Dance Focus Program
Monday 13th April - Friday 17th April 2020
9.30am - 2.30am
What is it?
The Dance Focus Program is a 5 day immersive program specifically designed for intermediate - professional level dancers.
This elite program is designed to develop the dancer in various forms and styles of dance that would be relevant for Music Theatre as well as cruise ships, overseas contracts (Disney, Universal, Cabarets) & corporate entertainment contracts.
Under the expert guidance and tutorage of our highly skilled mentors, you will work on material in styles such as; Fosse, era specific choreography such as 20’s or 60’s, classic Broadway technique, contemporary & hip hop/commercial all relevant for todays entertainment industry. These styles will be taught by industry experts who have had professional experience with the styles they will be teaching.
Is This For You?
This program is specifically designed for graduates from Full Time Training institutions, students currently studying, and talented aspiring performers looking to enter full time training, who want to expand their skills and become a more hireable dancer.
Candidates should:
be trained, or training in Dance or Music Theatre studies, with a view to becoming a professional performer
intermediate - professional level dance ability
be 16 and over
Meet Our Mentors
The mentors for our program are highly skilled, professional creatives, and educators, who are in high demand in the Entertainment industry. Their wealth of knowledge and experience spanning decades in both Australia and overseas, makes this team, and program, unlike any other on offer in Australia.
Dana Jolly
Choreographer/Dance Mentor
Dana’s choreography credits include 10 musicals for The Production Company including, ”Anything Goes”, “Kiss Me Kate”, “Thoroughly Modern Millie”, “Follies”, “Little Me”, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, “Grey Gardens”, “Show Boat”, “Nice Work If You Can Get It”, “Curtains”, and “Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder”.
Other choreographic credits include “Fiddler On The Roof” with Anthony Warlow Melbourne/Sydney, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” Australian Tour, “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” Sydney’s Theatre Royal, “Jumpy” (staring Marina Prior and Jane Turner) and “Last Man Standing”, both for Melbourne Theatre Company, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” for The Alex Theatre, “Adelaide Cabaret Festival”, “Everybody Loves Rhonda” for Rhonda Burchmore, “So You Think You Can Dance”, The AFL “Grand Final Entertainment”, “The Royal Variety Performance” London, “Miss World Competition” London, International Festivals in Malaysia and the UK, numerous television shows and commercials.
Founder of Voltage International Productions & Music Theatre Mentorship Program.
Kirsten King
Choreographer/Dance Mentor
CREATIVE CREDITS
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Michael Cassel Group Resident Dance Supervisor
Hello Dolly The Production Company Choreographer (Green Room Nomination)
Dusty the Musical The Production Company Assistant Director/Choreographer
Kinky Boots at AFL Pride Game Michael Cassel Group Assistant to Resident Choreographer
Hugh Jackman Live Tour Dainty Group Assistant to Choreographer (Warren Carlyle)
Hugh Jackman Live Tour Dainty Group Private coach for Hugh Jackman and Andy Lee
West Side Story The Production Company Assistant Choreographer
42nd Street VCA Fulltime Music Theatre Choreographer
Urinetown VCA Fulltime Music Theatre Choreographer
Strictly Ballroom Global Creatures Associate Choreographer
King Kong Global Creatures Associate Choreographer
The Producers The Production Company Assistant to Director and Choreographer
Mary Poppins Disney/Cameron Mackintosh Resident Choreographer (Brisbane, Perth, NZ)
Mary Poppins Disney/Cameron Mackintosh Dance Captain/Swing (Melbourne & Sydney)
We Will Rock You Louise Withers and Associates Dance Captain/Swing (Australia and Japan)
Fairies Stage Tour Garry Ginivan Productions Assistant Choreographer and Tour Manager
Lazy Town Live Garry Ginivan Productions Assistant Choreographer
PERFORMANCE CREDITS
Dusty the Musical The Production Company Swing/cover
Georgy Girl The Musical Farrelly Productions Hazel/Dance Captain
Mary Poppins Disney/Cameron Mackintosh Dance Captain/Swing,
U/S Birdwoman, Mrs Brill, Katie Nanna Shout! The Legend of the Wild One TML Enterprises Ensemble, U/S Thelma O’Keefe
Sweet Charity The Production Company Helene
We Will Rock You (Original Aus. Cast) Louise Withers and Associates Dance Captain, Swing, U/S Mariah/Teacher
The Wizard of Oz SEL/GFO Ensemble
Happy Days: The Arena Mega Musical Dainty Group Ensemble/Understudy Laura
The Music Man The Production Company Ensemble
How to Succeed in Business..... The Production Company Ensemble
Anything Goes The Production Company Ensemble
Pinocchio Garry Ginivan Productions Catchup
Conrad and Co, Pantomimes National/International Tour Performer
The Lido Cabaret Renie Ann Martini Dancer/Singer
Freya List
Choreographer
Freya List is an innovative Australian choreographer with a unique approach to story telling. Having trained and created works in Melbourne, New York and Europe, Freya’s choreography can most recently be seen in Bright Star (Pursued By Bear); Green Room Nomination, The Children (Dir. Sarah Goodes, Melbourne Theatre Company & Sydney Theatre Company), RENT (Dir. Mark Taylor, James Terry Collective), A View From The Bridge (Dir. Iain Sinclair, Melbourne Theatre Company), Kabaret Dietrich (Fringe Festival), Woodes Tour, Melbourne Spring Fashion Week & Chelsea Wilson Album Launch. Freya’s screen choreography and credits involve: Utopia (Dir. Rob Sitch, ABC), The Doctor Blake Mysteries (ABC/ Seven Network), Good Morning America, The Pacific
(Dreamworks) , the Australian Dance feature film UP HERE (Project Y), Neighbours (Network Ten), and has been involved in music videos for Hopium, Sex on Toast, Thelma Plum, Dustin Tebbutt and Braille Face. Freya loves the relationship between music and dance, resulting in the creation of the event series Playing Field. Freya has creatively been involved with many festivals, music launches, charity events, corporate performances & creative projects, including the premier of own show Half Full (Collaboration The Project).
Freya is a guest teacher and faculty member at several tertiary institutions and studios throughout Australia. Freya has also taught in Europe, America, Singapore, Cambodia and India, where Freya works with CERES Global to create trips and opportunities to teach dance for relationship development in different communities. Freya absolutely loves being the in studio with students and collaborating with others to tell stories.
Travis Khan
Performer
Travis trained at UNITEC Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts); The New Zealand School of Dance.
Travis’ Theatre Includes: Ensemble then Swing/Dance Captain in the Australian/Shanghai seasons of the Lion King (Disney Theatrical); Dancer in Turandot (Opera Australia); Boris (Understudy Vladimir) in Fiddler On The Roof (TML Enterprises); Swing (Understudy Jimmy) in the Australia/NZ/London launch seasons of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert (Back Row Productions); Ensemble/Dance Captain (Understudy Bernardo, Chino, Pepe) in West Side Story (Ambassador Theatre Group); Ensemble in Kismet (The Production Company); Ensemble in Eat, Pray, Laugh, Barry Humphries’ Farewell Tour (TEG Dainty); Ensemble (Understudy Taji and Kingsmen) in the World Premiere of King Kong (Global Creatures); Rudolpho in the Australian/NZ seasons of Matilda the Musical (RSC and Louise Withers & Associates) and Harry, Jury and ensemble in Chicago the Musical (Gordon Frost Organisation).
In addition, Travis has developed an extensive list of credits in fashion, corporate, commercial and television events. Credits include: L’Oreal, Bonds, Cotton On, Just Jeans International modeling tour, Neighbours, Australia’s Got Talent, The Logies, performances with the recording artists such as Vanessa Amorosi, Guy Sebastian and Ricki-Lee and Choreography and events assistant to Yvette Lee.
Film Includes: King Kong (Dancer) Directed by Peter Jackson, I’m Not Dead Yet (Choreographer) Zanzara Music Pty Ltd.
Ross Hannaford
Performer/Teacher
Ross Hannaford is one of Australia’s most diverse and talented musical theatre performers teachers and directors. Currently teaching at the Melbourne universities VCA. Most recently he tackled the role of Resident Director on CATS International. Previously he played the roles of Princeton & Rod in the Australian tour of Avenue Q.“Hannaford has excellent comic instinct as well as a touching sincerity” – Daily Review. Earlier in 2016 he played the role of Skimbleshanks in Andrew Lloyd Webbers new Production of Cats – The delightful, genuine triple threat of Ross Hannaford’s Skimbleshanks” – The Age.
2015 saw Ross receive a Green Room Award Nomination in Victorian Operas production of Sweeney Todd as Tobias Ragg“Ross Hannaford sings the orphan boy with dexterity, restraint and purity of tone” – The Age.
A career highlight for Ross was obtaining the coveted role of Paul in the Australian tour of A Chorus Line – “Ross Hannaford as Paul was Heartbreaking” – Sydney Morning Herald.
2014 saw Ross complete the world premiere of two musicals, James in the star studded Beyond Desire for The Hayes Theatre Company and the highly anticipated King Kong the musical for Global Creatures.
Ross first appeared in professional musical theatre over 20 years ago playing the role of Tiny Tim in Scrooge. Since his debut, he has gone on to work extensively throughout the industry. His previous credits include the original Australian cast of WICKED, Jack in Into the Woods, Theo in Pippin, Carbo in Strange Bedfellows, Colin in The Secret Garden, We Will Rock You and SHOUT the musical. His Production Company credits include Clarius in Camelot, Junior in Little Me, Thoroughly Modern Millie & Sweet Charity.
Ross has further pursued his love of music through composing and writing his own material. He has recorded with Rockcandy productions and the Shed studios, which culminated in a top 10 listing with the Australian songwriting Association.
Ross was a finalist at the inaugural Rob Guest Endowment Concert, Performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre Melbourne. After his initial involvement, he has stretched his skills further by becoming a key part of the management team driving this cause. Passionate about the need to help young unknown artists pave a career in the Australian industry he dedicates his time to help manage and support Australia’s leading musical theatre prize.
Ross has achieved all his major examination syllabi in RAD including achieving his Solo Seal award in 2002, he is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and of the Victorian College of the Arts.
What Next?
Entry into the program requires Dana Jolly’s approval. If you have trained with Dana Jolly before please fill out the below form and state your expression your interest in the Dance Focus Program in the 'comment' section.
If you have never trained with Dana before, please express your interest for the Dance Focus Program in the form as well as add your dance level and experience.
Application closing date for the Dance Focus Program will be on 2nd April 2020.
**Please note: It is possible to apply for both the Dance Focus Program & Production Number Immersive as they are consecutive 2 weeks of training. In this case we will be offering you a discount to those who participate in both.**
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Express your interest and stay in the loop.
In the "Message" section please mention which program/s or services you're interested in.