Megan Adams
Megan Adams graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1995 and works as a dancer, choreographer, rehearsal director and teacher. Megan has tutored at TAPAC, UNITEC and Toi Whakaari (The NZ Drama School) and has worked in schools as a dance in education tutor for The Royal New Zealand Ballet. Megan was the Rehearsal/Assistant Director for Douglas Wright’s NZ and Australian tour of Black Milk and was Shona McCullagh’s Choreographic Assistant on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and King Kong.
Megan Adams
Bronwyn Baker, who is originally from South Africa, became involved in Circus work while furthering her dance career in New York. She then followed her heart to Aotearoa and hasnít looked back since!
Katie Burton
Katie Burton (Unitec, BPSA – Contemporary Dance) is a freelance dancer, choreographer, teacher and co-founder of Auckland's Vacuum PACT Dance Company. Katie is the Assistant Choreographer for the prestigious WOW World of WearableArt Awards in Wellington. She choreographs and dances on projects with various companies and choreographers around NZ.
Katie Burton
Janine Parkes (BPSA, Unitec) is a dancer and choreographer who graduated from Unitec in 2005. She is a founding member of Auckland contemporary dance company, BackLit Productions who have produced five major shows in both the Auckland Tempo Festival and Wellington Fringe since 2005. Janine teaches Aero-ballet at Les Mills and has recently choreographed for the youth dance company One Step Beyond.
Felicity Molloy
Felicity Molloy is a dance practitioner who has contributed to New Zealandís contemporary dance community for thirty years as a dancer (Impulse Dance Theatre, Inside Out Theatre, Independance, Merchants of Venus, Limbs Dance Company and Auckland Ballet), choreographer, community teacher, conference organiser and administrator. She has been a Dance Lecturer at Unitec School of Performing and Screen Arts mentoring the technical and choreographic development of students for the past 14 years.
Felicity Molloy
Chiara Ferri is a native of Italy who trained with Marga Nativo in Florence, at the Academie de danse classique in Monte-Carlo with Marika Besobrasova, in Rome, New York and Philadelphia. Chiara performed with the Stadttheater Bern Swizterland, Stadttheater Luzern, English National Ballet London and as a dancer/ mime artist with the Pantomime Theatre, Copenhagen. Chiara now lives in Grey Lynn and is studying at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies.
Carlene Newall & Eve Gordon
Carlene Newall made the leap from a love of dancing on the ground, to up in the air when a Flying Trapeze rig set up camp around the corner from her home. She has 15 years dance experience and 7 years training and performing in aerial arts, last year traveling to New York to work as a tutor in the circus department of a Summer performing arts camp. Carlene is currently completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Auckland University.
Eve Gordon works as an actor, producer, filmmaker, aerialist and costume-maker. Her physical theatre practice began with a degree in acting from UNITEC She was further inspired by Beth Kayes and Company Theatre Physical to explore the possibilities of physical extremes, resulting in circus training and performance on trapeze, rope, pole and tissue (silks) and in acro-balance.
Carlene Newall & Eve Gordon
Clare Battersby holds a Graduate Diploma in Movement and Dance from the University of Melbourne. Clare creates and performs her own delightful outdoor events for children in Auckland parks. She has been a member of Playback Theatre for over thirteen years. "I love to encourage children to express their natural desire - to leap for the stars, roll across the earth and run through empty spaces."
Stephen Butterworth
Stephen Butterworth (BA, BDip) has over 20 years of experience in Stage and Screen throughout NZ and Australia. Known as a "triple threat" performer, his versatility takes him from performing in anything from local and international television/film to large scale Theatre and Opera. He fosters and selects young talent through ATC summer school and is on the panel of the Unitec Acting Major. He also works as an artist liaison co-ordinator for the Auckland Arts Festival.
Stephen Butterworth
Kylie Harris gained her teaching diploma in RAD ballet in 1998 and taught for Rochelle Spence Dance Studio in Napier for 8 years. In 2003 she gained her Bachelor of Contemporary Dance from Unitec. From 2001 to 2003 Kylie taught on the children’s ballet programme here at PASNZ whilst completing her degree. She then worked overseas as a dancer and upon her return has been teaching here at The Performing Arts School and working in post production.
Cherie Moore
Cherie Moore has been singing and acting for ten years. She has performed in many singing performances, musical theatre productions, plays, and devised children’s theatre. Cherie is currently completing a degree in Drama and English and working as a freelance vocal and performance coach, singer and actor.
Cherie Moore
Lucy Miles (Unitec, BPSA - Contemporary Dance, Dip Perf Arts 2002)
is co-founder of award-winning contemporary dance company BackLit Productions. Within the company she has danced, choreographed, produced and is becoming involved in audio and costume production. Lucy also freelances as a dancer and choreographer and teaches throughout Auckland and the North Island.
David Tillinghast
David Tillinghast (BA (Hons) Performing Arts, UK) was a full-time Performing Arts and Popular Music Lecturer in London for seven years and teaches singing privately, coaches, performs in a-cappella groups and is the musical director and choral arranger of a 'pop' choir. He has worked in the UK as a voice-over artist, session musician and vocal arranger. Five of his former students have had UK Top 20 hits. David was a long-time member of a successful touring band, headlining in venues throughout Europe and North America.
David Tillinghast
Kylie Harris gained her teaching diploma in RAD ballet in 1998 and taught for Rochelle Spence Dance Studio in Napier for 8 years. In 2003 she gained her Bachelor of Contemporary Dance from Unitec. From 2001 to 2003 Kylie taught on the children’s ballet programme here at PASNZ whilst completing her degree. She then worked overseas as a dancer and upon her return has been teaching here at The Performing Arts School and working in post production.
Deborah Sumner (RAD.RTS, BHSc (Physio), PGDipSci, Member Society Dance Medicine) completed her ballet training and taught at a branch of the Philippa Campbell School of Ballet in Auckland. After completing Sports Science and Physiotherapy degrees Deborah gained her Teaching Diploma in RAD in 2005. Deborah has a passion for helping young dancers to enjoy dance whilst learning safe movement practices.
Debbie Newby
Debbie Newby (BPSA, UNITEC 2002) is a member of Company Theatre Physical and most recently devised and performed in OOH BABY BABY which premiered at Taranaki Festival ’09. Debbie also devises and tours shows throughout Auckland's schools and pre-schools. Her work in the television industry include roles in Shortland Street, Mercy Peak, Outrageous Fortune, and Legends of The Seeker.
Debbie Newby
Grace Crawford is a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. She studied at Excel Performing Arts School in 2000, and toured internationally with them in 2001. She then completed her Bachelor of Dance and her post-graduate studies at AUT. She also performed with the hip hop company Alter Ego at events such as the 2004 Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards and L'Oreal Runway.
Grace is currently involved in various hip hop events around Auckland, either as a dancer, an organizer or a volunteer. Grace is also a dancer in The Cuban Groove Dance Company, and toured around NZ with them in 2009.
Linda Cartwright
Linda Cartwright(MA Visual and Performing Arts, Cert. Higher Education) acted at Theatre Corporate and the Mercury Theatre for several years, has taught voice extensively, and was the founding Head of Voice in the Acting Major of Unitecís degree programme, a position she held for 15 years. She has studied the Linklater method of freeing the natural voice, with Cicely Berry of the Royal Shakespeare Company and, more recently, the Estill Model. ìMy aim is to help people find the joy in speaking, the delight in finding their own sound and the confidence that comes from getting the voice integrated with the rest of the body. If I have a dream, it is that we in New Zealand should talk "like princes" - that is, with clear tone, clear diction, good variation of pitch and pace and with a voice that generously communicates who we are at the deepest level.î
Linda Cartwright
John Watson spent 10 years working as an actor in professional theatre companies before becoming involved in television and film. He has explored the mysteries of acting for the camera at PASNZ for over 17 years and brings this broad experience of both genres to his teaching. “Essentially, the process is about finding out a little more about yourself. It’s about being confident and relaxed with who you are and less concerned about perceptions of how you should be” So if you have ever wondered about acting for the silver screen, come along on Saturday mornings and find out! You will have the full support of a seasoned professional actor and a small group of fellow explorers.
Fiona Edgar
Fiona Edgar has worked as an actor, writer and casting director for the last 20 years. She wrote and performed in several comedy shows including A Girls Gotta Eat and I’m Gonna Marry Marvin. She performed in several NZ Television shows in roles including Fran Piper on Shortland Street, 2006. As a casting director she has cast numerous TV commercials as well as the movie Broken English which was nominated for three NZ best actor awards. She is keen for her students to develop focus, courage and dynamics.
Fiona Edgar
Rob Marshall has been involved in Theatresports and the teaching of improvisation since 1989. ìI love the suspense of improvisation - what will happen next, because no one knows - not even the people in the scene itself!î
Vicky Yiannoutsos
Vicky Yiannoutsos has a BA in Film and Theatre Studies from Victoria University, and has worked in the industry for over 25 years as an editor, film-maker, and acting coach. She is an award winning film-maker who trained at the Jeremiah Comey Film Acting Studios in Los Angeles, and has been involved with PAS since she began training actors in New Zealand in 1989. She has taught at Toi Whakaari, Unitec, UCOL, Auckland University and held workshops throughout New Zealand. She shares her year between New Zealand and Greece.
Vicky Yiannoutsos
Elizabeth Hawthorne O.N.Z.M, is one of NZís best known actresses who has an extensive career in theatre, film and television. Her training began at Theatre Corporate where she was a member of the ensemble company, 1974 -1984. Later, 1984 - 1992 Elizabeth was a member of the resident company at the Mercury Theatre. In Auckland Theatre Company productions she is well-known for her roles in plays such as in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Graduate. Film credits include, Savage Honeymoon, The Frighteners and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - and in television, Spin Doctors and Shortland Street. Elizabeth teaches at Unitec, St. Cuthbert's College and as a guest at summer schools nationally.
Sue Haldane
Sue Haldane is one of New Zealands most highly experienced theatre practitioners and teachers. She is the Artistic Director of Theatre Frontier and has created and performed innovative and contemporary theatre for young people for over 15 years.
Sue Haldane
Antonio Hernandez Karam is from Mexico. He is a percussionist and has been practicing capoeira since 2000. In 2001 he received the green belt with the Capoeira Cumbe ACAL under the tuition of Mestre Magayver of Brazil doing Capoeira Regional. He has practiced Capoeira Angola under the direction of Mestre Marcelo Angola and Mestre Lua Rasta based in Salvador Bahia, Brazil. Until January 2004, he was responsible for the Capoeira Angola class in the Universidad de las Americas Puebla (UDLAP), Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla (BUAP) and founded the first Capoeira Angola School in Puebla, Mexico.
Janine Burchett
Janine Burchett trained at Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School and was nominated as NZ’s Most Promising Actress in 1998. Janine worked extensively in
NZ theatre and television before moving to Sydney in 2002 to play Mrs Darling/Tinkerbell in Peter Pan. She co-devised the play 'Convict Women', which
was awarded an Enerco Australian Cultural Award and taught for The Sydney Dance Co. and the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art. Janine wrote and
produced the multiple international award winning children's film Gabriel, which continues to screen at film festivals around the world.
Janine Burchett
Georgia Wood is a singer, actress and voice coach. A graduate of the University of Auckland and Toi Whakaari The New Zealand Drama School, her vocal career encompasses musical theatre and a one-woman rock-opera, acappella and big band vocal harmony groups, lullabies, soul, cabaret, funk, r'n’b, and jazz. Her passion for the voice has led her to study bio-laryngeal mechanics with Cheryl McLeay and sound healing with Chris James and Karina Schelde, and her understanding and empathy of the courage it takes to express vocally with oneself as the instrument, makes her an excellent vocal facilitator.
Liz Kirk
Liz Kirk is a graduate of NZ School of Dance (1989) and completed a BA Honours in Performing Arts in Britain in 1995. She has danced with Auckland Dance Company, coaches professional dancers and performs with leading choreographers such as Ann Dewey and Sean Curham. Liz also appeared in the feature film ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.’
Liz Kirk
Emma Herbert trained at the prestigious Circus Space School in London and has performed aerial acrobatics worldwide for 15 years. Most recently, she was lead aerialist in Weber Bros Circus touring NZ for a year. She is now more 'grounded' and is teaching and raising a 3 month old daughter.
Carlene Newall made the leap from a love of dancing on the ground, to up in the air when a Flying Trapeze rig set up camp around the corner from her home. She has 15 years dance experience and 7 years training and performing in aerial arts, last year travelling to New York to work as a tutor in the circus department of a Summer performing arts camp. Carlene is currently completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Auckland University.
Stephen Papps
Stephen Papps has worked prolifically in theatre, film and TV. In 1992, he won best actor for his portrayal of Firpo in the film End of the Golden Weather. Other films include 'Murder in Greenwich', 'We're Here to Help' and 'The Piano'.
Stephen has worked at theatres all over NZ. A few of his credits are 'Blowing It', a solo piece he co-wrote and performed around the world; 'Ying Tong', as Spike Milligan; and 'The Hollow Men', as Don Brash. TV credits include 'Jack of all Trades', 'Hercules' and 'Shortland Street'.
Stephen Papps
Stephen Ure studied drama for 3 years at The Sydney Acting School and has worked as a professional actor in theatre, film and television for 25 years. He has over a dozen feature film credits including The Lord of The Rings - The Two Towers, The Return of The King and Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. His aim for his students is for them to develop confidence, creativity and the subtleties and technique required for acting for the camera.
Maylene Baker
Maylene Baker started dancing at three years old, studying ballet, jazz and tap. Maylene graduated from Millikan High School in Long Beach, California. Whilst there she took up cheerleading alongside her advanced dance studies. Upon returning to NZ to attend Auckland University, she danced at Burgundy’s, performed as a foundation cheerleader for the Warriors and managed the Sky City Cheer Team. Maylene has lived in Sydney, London and New York, furthering her studies in all of these cities. Maylene has recently ‘hung up her performing shoes” and now enjoys passing on what she has learnt and getting creative with her choreography.
Maylene Baker
Rosalind Gardner (BA, Dip Teaching, ATCL) is an actor, author, director and trained teacher who has worked extensively with young people through Theatre in Education - Youth Theatre Verbatim, Christchurch (1990) Room to Move, Auckland (1998). Ros has tutored at the Auckland College of Education and currently teaches acting at Unitec where she devises and directs their annual school’s touring season of Spinning Tales. Ros’s play Once was performed at the 2004 Wellington Fringe Festival and Out Loud Theatre Company’s Talk at the 2003 Wellington Youth Arts Festival.
Joel Gallarde
Joel Gallarde is the founder & director of TRiPLe8FuNk Dance Company, based at University of Auckland and one of the most established Street Dance Crews in NZ. Joel has had extensive dance training around the world and has taught dance workshops internationally. He is a sought after choreographer and is a mentor for the youth and the community. His belief is that to achieve one's goals in dancing one needs discipline, and at the same time, the ability to have fun with it all!
Joel Gallarde
Carlene Newall made the leap from a love of dancing on the ground, to up in the air when a Flying Trapeze rig set up camp around the corner from her home. She has 15 years dance experience and 7 years training and performing in aerial arts, last year travelling to New York to work as a tutor in the circus department of a Summer performing arts camp. Carlene is currently completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Auckland University.
Carla Martell
Carla Martell first began her Pilates training as a dancer in London at the Body Control Studios with Alan Herdman. In 1999 she became a trainee instructor at the Body Studio in Auckland and incorporated Pilates principles into her teaching of contemporary dance. Carla has continued her training with Polestar Pilates Education in
order to mainly teach group mat classes such as the one here at PAS.
Carla Martell
Mark Clare trained as an actor at the Drama Studio, London in 1989. Since returning to NZ he has worked extensively as an actor in theatre, film and television. He was nominated for a NZ Film and TV Best Actor Award in 1996 for his role in Trifecta a Montana Sunday Drama. As a screen actor he has worked in a large number of productions in many styles and gained a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the skills required of the modern screen. He has also worked as a producer, set builder, writer and director. His company The Green Staircase Theatre is currently touring.
Mike and Bronwyn Baker
Mike Baker literally “fell” into Circus after a long history of “doing stupid things at great heights.” He has trained and performed in the USA, Asia and NZ. He has coached at Club Med Circus School, annually at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in New York as well as running independent workshops here in NZ.
Bronwyn Baker, who is originally from South Africa, became involved in Circus work while furthering her dance career in New York. She teaches each year at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts in New York as well as running independent workshops here in NZ.
