New Beginnings (09/01/2012)

With the end of one year and the beginning of another so begins new adventures. I will be heading back to New Zealand to co-create the first full-length work on the newly launched New Zealand Dance Company. A truly exciting time for dance in New Zealand and an honour to be a part of this exciting venture. With great success of our season Side to One Lisa Griffiths (now Synnott - Congratulations) and I jump into new promotions and avenues to get the show to a theatre near you! I also hope to bring you news of new works in the pipe line for the end of 2012 beginning of 2013 both in Australia and New Zealand. A slower year of dance performance, but a year of creation is ahead and I look forward to every moment in the studio. Image care of John McDermott - creative development with Sarah Foster-Sproull and the New Zealoand Dance Company

Side to One (17/06/2011)

With the final Development of Side to One over. Lisa, Adam and I are very excited to be finally getting the work on Stage. We open at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Space Theatre on July 27th, followed by a season at Parramatta Riverside Theatre's, Lennox Theatre on August 10th. Check out our Facebook Page - Side to One You can book for tickets at: Adelaide www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au Sydney www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Douglas Wright Dance (02/03/2011)

Below is some info on the new work by Douglas Wright premiering in the Auckland Arts Festival soon. We have been working on the project for the last 5 weeks and are all very excited to be able to show you soon. If you are in the area it would be great to see you there. rapt is a major new work from Douglas Wright - one of New Zealand's most significant and visionary artists. A special Auckland Arts Festival commission, Wright's 11th full-length work, will be performed on The Civic stage by a company that features some of New Zealand's finest international dancers. Performance Dates at the Auckland Arts Festival, Civic Theatre Wednesday 16th March, 2011 7.30pm Thursday 17th March, 2011 7.30pm Friday 18th March, 2011 7.30pm Saturday 19th March, 2011 2pm & 7.30pm

New Zealand School of Dance - Graduation Performance (14/11/2010)

We are almost ready to go. With the works being staged over the next couple of days, we are setting up for the New Zealand School of Dance Graduation Performance. The show consists of two programs Kylián and Kiwi Each program has it's own night starting with the Kylián on Wednesday the 17th November and Kiwi opening on Friday 18th November. The Kylián program features 4 works and excerpts by Jirí Kylián - Songs of a Wayfarer, Evening Songs, Un Ballo, Stoolgame My new work Go Home Stay Home premiers in the Kiwi program along side four other New Zealand Choreographers. Sarah Foster-Sproull, Tragic Best - Raewyn Hill, Dance for Sixteen - Malia Johnston, Atoms & Eve - Michael Parmenter, Rhapsody The dates for the shows are; Wed 17 Nov, 7.30pm – Kylian Thurs 18 Nov, 7.30pm– Kiwi Fri 19 Nov, 7.30pm– Kylian Sat 20 Nov, 7.30pm– Kiwi Sun 21 Nov, 2pm – Kylian Tues 23 Nov, 7.30pm– Kylian Wed 24 Nov, 7.30pm– Kiwi Thurs 25 Nov, 7.30pm– Kylian Fri 26 Nov, 7.30pm– Kiwi Sat 27 Nov, 7.30pm– Kylian Sun 28 Nov, 2pm – Kiwi Tues 30 Nov, 7.30pm– Kylian Wed 1 Dec, 7.30pm– Kiwi Thurs 2 Dec, 7.30pm– Kylian Fri 3 Dec, 7.30pm– Kiwi Sat 4 Dec, 7.30pm– Kylian

New Zealand School of Dance (26/07/2010)

After what seems like a very short stay back in Sydney I am now back in my home country, teaching full time at the New Zealand School of Dance. It is so great to be back here and quite a big change for me. I am now on as a full time staff member for the next 10 weeks and while I am here I will be choreographing a work for the 3rd and 2nd year graduation and tour later on this year. Day one today and I know I will be crashing early to be able to keep up with these fit, young and very talented students.

Grants approved (17/07/2010)

I am very happy and proud to announce that after much hard work and persistence Lisa Griffiths, Adam Synnott and I have been approved and awarded our funding grants by ArtsSA and the Australia Council for the Arts. These grants will go towards the presentation of our first collaborative full length work a side to one (working title). With performances in 2011 at Parramatta Riverside Theatres - Lennox, NSW and the Adelaide Festival Centre's inSPACE program - Space Theatre, SA.

End of process 'Yellow is not Yellow' (25/06/2010)

I come to the end of my time with Binh Duy Ta and his creative development of Yellow is not Yellow. It has been a great 3 weeks and I leave Binh, to spend a week working by himself, before we have a small showing of the process at the end of next week. Now I move on to complete the work I have been creating with Lisa Griffiiths. We have been developing a duet show which we hope to present next year. Will keep you all posted on the development of this new work and when and where we will be presenting.

Binh Duy Ta - Citymoon Theatre (13/06/2010)

After a great month of workshopping ideas for a new work with Douglas Wright I am back in Sydney on to the next project over here. I began today with Binh Duy Ta (pictured) A performer and founding member of Citymoon Theatre. He has been in the process of creating a solo show called Yellow is not Yellow and has invited me to choreograph and oversee the direction of the work. I am really excited to be working with Binh and look forward to what we create together over the next three weeks. A new process for me to explore my choreographic skills which will be challenging and exciting.

New images (04/05/2010)

Check out the new images in the gallery under productions Twelfth Floor and TENT

Douglas Wright (01/05/2010)

I arrived into New Zealand yesterday and in a week will begin the development of a new creation by Douglas Wright. It is a four week development with the intention to perform as part of the Auckland festival Feb/March 2011. I am very excited to have the privilege to work with such an incredible creator and mentor. Plus there is an exciting cast coming together, including the stunning Sarah-Jayne Howard. Check out the gallery there are new photos coming soon.

Update (10/04/2010)

A while since I last posted news so thought perhaps a quick update as to what has been happening. After premiering my first new work on Sydney Dance Company I returned to Perth to complete the development of my second work Caused to Happen on LINK Dance Company. After a successful season in Perth I came back to Sydney to rehearse Tanja Liedtke's Twelfth Floor for a tour to Germany. I then took over the company tour management of Construct to Israel and Canada. Early this year I spent a month in Austria working with Gavin Webber as part of the Australia in Residence program. We performed his work Remember Me and also created and performed a new work Legless. I returned to Australia in February to work with Theatre Director Niel Armfield and choreographer Kate Champion on a new Australian Opera called Bliss. Premiering at the Sydney Opera House and featured on the ABC2 television network in their live to air theatre productions. I am currently working with Theatre Director Sam Strong at Company B, Belvior Street Theatre, as movement consultant on their new production of The Power of Yes. The end of this month takes me back to Auckland, New Zealand to work on a new development with Douglas Wright. I will also be creating a new work on the graduating students at the New Zealand School of Dance later this year.

Pictures of a One-Night Stand (05/09/2009)

With great excitement I am proud to premier my first work on Sydney Dance Company, Pictures of a One-Night Stand at the Sydney Opera House. Opening on Wednesday night with the season finishing on Saturday the 12th. If you don't have your tickets get in quick as I believe it has almost sold out! The evening includes three other works by the dancers of Sydney Dance Company and the Australian Dance Theatre Be great to see you all there.

LINK (05/08/2009)

I have arrived in Perth and have begun the process of creating a new work with LINK Dance Company. It's my first time this side of Australia and in the WAAPA studios, what an amazing space. The work is a shared evening with Michael Whaites the Artistic Director of LINK. The show is called Ripple Effect and will premier on the 25th of September in the Dolphin Theatre University of Western Australia, Perth.

Sydney Dance Company (13/07/2009)

It has been a fantastic last couple of months. I have been invited to create a work on Sydney Dance Company. I am in the final stages of piecing the work together and it is looking great. It has been such a luxury to be able to come in and make a work in an awesome environment with beautiful dancers. The work will premier in September at the Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House. After I finish up here I head off to Perth to make a new work with LINK. So I am trying my hand at choreography and really enjoying the challenge. The work on LINK will also Premier at the end of September.

Twelfth Floor Tour to the UK (21/03/2009)

Well it has been some time since I have updated my website... I am currently touring the UK with Tanja Liedtke's 'Twelfth Floor'. It has been a great success over here and with only two more venues the cast and crew are holding up well. It's almost been a two month tour and the time seems to have flown by. I have been lucky enough to perform over half the season on this tour as I have been sharing the role with Paul White. We go into rehearsals for Tanja's 'Construct' next week which is an incredibly challenging work. But I think a nice change to the pace of the tour. Many adventures had on this tour and more memories to laugh back on when we get home.