MY JOURNEY TO "NOW"
Early Beginnings: I studied The Enrico Cecchetti Classical Ballet Method with Mr Athol Willoughby OAM, becoming a selected member of the Australian Cecchetti Ballet Scholars Class, from the tender age of 14 – 16 years old... Studying advanced classical ballet scholars classes with the Founding Artistic Director & Principal Artists of The Australian Ballet Company. Dame Peggy Van Praagh DBE, Colin Peasely OAM, Kelvin Coe OBE, David McAllister AM and many others who were my childhood Classical Ballet 'idols'. Inspiring, driven, talented, intimidating and just a little bit intense! ;-)
At 17 years of age, I auditioned and received a place to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Dance Performance) at the Victorian College of the Arts, where I discovered a love/interest in Contemporary Dance. Studying with the VCA Dean - Jonathan Taylor, Maggie Lorraine Storey, Chrissa Keramidas, Lenny Westerdijk and Don Asker, amongst many other Artistic Directors, Teachers, Choreographers & Dancers.
At VCA, I had many leading dance soloist roles and opportunities. Performing numerous & varied Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance works regularly at The Fairfax Studio - Melbourne Arts Centre, The Malthouse Theatre Melbourne, The National Theatre St Kilda, Grant St Theatre and Studio 1, VCA, as well as being a touring artist with The Vic Arts Dance Company - Artistic Director Lenny Westerdijk.
At that time, VCA's long contact hours and training schedule was rigorous and demanded high levels of dedication, strength & technical excellence. Jonathan Taylor's education vision/model was to draw on his experience as a world class practising artist & turn young students into internationally competitive professional dancers. An experience/achievement that I loved, appreciated & relished in at the time but also brought with it (for me personally) deep feelings of anxiety, judgement, confusion & fear of failure. 'Independent Artist', 'Collaboration', 'Inclusion', 'Diversity' & 'Creativity' were not words within my vocabulary, understanding or experience at that time - though I had glimpses of it when I left Australia and travelled to London.
On completion of my degree, I swiftly packed my backpack along with my A to Z guidebook to London given to me by my grandmother Eva. Travelling to London to dance, collaborate and perform, with other Independent Artists based at ‘The Place’, located at the London Contemporary Dance School. I studied classical ballet classes with Ian Spink, who was at the time, the choreographer for the English National Opera Ballet Company.
I received a professional contract with the unique and innovative 'Urban Landscapes Dance Theatre London'. A Contemporary Dance Company which aimed to collectively break new ground in Dance Culture, Creativity and the Arts. We performed at a diverse range of International Dance, Theatre and Performing Arts Festivals, Free and Outdoor Events throughout Europe.
In 1998 – 1999, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Movement and Dance (Therapy) at the University of Melbourne. A life-changing experience where my discovery, enjoyment and passion for Movement & Dance 'Improvisation' began. I was 27 years old. Here - things felt different. Studying with Dr Karen Bond (Professor of Dance Education/Therapy/Performance Research and President of the DTAA), Andrew Morrish (Trotman and Morrish), David Wells (Born in a Taxi) and Llewellyn Wishart (State of Flux).
I became a regular improvisational performer, with Al Wunder’s much loved, ‘Theatre of the Ordinary’ in Melbourne. I also delighted in Text and Improvisation classes, with Performance Improvisation Artist, Peter Trotman (Cecil St Studios) and my 2 year creative partnership, with Performance Improvisation Artist, Noelle Rees Hatton.
Dr Kim Dunphy OAM, welcomed me to work with Break Out Dance – a performance group for children, young and older adults with intellectual disabilities. Collaborating and presenting performances at Hampton Community Centre, The Kingfisher Festival CERES Melbourne, The Art of Difference Festival Gasworks Theatre and teaching Dance Workshops at Awakenings Performing Arts Festival (Regional Arts Victoria). I also worked as a Dance Movement Specialist within Aged Care (Dementia Unit), with incarcerated women at The Metropolitan Womens Correctional Centre (maximum protection unit) and The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (Adolescent ward).
My teaching work/interviews/reviews from this period are documented/archived in published articles for Kinesis AusDance Victoria Magazine Nov. 1999, ‘The Dance of Life – What Matters’ The Age Newspaper 7th April 2001. Proximity Improvisation Magazine 2003 and ‘Freedom to Move’ textbook – Authors Dr Kim Dunphy OAM and Ms Jenny Scott, Maclennan & Petty 2000.
In 2001, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) at La Trobe University. The following year, I was a professionally registered Generalist Primary School Teacher and Arts Education Specialist, with The Victorian Institute of Teaching (2002 – current). 20 years! My focus on creativity in and through Primary Arts Education, continued to flourish. Working with children, from wide ranging cultural and socio economic backgrounds, with diverse learning styles & abilities at the primary school level. I worked for Scope Victoria, for several years as a Dance Movement Specialist and The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, as an Arts Education Specialist Teacher for 13 years.
In 2005, I joined Peter Trotman and Noelle Rees Hatton at 'Precipice', (The Australian Choreographic Centre, Canberra) a 3 day annual performance event that brings together experienced improvisers, with a diverse range of practices and styles, from all around Australia. I performed 2 solo improvisations & I loved it!
As an Artistic Director/Choreographer/Teacher, I continued creating numerous performances, in collaboration with primary aged children and whole school communities, including a variety of school and local community performances and larger scale productions - ‘Circus Splendida 2011’ performed at The St Kilda Town Hall and The EPS Arts and Film Festival 2012, presented at The Astor Cinema, St Kilda.
‘Rockin the Palais 2013’, was my largest artistic directing/choreographic project, performed at the iconic Palais Theatre Melbourne. The largest seated theatre in Australia, with a capacity of nearly 3,000 people. The musical production included a cast of 740 primary aged students, 50 teaching staff members plus large numbers of creative parent community volunteers. Holy Moly... A very successful production however I wouldn't recommend working under these stressful conditions. Very proud to say that I have now learnt to respond with... Thank you but NO thanks!!
From 2015 to current, I've taught 'Arts and Design Technology' for the Primary Classroom, to undergraduate & post graduate tertiary education students with Swinburne University of Technology/Swinburne Online from my own home office. Since 2015, all my teaching work has been and continues to be communicated through cyber space. I work extremely creatively & collaboratively with other Academics, eLearning Advisors, Student Coaches and of course the Students themselves. An extremely diverse and wide pool of individuals, dropping in from all walks/stages of life, from all around the globe.
As an education professional, I prepare pre-service teachers to plan, teach and assess within Arts (dance, drama, media, music and visual arts) and Design Technologies within a primary education context. My work explores innovative pedagogical approaches/experiences that 'Teach for Creativity'. Vitally important for 21st century teaching and learning environments.
In 2017, I danced 'Playing with Shadows' at Museu Nacional D'Art De Catalunya in Barcelona, whilst appreciating many other cultural experiences in Vienna, Amsterdam and London.
In October 2018, I founded ‘The Body Talks Project’ within my own home studio.
"The Body Talks Project" is my own most important work - both personally and professionally.
In 2021, as well as working from home, I moved my Body Talks Project into the studio at Dancehouse Melbourne. (At least attempted to with Covid 19 lockdowns) With it's nearly 30 year history, Dancehouse looks to identify and illuminate the most urgent and experimental choreographic practices occurring in the Australian context and Internationally today.
I am delighted to be developing my own improv solo work with the current support & expertise of much valued Performance Improvisation Coach, Peter Trotman. Check out my Archived Improvisations/Films page (links to my Vimeo Channel) to see my project unfolding... both on screen and in live performance contexts.
Stay Tuned... :-)
13 Mins: My Dance Story to Now (Short Film - Can be found in 'View Improv Films')