SELF PORTRAIT

SYNOPSIS

Powerful, emotional and poignant. 

In a realm where intuition and memory intertwine, the improbable becomes possible.  

A flamenco dancer in search of her roots to create a ‘live portrait’, discovers an ethereal world where history, legacy and ancestry collide. 

Driven to illuminate a shrouded Jewish spirit embedded within flamenco deep song and dance, she must come face-to-face with the cracks in her own identity, and with the fragility of identity itself. 

At the heart of the adventure, we follow the fable of a young woman, Romi, who suffers at the fate of the Spanish Inquisition in 1492. As the tale unfurls, the lines between fact and myth begin to blur.  

“We carry stories in our bodies” she reveals— Is this the key to unlocking her past and creating the portrait?  

Annalouise Paul has created a new full-length solo dance work that triumphantly blends Judeo-Spanish vocals, live flamenco guitar, contemporary flamenco choreography and cinematic soundscape. Set in a dual timeline that jumps between medieval Spain and the now, Self Portrait evokes a highly reflective and emotional piece revelling in magic realism, poetry and truth-telling. 

Through the courage and calibre of a performance that speaks straight to the soul, Annalouise leads her audience to uncover the treasure hidden within a contentious time. Her multidisciplinary performance is a marvel of physical mastery, fine acting and emotive artistry.     

'Self-Portrait' is a ground-breaking work that ventures boldly yet gracefully to new depths. Written, choreographed and directed by Annalouise, it takes the audience on a quest to reimagine identity as a construct, so that history can rise new and reformed.

PROJECT HISTORY

Self Portrait was presented as a work-in-progress for New Works program at the Bondi Pavilion, Sydney Australia in June 2026. Supported through Waverley Council’s Local Creative Collaborations Program and donations via the Australian Cultural Fund. In 2025 Annalouise Paul received a Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture Fellowship to research connections between Sephardi and Flamenco cultural and spiritual influences. Early devising stages from 2012 to 2016 were supported by Merrigong Theatre Co, Blacktown Arts, Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Brand X Studios, Ready Made Studios, Bundanon Trust and FORM Dance.

CREATIVE TEAM

Writer, Choreographer, Director | Annalouise Paul

Dance | Annalouise Paul

Guitar | Damian Wright

Sound Design | Daryl Wallis

Support | Script - Lucy Vargas, Cultural - Ira Seidenstein, Directing - Nicholas Papademetriou

Duration | 75 minutes

 Videography | Tristan Baker, BAM Studios

JEWISH FLAMENCO

Jewish and flamenco cultures are inextricably linked and share a history from time of the expulsion of the Sephardim from Spain and Portugal until present day. Sephardi culture and its deep connection embedded in flamenco, through Jewish liturgy, music, rituals, wisdom and lore. Judeo-Spanish and flamenco cultures are inextricably linked and share a history from time of the expulsion of Jews in 1492 until present day.  

Read more about this unique history in the links below - Australian Jewish News and The Jewish Independent.

SUPPORT THE WORK

If you’d like to support the next work-in-progress funds will go towards artist and design fees. Your support will assist in the creation of this timely and important work. Your gifts small and large are highly appreciated. Thank you! Tax deductible donations can be made via the Australian Cultural Fund