans. Liesel has been an Associate Artist for Force Majeure and is currently a board member of Theatre Network Australia.

As a third-generation Ukrainian in Australia, Liesel actively advocates for her heritage through local and international community initiatives, focusing on cultural preservation, humanitarian support, and fundraising efforts. Through craftivism, language learning, and the continuation of cultural practices, she seeks to honor her ancestors while creating spaces where Ukrainian traditions can flourish and be shared with the wider community.