Penny Chivas

Dance Artist based in Glasgow, Scotland. she/her

“a generous and eloquent performer” Dora Frankel, British Theatre Guide

Originally from Ngunnawal Country, Australia, of convict and settler heritage, Penny Chivas moved to Glasgow in 2010 and since then has contributed greatly to the Scottish dance scene. As a freelance performer she has worked on a variety of projects, including work by Ian Spink, Plan B, Scottish Opera, Christine Devaney, Lyra Theatre, Rosina Bonsu, Caroline Bowditch, Theatre Cryptic, Vanessa Grasse (Mesh and The Land We Are) and Stillmotion involving both British and international touring.

Recent work includes ‘Where We Choose to Stand’ which premiered at Tramway in September 2025, a Dance Base/Edinburgh College commission for the Traverse Theatre for 2026 and preparation for ‘Swept Away’ for a Dance Base residency.

Teaching work includes; Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Anniesland College, Citymoves, Y Dance, Fusion Youth dance company, the Pre-Professional Year at Sydney Dance Company alongside international guest teaching in countries such as Iran, Spain, Sweden, China, Finland, Mexico and Italy.

An Inaugural member of Quantum Leap in 1999, Penny is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) BA (Dance), and the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Honours, and has recently completed the Master of Education and Teaching in the Performing Arts at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Penny was awarded the inaugural Sustainability Award from the RCS for her research into ecopedagogical dance practices, as well as her work ‘Burnt Out’ on the devastating Australian bushfires which has seen several Scottish tours and premiered in Australia and Finland in 2023.

“Chivas is a relentless dancer and tenacious spirit.”

Penelope Ford, ArtsHub

Penny is a member of Equity, the UK’s trade union for the performing arts and entertainment.