Karin Ronning-Meagher
Karin Rønning-Meagher is a diversely skilled visual and performing artist who loves physical theatre improvisation. Since 2013, Karin has been a performer & participant at the annual Canberra 'Precipice Festival', held at Gorman Arts Centre each September. She studies Action Theatre with Danielle Cresp in Melbourne. Karin is a member of the Ausdance ACT team as Assistant Stage Manager for the Youth Dance Festival. Most recently, she was production assistant for Australian Dance Party's 'Move to Zero' film series. In 2018, she performed and toured in Liz Lea's solo work, Red. In addition, Karin is a certified Montessori Model United Nations teacher coordinator and recently led a group of students through a 6 month preparation to attend the annual MMUN conference in NYC in March 2019.
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Gretel Burgess
Gretel Burgess completed two years of a counselling degree before transferring to a Masters in Social Work (completed 2015). Gretel already has a BA in Communication – Theatre Media, and a Certificate in Cultural Theatre and Dance from the Indonesian Art Institute of Pandang Panjang, West Sumatra. She has combined her background in the Arts and Health sectors to work with many different groups including, asylum seekers on Christmas Island, the Multicultural Council for Refugees, Darwin, and adults, children and young people with special needs in Canberra. Gretel has facilitated, over the past four years, a STEPS program for adults with stroke and acute brain injury through Queensland Health, and facilitated dance and drama programs for both ARC disability services and in the aged care sector in Cairns, Queensland. Gretel is currently working in many roles here in Canberra facilitating an arts-based program for the Messengers Program for disengaged teenagers at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre teaching dance for the Belconnen Arts Centre, including the Dance for Wellbeing program for all mobility levels, Dementia and Parkinson’s. Gretel is also on the board of Canberra Dance Theatre(CDT) and works as a guest teacher for the CDT GOLD over 55 year old dance class, and a teacher for the CDTeens, children and teenagers with additional needs. Gretel works in three schools as a social work counsellor with families and children for CatholicCare in both the north and south region of Canberra.
Caroline 'Leena' Wall
Caroline ‘Leena’ Wall is the Artistic Director of Fresh Funk, Canberra’s original and leading urban dance program, part of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. Leena has been dancing and performing for over 25 years. She has a background in classical ballet, jazz and contemporary dance, and was the first to introduce “urban” dance to Canberra, with Fresh Funk offering a fusion of hip-hop, street funk and contemporary dance since its inception in 2000. Leena has completed an Honours degree in English and Theatre Studies at the ANU as well as her professional Certification in Dance Teaching and Safe Dance Practices from Queensland University of Technology. She has travelled interstate and internationally as a dancer and teacher, training annually in Los Angeles with the biggest names in the urban dance world, such as Matt Steffanina, Willdabeast, Andre Fuentes, and Kyle Hanagami. Leena has a long history with Ausdance, the Australian Choreographic Centre, and Quantum Leap Youth Dance Ensemble. She is an award-winning dancer and tutor, who was nominated for Young Australian of the Year. She is dedicated to providing a supportive and positive experience for dancers, and to her teaching and mentoring.
Liz Lea
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Liz Lea is a performer, choreographer and producer based in Canberra after 20 years in Europe, touring internationally. Her speciality is working with classical Indian dance and martial arts. Shehas worked with Ranjabati Sircar, Mavin Khoo, the Royal Opera House and English Bach Festival and been commissioned in India, UK, Australia, South Africa, Singapore and USA. Liz was named a 2018 ACT Dance Artist of the Year and in 2017 was the ACT Artist of the Year and was also awarded a 2017 Australian Dance Award for her direction of Great Sport! at the National Museum of Australia. Liz was the Artistic Director of Canberra Dance Theatre for 6 years andruns two Festivals - BOLD, celebrating the legacy of dance and DANscienCE where dance and science meet. Liz has presented two TEDx performance talks and recently she premiered her new one woman show, RED, to critical acclaim and is touring through 2020. She is a member of the inaugural ACT Minister’s Creative Council an 2019 Asialink Resident with Singapore's Maya Dance Theatre and Ausdance ACT's Creative Director.
Debora di Centa
Debora Di Centa is a Canberra based independent dance artist and choreographer. Debora grew up in Italy and started dancing at a young age. She has extensive training in ballet, jazz, contemporary dance and she is an expert in LabanMovement Analysis . Debora studied and collaborated in dance works, research, and performances with variou sartists and dance specialists around Europe, US and Asia. Debora is currently pursuing her professional development around Australia, New Zealand and internationally. She teaches, performs, choreographs, and directs dance events working for professionals and in community settings. Since 2016 Debora is leading the Canberra Contact Improvisation community and is team member of the Dance For Well Being program at Belconnen Arts Centre. She trains pre-professional Contemporary dancers at Dance Development Center Canberra and collaborates with Independent Artist Liz Lea, Canberra Dance Theatre, Praksis Canberra and Ausdance ACT. As independent she works through her labelISEMS PROJECTS. Her motto is: “Dance for All!”
Olivia Fyfe
Olivia grew up in Canberra, training at Dance Development Centre in their Full-Time program and QL2 Dance for a Chaos Season. She was accepted into WAAPA and during her second year undertook a six-month exchange at the Taipei National University of the Arts. Since graduating Olivia has performed professionally with: Fiona Malone, Cathy Young, Adelina Larsson, PVI Collective, Stella Electrica, Cadi McCarthy and Company, Strange Attractor, Jamie Winbank, Liz Lea, Alison Plevey and CO.LAB cross-disciplinary creative practice. Olivia is a key member of Australian Dance Party (2015-current), a collective creating site specific work ('Wasted', ‘Soul Defender’, ‘ENERGEIA’, ‘Situate’, ‘Powering the Dance’, ‘Water Tight’, 'Weave Hustle and Halt', 'Mine!', 'TWO', 'Autonomous', 'Shake It' and 'Nervous'). Alongside performing Olivia’s works as the "Social Media Queen" for QL2 Dance and choreographed for their 2018 Chaos Season ‘We Belong’. She is Project Officer of Ausdance ACT Open Classes (2017- current), Project Manager for Youth Dance Festival (2017-18) Administrator (2016-17), Rehearsal Manager (2015). Olivia is teaches across the Canberra region at three studios QL2 Dance, Dance Development Centre and Lisa Clark Dance Centre, and hopes to inspire others to be as passionate about dance as she is.
Helena Maria da Costa
Helena Maria da Costa is a free-lance Portuguese dancer/choreographer and a Movement Social therapist. She has a degree in Political Sciences international Relations .She has collaborated with different artists such as Mary O’Donnell (Fulkerson), Marcus Grolle, Diane Torr, Nan Hoover, Joao Canijo and others. She has taught and performed in Portugal, Holland, Germany, England, Belgium and South Africa. Since 2001, Helena Maria has been working with the UN (United Nations org) and other international NGO’s as an Electoral Adviser and Assisting refugees and other persons of concern in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As a humanitarian worker, she has also worked as a movement therapist in refugee camps and remote areas. Within her approach to movement and touch, she combines somatic technics such as Feldenkrais, MBC (Body Mind Centering), Hands on, Improvisation, Release work and Contact Improvisation Helena Maria has directed a video project Think Low with two other directors. Recently she made a documentary film, ‘School of Hope’ in Islamabad, Pakistan
Chip Lo
12+ years’ experience in dance. Specialising in Crew dancing and Urban Choreography. Dance styles;
Breaking, Popping, Hip Hop, Urban
Dance background
Been doing Urban, Hip Hop choreography and crew dance most of my dance career and now focusing more on Breaking and Popping.
Top 3 Achievements
#1. Represented Australia in the World Hip Hop Championships Las Vegas.
#2. 1st Place Hip Hop Internationals Sydney 2012.
#3. 1st Place Australia Hip Hop Championships Canberra 3 years in a row 2010 – 2012
Dance philosophy
– You gain knowledge from taking, class, you master it by practicing daily.
– If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.
– Repetition is the key to “Getting it”