Performing Arts - Faculty
DRAMA
GRANT WILDMAN B.Ed, MSoc Sci., Dip Bib Stds., Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training.
Head of Performing Arts.
Grant has had a passion for the transformative power of theatre and the physical and nonverbal forms of mask theatre. Grant’s theatre debut was as a percussionist for the old Q Theatre in Adelaide and since those ‘heady days’ he has worked as an electrician and later as a teacher in Independent and Catholic sector schools. From 1983 he has performed as a clown and story-teller and from 1999 spent 5 years as Co-Artistic Director with the touring theatre and education company Dramatic Solutions. He has worked as a freelance actor and has performed in, designed for or directed many community theatre projects. As a communicator and teacher he has long been interested in how we present and perceive information about both the mundane and spiritual aspects of life. His experiences as a performer, teacher, and counsellor in theatres, schools and churches have challenged him to consider the dynamics surrounding gathered groups of people: the way we build community, and the necessary role the arts play in these events. This mix has also led to further studies in mask and ritual.
Grant believes that the arts are vital for the health of any community and that they are a necessity as a renewing agent in church communities. He wants to see more people embrace the arts and for churches to embrace and support artists. He hopes that the Performing Arts degrees offered by Tabor Adelaide will play a part in training practitioners for the arts and education community generally and to develop performers, communicators, ‘ministers’ and creative change agents within the church.
FAYE DAWSON WISE
Master of Teaching BEd., Cert IV Workplace Training
Faye has completed her Master of Teaching, with distinction researching the area of Alienation within Christian Schools. She is an experienced teacher and has a Bachelor of Education, specializing in Drama in Education. She has a passionate interest in spirituality and theatre and also in socially conscious Theatre (Praxis Theatre) and has been working in these areas for a number of years, as a teacher, practitioner and writer. In October, 2007 Faye performed in The Effect of Gamma Rays On Man-in-The Moon Marigolds in Adelaide.
Faye works as both a lecturer in the performing arts and administrator and has been a part of the team that has developed the performing arts at Tabor. She has a strong vision for the future of a spiritually grounded performing arts culture.
DIANNE BODEIN WALTERS
Master of Education BA Dip Ed., Cert IV Workplace Training
Dianne has extensive experience as a free-lance teacher, performer and director in improvisational and community theatre. She studied drama at Flinders University, at the Drama Action Centre in Sydney and with Monika Pagneux and Philippe Gaulier in London. She is passionate about forms of theatre that have the potential to integrate drama, community and healing of the human spirit, such as clowning, story, playback theatre, and mask.
Dianne is a trained teacher who likes to create a fun and nuturing learning environment. She teaches modules at Tabor College in improvisational theatre and has in the past taught drama workshops extensively at various universities and theological colleges, WEA and privately. She has performed and directed in clown and playback theatre and has recently hung up her hat with the Humour Foundation as ‘Dr. TeaPot’, a Clown Doctor, at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and at Daw House Hospice, Adelaide.
MUSIC
VIRGINIA LAKEMAN B. Mus Dip.Ed Certificate IV
Workplace Assessor
Virginia joined Tabor Adelaide at the beginning of 2008 after a long career in Music education in Adelaide secondary schools, including Daws Road High and Aberfoyle Park High where she established music programs. She has undertaken three previous Tertiary lecturing contracts in Music Education for the University of Adelaide, Flinders University of SA and the now closed Flinders Street School of Music. She has worked as the SSABSA Chief Assessor for four of the Stage 2 Music units, Solo Performance, Performance Special Study, Individual Study and Ensemble Performance. She was the force behind the new Stage 2 Music Technology unit and assisted in the course writing for Musicianship and Music in Context. She is a member of the SSABSA Music Subject Advisory Committee and has been a presenter at workshops arranged by SSABSA and ASME for teachers. She has been active in ASME, (the Australian Society for Music Education) including SA Chapter Chair and a member of the ASME National Council.
Within schools, the community and churches she has conducted various ensembles; choirs, concert bands, orchestras and mixed ensembles. As a break from musical activities she enjoys paddling her TK2 on Westlakes and in short marathon competitions.
TIM MARKS
Timothy Marks graduated from the Elder Conservatorium with a Graduate Diploma in Music, Performance (Viola) where he studied with Keith Crellin. Whilst still a student he was principal viola with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, Youth Chamber Orchestra and South Australian Youth Orchestra. He has also played with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. His interest in early music performance led him to become principal player for Ensemble Esterhaza (Melbourne), New Holland Baroque (Adelaide), and he was a member of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra (Sydney).
He pursued his vocal studies under Robert Dawe and has been a soloist with many Adelaide Choirs including the Festival Chorus and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus, Graduate Singers, Adelaide Harmony Choir and the University Choral Societies. He has also been a member of CoOpera, and is a member of Syntony, a leading Adelaide vocal ensemble.
Tim currently works as Musical Director with The Graduate Singers, the Pembroke Choral Society (In Unitate), Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus and the Australian Youth Choir of which he is the National Director of Music. In this role he has performed in concerts with the Vienna Boys Choir (1994/99/02/03/05), Philadelphia Boys Choir (1995/98) and the English Chamber Singers (2000). He has been involved in several International tours performing throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Mediterranean; including performances in Disneyland, Independence Hall (Philadelphia), St Paul`s Cathedral and Shakespeares Globe Theatre (London), St Marks (Venice) and New Yorks Carnegie Hall. In 2005 he gave his debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Tim has been involved in performances across all styles of music including concerts with Meatloaf and Alice Cooper. In recent years he has also enjoyed being the bass player in a rock band.
CHRIS MARTIN
Ph.D Jazz performance B.Mus (Hons), Grad Dip Ed
Since beginning study of jazz in his teens, Chris has been performing regularly around Adelaide in a wide variety of ensembles. At Adelaide University he won the ‘clean sweep’ of jazz prizes – Most Outstanding Undergraduate Pianist (2001), Most Outstanding Undergraduate (2002), and Most Outstanding Post-Graduate (2003). Following graduation, he has been teaching Jazz Theory and Jazz Keyboard at the University for the past 6 years. Early in 2008, he submitted his PhD in jazz performance, the first degree of its kind in the Australasian region.
Chris has performed at the Wangaratta Jazz fe
stival with group ‘Triptych’ (Lyndon Gray – bass, Hugh Harvey – drums), and at the Glenelg jazz festival with a variety of ensembles including Melbourne saxophonist Jamie Oehlers and a concert led by Australian piano legend Mike Nock. Chris’ latest project is the ‘chris martin trio’, performing original material as well as tunes by a wide variety of jazz composers. In June 2007 the group recorded a live album of John Coltrane’s music – ‘Chris Martin Trio plays A Love Supreme’. In late 2007 ‘Triptych’ recorded an album of Chris’ original compositions for ABC’s ‘JazzTrack’ radio program.
BRONNIE ELSEGOOD
MEd., M Soc Sci., Dip Ed., B.Mus.
Bronnie is a highly qualified musician and teacher. She completed a Master of Education with distinction in 2004, and holds a Master of Social Science. She holds a number of other qualifications including a Diploma of Education and a Bachelor of Music.
Bronnie is an established teacher, and has been a major contributor to SSABSA as a moderator and development and in-service officer.
Bronnie has also been Director and conductor of a number of youth Choirs and Orchestras most notable Pembroke Girls Choir which has toured Europe in 1985 and 1994 and Mercedes Senior Vocal Ensemble which participated in the Celebrate 2000 concert at the Olympic Stadium, in 2000. Bronnie continues to be passionately involved in music as a performer, conductor and educator. Bronnie also finds time to pursue other interests such as painting and is a passionate advocate for the environment.
DANCE
LUCINDA COLEMAN
BA, PostGradDipEd, Grad.Dip.Dance Inst, MCI (Dance Teaching)
Lucinda Coleman is a dance educator with extensive experience as a performer, choreographer and teacher in a variety of theatrical, church and community contexts. She is passionate about the integration of faith and artistic practice so that moments of authentic worship bring healing, freedom and prophetic revelation: that God would be heard; that we would respond.
Lucinda began her dance training with the Inara Svalbe School of Ballet in Brisbane and danced with the Australian Youth Ballet Company before pursuing her training to contemporary genres of dance. She has trained in private studios in Australia and the USA, and studied dance at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at QUT (Queensland University of Technology).
Lucinda has danced in places as diverse as a Brisbane gaol to the streets of Bangkok, Thailand, on short term missions. She has performed with Harvest Rain Theatre Company in Brisbane, was a regular dancer with YAF, and has worked as a freelance choreographer and dancer with social justice communities in both Qld and WA.
An experienced teacher, Lucinda has worked in secondary and tertiary educational institutes as well as in private dance studios and talent schools throughout Australia. She coordinated, and lectured in, the Visual and Performing Arts Department of Hedland College, WA, and was director of the Evoke dance troupe; a company of local and indigenous dancers that regularly performed at community events in the Pilbara. Most recently, Lucinda presented a paper on ‘The nexus of faith and choreography in dance education’ at the 2006 ICDF Conference in Malaysia and attended the Stoneworks Summit, convened by Colin Harbinson, in Mississippi, USA in June 2007. In October 2007, she performed and taught at the CDFA Creative Arts Conference in Alice Springs. She is a regular contributor to the CDFA publication, Leaping and continues to be invited to facilitate workshops, and speak about faith and the performing arts in today’s contemporary culture.
CAROLYN OBST
B.Ed.(Sec), B.A. (Dance), ARAD
Carolyn’s early dance training was in classical ballet in Adelaide and after moving to Melbourne she went on to study at the Victorian College of the Arts. After graduating with a BA in Dance, Carolyn spent the following years performing with the Victorian State Opera, Human Veins Dance Theatre and the Adelaide Dance Company. In 1987 with a strong interest in dance education Carolyn joined Tasdance and spent two years performing, teaching and choreographing with Australia’s leading dance in education company. Returning to Adelaide Carolyn was instrumental in the establishment of Outlet Dance Education Company before being awarded a professional development grant to study choreography in New York and America. In recent years Carolyn has worked in a freelance capacity as a choreographer, teacher and lecturer, most notably with the Australian Dance Theatre, Adelaide Centre for the Arts, University of Adelaide, SSABSA, and the Education Department of SA. Carolyn has a passion for the arts and education.
CHERYL VIGOUROUX
Dip CICB, Cert IV Workplace Training, Cert Performance (Dance)
Cheryl trained as a professional dancer in ballet and contemporary dance techniques. Between 1989 – 1991 she was a member of the London based, Springs Dance Company. In 1992 she and her husband trained/worked with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Switzerland, Hungary and Romania. They then returned to England where Cheryl was involved with worship and creative ministries with many church organisations and children’s groups.
In 1996 Cheryl and her family returned to Australia. Cheryl obtained full registration as a teacher of the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and taught for local dance schools. In 2000/2001 she was the SA State Co-ordinator of the Christian Dance Fellowship of Australia. Since 1999 Cheryl has been involved with the Australian Classical Youth Ballet Company. Her initial role was as a dancer. In 2002 she took on the role of Ballet Mistress and in 2004 was appointed Assistant Director of the company.
Cheryl has been a lecturer at Tabor since the Dance BA was first introduced in 2005. She lecturers in dance technique and performance. Her love of dance and the art of teaching have led her to return to study. She is currently completing her final unit of a Post Graduate degree in Dance Teaching.
Cheryl has a passion for seeing excellence in the arts. Her heart is to mentor young dancers in the technical, artistic and spiritual aspects of the art of dance.
CHRISTINE UNDERDOWN
MCI.(Dance Teaching) Grad. Dip. ARAD. LISTD. Solo Seal.
Christine is fully immersed in the many facets of dance training. Her qualifications include a Master of Creative Industries and a Post Graduate Diploma from Queensland University of Technology, the Advanced Certificate and Solo Seal Award from the Royal Academy of Dance and a Licentuate award from the Imperial Society of the Teachers of Dance. She is also a registered dance teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and the South Australian Teacher's Board. Christine danced professionally as an independent artist, studied and taught in Europe and Asia, has worked in local professional theatre as well as community programs, choreographed and produced over a hundred productions. She is currently a principal of a private dance studio, works as a private provider and examiner for SSABSA and lectures in Dance History and Critical Studies at Adelaide Centre for the Arts. Christine has had the joy of teaching many students who have made the transition into the professional arena not only as dancers but also in many associated professions. She believes the key to success in dance is the development of body, mind and spirit.
JUDY SWAN
B.Ed Grad Dip Management (Arts) ARAD Assoc. ISTD
Judy was born in Perth where she trained predominantly in classical ballet. She completed her Bachelor of Education at the West Australian Institute of Technology, while she continued her ballet training as a scholarship student with the WA ballet Company. On moving to Adelaide she trained also in contemporary dance and danced on a part-time professional basis with the South Australian Opera Co. Judy has worked predominantly in secondary dance education, working as the SSABSA Chief Assessor for the two Year 12 dance subjects for a number of years. She has also been a key curriculum writer and runs workshops for teachers and teachers in training. Judy completed her Graduate Diploma in Management (Arts) at the University of SA, working with Leigh Warren and Dancers for a field project in arts marketing.
Judy began at Tabor Adelaide in 2006, working as a mentor in Dance education. Judy considers her greatest achievement to be her daughter Ellie.
JENNI GUEST
BA. Sc. (Phys)
Jenni graduated from university of South Australia in 1992 with a degree in physiotherapy. Her early years were spent in the public health arena where she gained her first post graduate qualification; in cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Jenni completed her initial accreditation in Pilates with Dance Medicine Australia in 1998, before moving on to Polestar Pilates International. She has since gained certification in rehabilitation, mat and allegro streams; has completed her diploma of Pilates Of Practice with Pilates International Training Centre and is an educator with Polestar Pilates International. She is a member of the Pilates Allaince Of Australasia and is co-chair of the national rehabilitation special interest group.
From her formative years in classical dance, Jenni has an ongoing special interest in dance. She began her position with Tabor Adelaide this year, presents for the RAD Regional Advisory Panel and maintains an active role with the turning point school of dance. She is a member of the association for dance medicine and sciences.
MICHAEL RIGGS
BA BEd– Artistic Director/Choreographer
Born in Adelaide Michael began dancing at the age of six, learning from several teachers including Susan Taylor. At age sixteen he studied at the Australian Ballet School and graduated performing the role of the Cavalier in the Nutcracker.
He has gone on to dance or teach for several companies around the world, including the English National Ballet. He is the current and founding artistic director of the Australian Classical Youth Ballet. The company has enjoyed many critical successes with ballets such as Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Nutcracker and given hundreds of dance students throughout Australia the experience of professional performance opportunities.
Michael has also gained Bachelor Degrees in Dance and Education. He is also a trained Pilates instructor and coaches privately. Michael’s other pursuits include composing gospel music and is currently finishing writing a gospel musical!
AIDAN MUNN
Aidan is enjoying a diverse and successful career, working with many fantastic people and outstanding artists. Graduating from the Australian Ballet School in 1989,Aidan went on to work for many companies and choreographers including Leigh Warren and Dancers, Buzz Hip-Hop Circus, Da Whyze Guize and Slack Taxi. He has performed and created work for people througout Australia, Asia And Europe. Currently Aidan teaches dance at Flinders University, Ac Arts, Tabor Adelaide Ausdance, Kurruru and many local high schools. Aidan also regularly has the pleasure of taking class for Australian Dance Theatre and Leigh Warren and Dancers. Aidan recently debued his first major work ‘Addlogo are you australias next choreographic tool’ as part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival 07.
KIRSTEN SEMMLER
Kirsten Semmler runs her own dance school “Pure Funk Dance” and is a professional dancer & choreographer. She has been dancing since the age of seven representing South Australia in Junior, Intermediate and Senior National Calisthenics Championships. Through her teenage years Kirsten dabbled in styles of ballet, contemporary, tap and jazz.
In 1998 Kirsten performed at the Military Tattoo in Earls Court London with the All Stars Dance Team and South Australian Police Band.
Kirsten then worked with BFunky Dance as a Hip Hop performer and teacher. This started her career as a choreographer and teacher in a number of dance schools. In 2002 Kirsten worked with Francesca Belperio & Jason Bird as a Back up dancer for the Snap Concert at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney on Channel V.
Changing direction a little Kirsten completed her Gym Instructor & Aerobics course at the Institute of Fitness. Currently Kirsten performs regularly with the Pure Funk Dance and works in various nightclubs around Adelaide as a Stage/Podium Dancer. She also represents Hyperdance. She also participated in the hip hop finals of the 2005 Australian Dance Idol Competition in Sydney.
After coming back from a workshops and classes tour in L.A & New York, Kirsten is devoted in helping dance education in primary, secondary schools & Universities.
