What No One Tells You About Menopause: Choreographer Liz Lea | Everyday Convos

What does menopause actually do to a woman's body, mind and career, and why is it still so rarely explained? Choreographer and dancer Liz Lea talks openly about ageing, menopause, depression and turning her own experience into a new dance-theatre work, DIAMONDS. Content note: this episode includes discussion of menopause and depression. Support details are at the end of this description. Liz's career spans decades, countries and cultures. She started ballet at seven, spent her teenage years in Malawi and at an English boarding school, then toured Japan as a showgirl before training at London Contemporary Dance School and performing with English National Opera. Today she makes her own work and leads community dance in Canberra, including with people with disability and older dancers. In this conversation with host Francis Owusu, Liz shares: Why Malawi, "the warm heart of Africa", still shapes who she is The night she broke down in tears five days before a three-month tour, and the teacher whose gentleness kept her going Her practical audition advice: be seen, go full out, and know what you are good at The difference between "marking" a routine and doing it half-heartedly Why she can shrug off judgment in community work but not in her own solo shows What she learned about menopause while making DIAMONDS, and why partners need this conversation too How to stop other people taking your power CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Everyday Convos 01:08 Crunchy dried fish in Finland 02:35 Growing up in Malawi 05:52 Uni, ballet and a teacher who saw her potential 07:11 Touring Japan as a showgirl 11:43 "Terrifying": breaking down before the tour 14:38 Audition advice for young dancers 17:10 Marking vs going full out 19:08 Find what you're good at 20:15 London Contemporary Dance and English National Opera 22:15 Fear of judgment and self-tapes 26:55 Community dance and dancers with disability 28:00 DIAMONDS and "what if they hate me?" 29:11 Ageing, menopause and depression 32:26 Why menopause is still under-researched 36:01 Turning menopause into comedy and dance 38:00 RED, endometriosis and the men who came back 40:14 Don't let others take your power 42:23 Holding true to your vision 44:05 Quiet mentors and creating space 44:46 Part two? FOLLOW Liz Lea: @liz19lea Francis Owusu: ‪@FrancisOwusuOfficial‬ Subscribe for more conversations with everyday people doing extraordinary things. SUPPORT AND INFORMATION (Australia) Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7) Jean Hailes for Women's Health (menopause information): jeanhailes.org.au If you are in immediate danger, call 000. Want your own podcast? Produced by The Cultural Brokers: www.theculturalbrokers.au