Welcome to Australia Dances a Podcast for The Australian Teachers of Dancing.Host Kate Meade is the founder of the Victorian Dance Festival, former Project Manager for ATOD and current breakfast host for the ACE Radio Network.Australia Dances is a glorious library of meaningful conversations with dance studio owners, creatives, directors and educators.We will explore and reflect on ideas, share stories and unpack current research.But more than anything this is a celebration of the Artform we all love.Dance. Connection, Education and Development. In this episode, we feature Marie Walton-Mahon For more information about The Australian Teachers of Dancing please head to www.atod.net.au You can follow us on Instagram @australiadancespodcastAnd subscribe and rate on your favourite podcast app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Australia Dances a Podcast for The Australian Teachers of Dancing.I’m Kate Meade, the founder of the Victorian Dance Festival, former Project Manager for ATOD and current breakfast host for the ACE Radio Network.It is truly an honour to host this podcast for ATOD and for you.Australia Dances is a glorious library of meaningful conversations with dance studio owners, creatives, directors and educators. We will explore and reflect on ideas, share stories and unpack current research. But more than anything this is a celebration of the Artform we all love.Dance. Connection, Education and Development.In this episode we feature Amy LehpamerFor more information about The Australian Teachers of Dancing please head to www.atod.net.au You can follow us on Instagram @australiadancespodcastAnd subscribe and rate on your favourite podcast app.Amy, Originally a violinist, has starred in Shane Warne the Musical, Rock of Ages, Beautiful: Carol King the Musical and has Helpmann Award for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2018. Amy is nothing short of inspirational, beautiful inside and work with a work ethic to match.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we feature Mary Li. Author of Mary’s Last Dance. Mary Li at the age of 16 flew to London to train at the Royal Ballet School. It was here she met  Li Cunxin and their chemistry developed on and off the stage, falling in love and being the darlings of ballet.Mary’s last dance is her story of becoming a mother to Sophie, who at 18 years of age was diagnosed deaf. Her story is a love of dance and love for her daughter.For more information about The Australian Teachers of Dancing please head to www.atod.net.auYou can follow us on Instagram @australiadancespodcastAnd subscribe and rate on your favourite podcast app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marc Brew trained as a professional dancer at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and The Australian Ballet School. He has been working in the UK and Internationally for the past 20 years as a dancer, choreographer, director, teacher and speaker; with the Australian Ballet Company, State Theatre Ballet Company of South Africa, Infinity Dance Theatre in New York and for 5 years up until early 2008 with CandoCo Dance Company.He was a guest performer, collaborator and media spokesperson for the London Hand Over Ceremony for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony and in 2009 was appointed Associate Director with Scottish Dance Theatre – ‘Scotland’s principal contemporary dance company’ where he co-directed ‘NQR’ and was Associate Artist at Tramway Theatre in 2015/16. Since 2001 Marc has been dedicating time to his own choreography with Marc Brew Company. On this episode we talk about: Relearning to move That day in the car Travelling the world with dance Participating in dance Redefining dance and disability  Why dance? GET IN CONTACTEmail ATOD: [email protected] Kate: [email protected] USInstagram @australiadancespodcastInstagram @atodofficialFacebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/   This episode was recorded via ZoomSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances Rings - The connection to country FAMILY BACKGROUND: Frances is a descendant of the Kokatha Tribe from the West Coast of South Australia and is also of German descent. BIOGRAPHY: In 2002, Frances made her main stage choreographic debut for Bangarra to outstanding critical acclaim with the Rations bill of Walkabout. Frances has followed this by creating 6 works for the company; Bush (co-choreography), Unaipon, X300 and Artefact.In 2004 Bulletin Magazine named Frances in their Smart 100, following the world premiere of her work Unaipon at The Adelaide Festival of the Arts. Frances has choreographed works for many of Australia’s leading Dance Companies including West Australian Ballet and Tasdance as well as continuing a successful Independent career. Frances has danced in works by many of Australia’s leading choreographers and companies including Meryl Tankard, Leigh Warren, and Legs on the Wall. Internationally Frances has been fortunate to establish important intercultural relationships with both Kahawi Dance Theatre and Atamira Dance Company in Auckland, New Zealand. She was most recently invited as guest collaborator and performer for their production MITIMITI, Choreographed by Jack Gray. In 2015 Frances choreographed her seventh work for Bangarra titled Sheoak as part of lore - dance stories of land and sea program. Frances directed her first end of year production for NAISDA Dance College titled, your Skin, my Skin in 2014 following with Kamu in 2015, From Sand to Stage, 2016 and Restoration in 2017. In 2016, Frances was appointed Head of Creative Studies at NAISDA and directed the re-staging of her 2012 work Terrain for Bangarra’s Parramatta season and the company’s regional tour of Western Australia and South Australia. Recently Terrain has been selected on the 2019 – 2021 NSW Higher School Certificate Dance Syllabus. On this Episode we talk about - The journey to Sydney  The discovery of theatre The process The stories The connection to country GET IN CONTACT Email ATOD: [email protected] Email Kate: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram @australiadancespodcast Instagram @atodofficial Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SHE IS RED HOT AND RHONDA With a smile that could light up the Sydney Opera House and a career spanning over 35 years, this vivacious, flame-haired beauty continues to turn heads wherever she goes and draw thunderous applause wherever she performs. She has forged a lengthy career in one of the toughest and most unforgiving industries, show business, yet as critics attest, she just keeps going from strength to strength. Few Australian entertainers have shared her status and immense popularity amongst her peers, who admire Rhonda for her big personality, big heart and enormous capacity to give back to the industry that has shaped her career. Highlights of Rhonda Burchmore's illustrious career include performing on London’s West End in Sugar Babies featuring Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller, Stop The World I Want To Get Off with Anthony Newley, starring opposite David Atkins in the original Hot Shoe Shuffle and opening Crown Casino with her cabaret spectacular Red, Hot & Rhonda - playing to over 60,000 people. On this episode we talk about: Being Australia's favourite showgirl When she almost walked away The height The impact of an examiner Advice for students GET IN CONTACT Email ATOD: [email protected] Email Kate: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram @australiadancespodcast Instagram @atodofficial Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JUSTINE SUMMERS - AUSTRALIAN BALLET Justine was accepted into the Australian Ballet in 1989 after studying at the Victoria College of the Arts. She was promoted to Principal Artist in 1996, she is known for her lyrical quality and interpretation of dramatic heroines.  Justine is the Patron of the Australian Teachers of Dancing The episode was recorded via Zoom June 2020 On this episode we talk about: The accidental ballerina That costume What she looks for in a dancer That moment   GET IN CONTACT Email ATOD: [email protected] Email Kate: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram @australiadancespodcast Instagram @atodofficial Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DONNA BURLAND - PRINCIPAL DOROTHY COWIE SCHOOL OF DANCING As a small child, Donna’s mother took her older sisters to dance classes with Ms Dorothy Cowie at the Dance Studio in Burwood. It was not long before she started classes too. Her enthusiasm and love of dance soon were quite obvious and one class turned into two classes and then more. One day a week soon turned into two days a week and then even more; including a private lesson with Miss Dorothy Cowie herself. The dance studio was Donna’s second home and my life revolved around ‘dancing’. Under the instruction of Miss Cowie, Donna participated in examinations in all dance genres with results of ‘honours’ and ‘honours plus’, completing ATOD Teacher levels, competitions, exhibitions, eisteddfods and so on. In 1987 Donna was offered the acquisition of the Dorothy Cowie School of Dancing by Miss Cowie. Today the studio offers over 100 classes a week catering for all ages it is a home and great social environment for all students and families.  The episode was recorded via Zoom May 2020 On this episode we talk about: Tradition A Passion and doing the work Lessons in business Life long learning Advice for students GET IN CONTACTEmail ATOD: [email protected] Kate: [email protected] FOLLOW USInstagram @australiadancespodcastInstagram @atodofficialFacebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Pace was a Professional dancer for 21 years, he is a dance teacher, and now academic and dance scientist, currently teaching at the University of Edinburgh in the Dance Science and Education programmeHe has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Dance Education (Royal Academy of Dance) and a MSc in Dance Science and Education (Distinction) with the University of Edinburgh where he is presently a PhD. candidate, focusing on talent development and the dancer.Mark has over thirty years of dancing, teaching and guesting experience in various international ballet companies and school settings. BA (Hons) In Dance Education (RAD) MSc In Dance Science and Education (University of Edinburgh) State Dance Diploma (DE) (France) Certificate of Aptitude (CA)  (France) Diploma for Dance Teaching and Management (Australian Teachers of Dancing, ATOD) Certificate 4 in ‘Training and Assessment’  (ATOD)   Head of Revision of the classical ballet syllabus for the Australian Teachers of Dance, A.T.O.D (2011 – Present) President of the Jury for the Dance Teachers Diploma, Centre Jennifer Coubé, Paris (2015) Member of the Jury EAT, Marseille in Dance Classique, France (2014 / 2015)Member of the Commission Interregional for Dance, Région Nord-East (2004 – 2007 / 2012) Manage the selection of independent companies for grants in the studio program (Acceuil Studios) with the Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin, France (2004 – 2007) The episode was recorded May 12th 2020 On this Episode we talk about: The call to dance Doing the work Taking the stage Performing for the Queen Lessons learnt along the way   GET IN CONTACT Email ATOD: [email protected] Email Kate: [email protected]   FOLLOW US Instagram @australiadancespodcast Instagram @atodofficial Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leah Belford is the President of ATOD, Examiner, studio owner, wife and mother. Ever since Barrick Dance Centre opened its doors, her own studio, in 1995, she has been dedicated to providing a safe, happy and loving environment for kids of all ages to dance. Leah is a worker. Just gets it done. You will usually find her with a smile on her face, and a let’s go, what needs to be done attitude... On the podcast, she is leading from the front, wearing both hats, the President of one of the worlds best dance training organisations and a studio owner.  The episode was recorded via Zoom April 2020 On this episode we talk about: The Australian Teachers of Dancing 2020. Exams. Online learning. How ATOD is supporting its members. Lessons learned along the way. Why dance? GET IN CONTACT Email ATOD: [email protected] Kate: [email protected] FOLLOW US Instagram @australiadancespodcast @atodofficial Facebook https://www.facebook.com/atodofficial/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.