Laura Boynes, an award-winning independent dance artist based in WA, is one of 12 Australian artists commissioned to create original work for this year’s Perth Festival, writes Isabelle Leclezio.

This former dancer, actor and TV personality has a new role as a member of the Victorian Parliament.

This school is in the historic coastal town of Portland, nearly 400km west of Melbourne, closer to the South Australian border than Victoria's capital city, home of commercial fishing, the Alcoa aluminium smelter and, now, wind farms.

Head inland from Gladstone on Queensland’s central coast and drive for an hour-and-a-half along the Dawson Highway and you will reach the town of Biloela in the Shire of Banana.

Ten years after it was set up, this school has clearly become a much loved and essential part of the community.

Camping on site is part of the job for this Pilbara teacher.

Christine Walsh (AM) is a former ballerina and is now the director of her own school, the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet, in Melbourne. Her next major project is a 'Nutcracker' production at the Arts Centre Melbourne in December.

Matthew Lawrence marvels at the quiet and gentle style of this esteemed choreographer.

Education is high on this new artistic director's wish list, discovers Karen van Ulzen.

This former leading dancer with the Australian Ballet shares his memories of being a student at the Australian Ballet School.

Trained: Academy of Music and Performing Arts. Now: Freelance dance and theatre artist.

Trained: The Conlan College Now: Student at Palucca Hochschule für Tanz Dresden

Studied: Queensland College Of Dance Now: Norwegian Cruise Line dancer

Trained: Australian College of Physical Education Now:High school PDHPE/ Dance teacher.

Trained: Tanya Pearson’s Academy Now: Corps de ballet with the Australian Ballet and Jerry Mulligan in ‘An American In Paris’.

Trained: ED5International, Sydney Now: Swing for ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical.