Who is Amy Hollingsworth?
Amy Hollingsworth is a dancer, artistic director, pilot and a cybernetician who currently resides in Meanjin/Brisbane. I’m also a Scorpio who loves cheese, to do lists and cornichons. I live with my partner and our dog Raya – a whip smart, ferocious, cuddly, energetic, sweet, talkative dog who I am sure is also part velociraptor.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I love my job, and the arts more broadly, so I’m pretty content but… My plan B is, and has always been, to work as a helicopter pilot for emergency services. When I was younger, my family fully supported my pursuit of a career as a dancer but also encouraged me in having a back up plan. So, after a lot of study and training wedged in around a performance career, I am a qualified helicopter pilot who loves flying Robinson 22s with the doors off in summer.
Who inspires you and why?
I am thoroughly inspired by the people around me, my colleagues, the creatives and collaborators that I have the fortune to work alongside. I am inspired by artists who care deeply about their work and invest so much in their craft, there are too many to name.
I am also inspired by strong female leaders – I do think it changes the game for future generations, to see a role model excelling at what they do sparks belief in being able to do it yourself.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Being in the arts, I feel like we are always trying to make a difference. So, I guess I am already doing the things I feel will make a difference in the world, striving to create change. I am a disruptor by nature and I love to keep pushing things forward, producing and commissioning work that leaves an indelible imprint on people, reimagining boundaries with audiences, cultivating creative capability in our artists and community.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
I absolutely adore Italy and Sardinia. When I lived in the UK, I went to Italy for summer nearly every year, staying in tiny pensiones that I could just barely afford on my dancer salary. The food, the people, the coffee, the landscape, the art, the wine, the history. There are so many things to love about Italy!
Closer to home, I love spending time in the south west of Australia. The coast between Busselton to Albany is pretty special and I often spend time in Yallingup with my family. Nothing can beat a sunset swim in the chilly Indian ocean.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
If we have enough time, then definitely Stradbroke Island, what a glorious place to be! But around Brisbane, it would be showing how liveable the city is… exploring the river walk, a hike with my dog up at Mount Coo-tha, dinner at one of my favourite restaurants like Bianca or Agnes, and a Spritz at Brisbane Powerhouse at sunset.
What are you currently reading?
I’ve almost finished The Overstory by Richard Powers which is an extraordinary novel. It is impassioned story of activism but also a stunning evocation of the natural world. I am so utterly moved by it.
What are you currently listening to?
I’m going through a phase of revisiting music that I haven’t listened to in ages – Lenny Kravitz, Amy Winehouse, Prince, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I also love a good podcast – I find Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History and Andrew Huberman’s Huberman Lab fascinating, and most recently I devoured the completely excellent Dolly Parton’s America.
Happiness is?
Hanging out with my dog Raya, beach swims, hiking in lush forests, homemade pizzas, reading on a rainy day, backgammon over good coffee, hitting rotation point on a runway (the moment the nose of the plane leaves the ground) when you are leaving for a fabulous holiday destination.
What does the future hold for you?
More dance, more art, more ambitious collaborations, more travel, eventually a Doctorate in Cybernetics. But specifically, I’m turning 50 this year, so a very big party to celebrate making it to half a century!!
Amy is the Artistic Director of Australasian Dance Collective – who will present BLUE, as part of the company’s 40th anniversary season, in the Playhouse – QPAC from 14 – 17 May 2025. For more information, visit: www.australasiandancecollective.com for details.
Image: Amy Hollingsworth – photo by David Kelly