GIDEON OBARZANEK (director of staging; Australia) is a director, playwright, and choreographer. He is also an artistic associate with the Melbourne Festival, chair of the Melbourne Fringe, and board member of Critical Path choreographic research center based in Sydney. In 1995, he founded the Australian dance company Chunky Move and was CEO and artistic director until 2012. Under his leadership the company established itself as one of the country’s most innovative, awarded, and internationally-recognized performing
arts companies. Awards include Best Short Documentary for Dance Like Your Old Man (Melbourne IFF, Cinedans Festival), a Bessie Award for outstanding choreography and creation, and Australian Helpmann Awards for Glow and Mortal Engine (2009 Next Wave).