Isabella Hughes
Arts Out West
Isabella is a creative performer in dance and theatre, based in Parkes, in Central West, NSW. Currently she is undertaking film and performance classes online with The Actors Pulse in Sydney. She has been dancing for 12 years, styles include contemporary, jazz, tap and musical theatre.
Isabella has been a member of the Principle Dance Company for Pulse Alive in Sydney in 2024 and 2025, also participating in the 2024 Pulse Moree Tour. For 6 years, Isabella has performed with the Parkes Musical and Dramatic Society, notably as the supporting character of Hannah in ‘Freaky Friday’, and in the chorus for ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Into the Woods’.
She is currently undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award, volunteering as a gymnastics coach for 5 – 9-year-olds. Isabella has recently completed year 11 and is looking to travel once she has completed year 12. Isabella plans to further her acting studies in 2026 in Sydney. Participating in the Horizons Program has allowed Isabella to broaden her support network and work with like-minded artists to develop a greater knowledge and understanding of her creative practice.
in my own head
Artwork description
In My Own Head, 2024, Original Performance Piece
Artist Statement
Throughout the duration of the Horizons Project, I worked with Kate Smith to develop and broaden my ideas and knowledge of my creative practice. I used interpretive dance and movement to get myself into a headspace where I could focus completely on the task at hand, that being my monologue, and working to deepen my understanding of the character and its value to me, personally.
The script I chose derives from the idea of individuality and independent power, as well as the feeling of being wanted but being too proud to show how you really feel. I wanted to focus on building up to the peak moment, using Meisner’s Technique to understand the characters want and need from the opposing character as well as the circumstance at hand. The character of Penelope creates an internal sense of power that allows the individual to build and grow throughout the scene, moving from proud, to denial, through to jealousy and disgust. I believe the script gave me the ability to express personal ideas through a character, assisting me to understand different aspects of life, thoughts and human experiences.