Chunky Move is located on the unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation. We respectfully acknowledge the significant contributions of Australia’s First Peoples, and are committed to supporting the continuity of culture and relationship to this land.
Karlia Cook
Karlia May is a Dancer and Choreographer of Mā’ohi – Norf’k, Māori (Ngāpuhi), Pākeha descent, currently based on the lands of the Wadawurrung people. Karlia’s practice is grounded in the embodiment of listening and honouring the ever-evolving relationality between her body, her ancestry and the lands and waters she grew up on and travels between.
Karlia has performed and toured with artists and companies such as Carly Sheppard, Alisdair Macindoe, GUTS Dance, Strut Dance, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Bella Waru, Julie Minaai and Joel Bray Dance.
Alongside this, Karlia choreographed and performed in collaboration with her sister Danni a new work ‘two thread’, presented at Dancehouse (2024), The Blue Room Theatre and Arts Margaret River (2025). She also created a short work ‘oneness’ (2023) on New Zealand Dance Company apart of the Matariki Hunga Nui Program. Karlia is also a member of the to-gather collective, a Narrm based pan-indigenous dance collective that is currently developing a new work ‘tough love’.
Karlia enjoys teaching and facilitating, leading classes at Chunky Move and working as a collaborator since 2025 on GUTS Dance ‘Alice Can Dance’, working closely with young people across Mparntwe.
Karlia holds a Masters of Dance, VCA (2023) and Bachelor of Arts (Dance), WAAPA (2021). Karlia’s class is grounded in embodied and intuitive movement pathways, employing movement forms such as floor work, acrobatics, martial arts and improvisation.