Lillian Crombie

Delving into Dance

Lillian Crombie is a proud woman from the Pitjintjara/Yungkunjara Nation. She is one of Australia’s leading actors and studied acting, dance and drama at the Port Pirie Ballet School, NIDA, NAISDA, the EORA Centre and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, NY. Crombie has trained in classical, modern, jazz ballet and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island dance.

She has had feature roles in numerous films including in Baz Luhrmann’s highly acclaimed Australia. She has extensive credits in television including the “Secret Life of Us” and most recently, 13 episodes of the children’s drama series Double Trouble produced by the Nine Network, Disney and Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association. Crombie has played leading roles in many successful theatre productions including Mereki the Peacemaker, Conversations with The Dead, Black Mary - Festival of Dreaming, Gunjies, Capricornia and recently Rainbow’s End.

In this interview Jacob Boehme takes on an extensive journey through Lillian’s life, from when she started dance, through to her journey to Sydney and across to New York. Lillian has worked extensively with community and schools, and has a passion for teaching. She has just opened Lillian Crombie's School of Dance and Drama, to inspire the next generation of dancers and performers.

The interview touches on the AIDS epidemic and sexual assault, but simultaneously brings hope, light and optimism for where we find ourselves as a society now.

Film and Television credits include:

Double Trouble (2008). TV Series, Milly (13 episodes)
Australia (2008). Feature Film. Director Baz Luhman. Character: Bandy Legs
Days Like These (2007). TV. Mum
Lucky Miles (2007). Evie
The Secret Life of Us (2003)
Deadly (1991). Sally
Ring of Scorpio (1990). TV

Theatre credits include:

Rainbow’s End (2009), Riverside Theatre
Conversations with The Dead (2004), Belvoir Street Theatre
Sydney Stories, Sydney Theatre Company
The Cherry Pickers, Sydney Theatre Company
Black-ed Up, Sydney Theatre Company
Clan, Bangarra Dance Theatre
La Dispute, Sydney Theatre Company
Black Mary, Festival of Dreaming, Company B, Belvoir Street Theatre
Capricornia, Company B, Belvoir Street Theatre
Up the Road, Company B, Belvoir Street Theatre
Gunjies, Belvoir Street Theatre

This interview was conducted by Jacob Boehme. Jacob is a Melbourne born and raised artist of the Narangga and Kaurna Nations, South Australia. He is a multi-disciplinary theatre maker and choreographer, creating work for the stage, screen and festivals.