Tim Podesta – Choreographer/Artistic Director Tim Podesta is a graduate of the Australian Ballet School and has worked as a performer and choreographer throughout the world. Tim started dancing at the age of 16 in Albury Wodonga before being accepted into the Australian Ballet Schools three year Advanced Diploma in Dance. Upon graduating Tim has worked as a soloist with- Tokyo City Ballet, State Theatre Ballet, State Theatre Opera & Durban Playhouse (Sth Africa), Royal Danish Ballet, Opera Australia, Tiempos Y Contratiempos, and has been a guest artist in a number of festivals and performances throughout the world performing both classical and contemporary works by leading choreographers.
Margot McCallum – Rehearsal Director After extensive dance education in regional Victoria and Melbourne, Margot McCallum trained as a choreologist/repetiteur in Benesh Movement Notation in London. Margot’s initial work experience began with Ballet Gulbenkian in Portugal and then she worked with PACT Ballet in Johannesburg. Returning to Australia Margot spent several years with the Australian Ballet before opting to focus on family and further study. Currently, Margot delivers the vocational dance program Certificate II in Dance to students in the Wodonga cluster of senior secondary schools. Students travel from Mt Beauty, Chiltern, Barnawartha and Wodonga for their schooling and dance education. Margot also works with several groups of adults with intellectual disabilities exploring creativity and communication through dance.
Helen Newman – Film Maker Helen Newman is an award winning Australian filmmaker based in Melbourne and the NSW border town of Albury. Traveling to Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, India and America as well as across Australia Helen has filmed families and individuals lives in a broad range of situations; war zones, bombing survivors, inside detention centers, refugee camps, civil rights protests, living on the streets, families in grief and crisis, interviews with national and international commentators, celebrations and tragedies. Working with Melbourne Theatre Company, Circus Oz, Flying Fruit Fly Circus and various other music and theatre groups Helen also films nationally and internationally acclaimed live performances.
Karen Gardner – Producer, Murray Arts Karen has over 15 experience in the arts and cultural industries. Karen has a BA (Theatre/Media) and a MA Cultural Performance. Prior to commencing at Murray Arts, Karen worked as the cultural projects coordinator, and the cultural planner at Warringah Council in Sydney. Karen facilitated a number of events and projects during this time including the successful ‘Whale Songlines’ a community celebration funded by Festivals Australia. Karen’s experience also lies in the production and management of some of Sydney’s largest events including: Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Centenary of Federation Parade, the Millennium Celebrations on Sydney Harbour and the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Karen is currently the General Manager of Murray Arts – the Regional Arts Development Organisation for the Border region.
Nikki Johnson & Doug Lloyd - Coordinators, SITE INC Skills Innovative Training Enterprise (SITE) Inc has over ten years experience in assisting people with disabilities to actively participate in their local communities as independently as possible. All aspects of SITE’s programs focus on integrating participants into their local communities by increasing their local knowledge and skills, community participation, widening their social networks and developing their independence and self confidence. SITE have run a recreational dance project with teacher Margot McCallum for the past 5 years.
Musicians/Composers - Bloodloss Vegas CJ Harrison, David Parker and Rory Barton
