meet the founder

Jennifer Fleenor-O’Brien

jennifer Fleenor-O’Brien, an award-winning, accomplished American teacher, choreographer, and performer, recently made the vibrant city of Melbourne, Australia, her home after relocating from Dublin, Ireland. Her career as a performer began in New York City, where she collaborated with renowned artists such as Michael Foley, Teri and Oliver Steele, John Evans, and Lynn Simonson.

In 2000, Jennifer made a significant move to Dublin, Ireland, where she served as a principal collaborator with CoisCeim Dance Theatre from 2003 to 2014. Her versatility in the dance world is evident through collaborations with esteemed entities like Daghda Dance Company, Opera Ireland, SmartLab Europe, Shakram Music and Dance, Catapult Dance Company, Fluxusdance, and Irina Pauls in Germany.

Jennifer's performance portfolio extends beyond traditional dance settings to include large-scale pageants like The Goodwill Games, The Special Olympics Opening Ceremony, The Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony, The Heineken Cup Final, and Laochra: GAA Commemorates 1916, as well as contributions to the Dublin St. Patrick's Day Festival. Her involvement also spans film and multimedia projects with companies such as Miramax Films and smartlab Europe. In 2007, she earned critical recognition by being named Tanz Magazines Dublin Dancer of the Year.

Beyond her stage career, Jennifer has been a distinguished faculty lecturer at prestigious institutions such as the University of Melbourne Victorian College of the Arts, The National Ballet School Melbourne, Trinity College Dublin, and The American College Dublin. She has shared her expertise as a guest lecturer at renowned institutions like New World School of the Arts, the University of South Florida, The Ohio State University, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Bates College ACDFA, The Spence School, Professional Dance Center in Tokyo, Japan, CoisCeim Dance Theatre in Ireland, and Dance Ireland.

Her choreographic work explores the intersections of human experience and the boundless potential in our own stories. Working in close collaboration with artists of all realms, she aims to cultivate individual artistry through exploration and the juxtaposition of self in motion. Jen’s work has been presented and supported in the US, Ireland, France, Australia and most recently at the Singapore International Dance Festival, Singapore.

Jen holds a BFA in dance Magna cum Laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master of dance (hons) from the University of Melbourne VCA Dance.



F5: FROM INITIAL IDEAS TO INTERNATIONAL STAGES

F5 FIRST PREMIERED AS AN EARLY SECTION AT THE SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL, PERFORMED BY BRIDGET LYTE AND MOLLIE HARRISON. THE PIECE RESONATED WITH THEMES OF IDENTITY, MOVEMENT, AND INTERSECTION, RECEIVING POWERFUL FEEDBACK FROM INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES.

SINCE THEN, WE’VE DEVELOPED F5 INTO A FULL EVENING-LENGTH WORK, WHICH HAD ITS OFFICIAL MELBOURNE PREMIERE AT ARNOLD STREET IN JANUARY, AND LATER TOURED TO CLAYTON. NOW, WE’RE THRILLED TO BRING THIS EXPANDED VERSION TO HONG KONG.

IN ADDITION, WE’VE PARTNERED WITH BREAKING BALLERINA PRODUCTIONS TO CREATE A SCREENDANCE ADAPTATION—EXPANDING F5’SREACH BEYOND LIVE PERFORMANCE AND INTO DIGITAL REALMS, ALLOWING AUDIENCES ACROSS THE GLOBE TO EXPERIENCE THE WORK.

  • 2024–2025 HIGHLIGHTS

    • F5 (EXCERPT), MELBOURNE PERFORMANCES
      PERFORMERS: BRIDGET LYTE & BRE SURRIDGE

    • F5 (EXCERPT), SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL
      PERFORMERS: BRIDGET LYTE & MOLLIE HARRISON

    • F5 (EVENING-LENGTH), MELBOURNE PREMIERE – ARNOLD STREET
      PERFORMERS: MOLLIE HARRISON BRIDGET LYTE & BRE SURRIDGE

    • F5 (EXCERPTS), SWEAT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL DANCE WORKSHOP FESTIVAL
      PERFORMERS: BRIDGET LYTE & CARLA FORMOSO

F5 image by chrissydorephotography

Meet the Team

  • Mollie Harrison

    Dance Artist

    Mollie began her formal ballet training at the National Theatre Ballet School and Victorian Collage of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS).

    After graduating, she continued her training at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts and Melbourne City Ballet Company before pursuing academic studies and completing her Bachelor of High Performance Sports Science.

    Mollie performed in Ballets and Contemporary dances created by Tim Habour 'Volente' and the principal role in 'Carmen and José.' Adam Wheeler and Chunky Move "It Sound Silly." Nils Cristie's Australian Premier of "SYNC" in the WAAPA season of 'Verve.' Melbourne City Ballet ‘Tink’ and Contemporary Season PLAY/REWIND”.

    Mollie is excited to join UNLID. Dance Theatre for their 2024 performance of F5.

  • Carla Formoso

    Dance Artist

    Carla is a 23-year-old contemporary dancer based in Melbourne, with a passion for exploring the many forms of improvisation within contemporary dance. After completing two years of professional training at Transit Dance and graduating in 2021, she travelled to Israel in 2022 to participate in the five-month international dance program with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. Her practice has continued to evolve through performance and collaboration, including joining Lionheart in 2023 and Yellow Wheel in 2024.

    We are delighted to welcome Carla to .UNLID. for our upcoming Hong Kong Tour.

  • Bridget Lyte

    Dance artist

    Bridget Lyte, a dancer from Melbourne, Australia, completed her classical training at the National Theatre Ballet School. She then launched her contemporary dance career with Lion Heart Dance Company.

    For Bridget, dance offers both stability and a deep form of expression. In her quest for advanced contemporary artistry and techniques, she joined .UNLID. Dance Theatre in 2024 under the directorship of Jennifer Fleenor-O’Brien and is honoured to be a part of F5 and its vision.

  • Bre Surridge

    Dance Artist

    Bre, originally from Aotearoa (New Zealand), trained full-time at the Anneliese Gilberd Academy from age 15. She competed in the Alana Haines Awards and PACANZ and completed her RAD and NZAMD training with distinction.

    In 2020, Bre moved to Naarm to train at the National Theatre, where she choreographed works like Eleutheromania (2020) and Oppression (2021) and taught ballet and contemporary dance. She graduated with a Diploma in Dance in 2022 and now performs with .UNLID. Dance Theatre and Yellow Wheel, with a strong interest in improvisation and audience engagement.

  • Lee Harrison

    Executive director

    Lee Harrison is an esteemed Executive Director with a distinguished career in fine arts, dance education, arts management, and community development.

    Lee Harrison, Executive Director of .UNLID.DANCE, brings extensive experience in fine arts, dance education, and arts management. Her leadership spans major roles, including overseeing policy and budgets at VCASS and coordinating international ballet tours across Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. Lee has developed elite dance programs and managed key events at Melbourne City Ballet and the National Theatre Ballet School.

    Renowned for her strategic vision and business acumen, she drives growth and sustainability in the arts sector, shaping the future of .UNLID.DANCE through innovation and community engagement.