Alison Winn
Alison trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, achieving a Certificate in Dance in 1986, Bachelor of Arts – Dance in 1990 and a Graduate Diploma in Education from Edith Cowan University in 1991. Alison also obtained her Solo Seal in 1991 under the Borovansky Memorial Syllabus.
During her dance career Alison has received the following awards: Borovansky Memorial – Australian Academy of Dance Scholarship (Intermediate Syllabus) – 1989, Borovansky Memorial – Australian Academy of Dance Scholarship (Advanced Syllabus) – 1990 and the Dance Theatre of WA Award from WAAPA – 1989.
Alison performed with the Youth Dance Company of Western Australia (1985), the Perth City Ballet Company (1989/90) and was invited to be part of the assessment panel at WAAPA for the end of year grading of 1st and 2nd year contemporary students (1995). During that same year she was employed by the Secondary Education Authority in WA to write the Year 12 Ballet Studies course and Year 11 & 12 Ballet Studies Teacher Support Materials.
As a teacher, Alison has also had an association with the John Curtin School of the Arts (1992–1995) and was founder and coordinator of the Governor Stirling Senior High School Specialist Dance Course for Gifted and Talented students in Dance from 1996–2007, this role also included directing and choreographing numerous Rock Eisteddfods, school musicals and dance concerts. Since moving to Tasmania permanently in 2007 Alison has been teaching ballet, contemporary dance and stretch classes at a private ballet school before making Tasdance her home in 2015 where she has introduced the Borovansky Syllabus to Tasmania.
Rikki Mace
Rikki is a Launceston based dance educator, choreographer and independent dance artist who holds a BA in Dance from the VCA. Rikki has been a part of the Tasdance education team since 2011. This role has seen her deliver contemporary dance classes for both children and adults alike and also teach weekly dance classes at East Tamar Primary school for students from kindergarten to grade 6.
Rikki tutors at the University of Tasmania which sees her impart her love of dance to pre-service Bachelor of Education and HPE students. Rikki implemented a dance program at Summerdale Primary school which is now in its 7th year of operation. She has choreographed for Primary Stompin, Stompin’s project for 10-12 year olds, since its inception in 2015.
Emma Porteus
Emma is a passionate dance maker and teacher, who recently had both hips replaced and is very much looking forward to returning to the dance floor in a gentle and mindful way. She has over 15 years’ experience working as a performance maker and producer of dance, community and festival projects throughout Australia and internationally, including with Vrystaat Festival (South Africa), ANTI Festival (Finland), Sydney Festival (NSW) Dancehouse (Vic), Melbourne Fringe Festival (Vic), Next Wave (Vic), Tracks (NT), Tasdance, Stompin’ Youth Dance (Tas), Ten Days, Festival of Voices, Junction and Tasmania Performs (Tas).
Bernita Moore
Bernita is a qualified dancer and dance teacher, she graduated from Jason Coleman’s ministry of dance in 2020. She trains in all forms of dance but especially enjoys commercial, hip hop & contemporary.
Bernita has performed in many productions and shows, one of her career highlights is her performance with JCMFD at ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ in 2019. She has also performed with Stompin Youth Dance Company including ‘Outside The Square’ performed at Junction Arts Festival 2021 and ‘Aliens at Pita’ performed at Party in the Apocalypse 2021. She has choreographed pieces featured in the Dancefever 2021 show, the contemporary piece ‘Human connection’ and the commercial piece ‘Lose Control’.
Bernita loves to create a fun dance class for all dance abilities aged three all the way up to young adults. She is excited to join the Tasdance team in term 1 and hopes to pass her passion and expertise for dance onto her students.