Dancers

Gemma Dawkins

Gemma graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (distinction) – Dance. During her time at QUT Gemma was lucky to work with choreographers including Clare Dyson, Alice Hinde, Justin Rutzou, Vanessa Mafe-Keane, and Keith Hawley. She performed featured roles in styles ranging from folk, to jazz and contemporary. Gemma has choreographed and performed works for youth dance company ql2, receiving a sponsorship in 2008 to create her work All Of The Above. Her work A Little Light Dinner Conversation was selected for the 2010 Short+Sweet dance competition, in which she has also performed. In 2009 Gemma toured and performed in China, danced in Claire Marshall’s Hey Scenester, and was seconded to Australian Dance Theatre. She also performed with independent collective ShiftF7. Gemma looks forward to developing as a dance practitioner and advocate, continuing her discovery of performance and choreography through her involvement with LINK Dance Company in 2010.

Emma Fishwick

Emma Fishwick raised in Sydney began her dancing at the age of five under the guidance of Patricia and Valma Saill. After completing her HSC, Emma was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) where she graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She was fortunate to work with and train under such well respected choreographers like Nanette Hassall, Vicki Van Hout, Anton, Sue Peacock and Lucy Guerin. During her studies at WAAPA, Emma went on secondment to TAS Dance and Lucy Guerin. Emma sees choreography as an endless realm which she has been developing her skills in, through experimentation of movement and its engagement with film, projection and sound. Her own choreographic work An Empty Room was selected to be performed in the 2009 PICA season Zilch. This work was then featured in Dance Compass Showcase 2009 and has been accepted into the 2010 Short and Sweet Dance season in Sydney. Emma was accepted into LINK Dance Company for 2010 to complete her Honours in Dance. She is enthusiastic to be apart of LINK and hopes to extend herself through performing and collaborating in the company and beyond.

Sacha Flannagan

Abby Johnson

Abby completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), graduating with Distinction. She worked with choreographers Sue-Ellen Chester, Diana Laska Moore, Keith Hawley, Justin Rutzou, Yolande Brown, Clare Dyson, Vanessa Mafé and Alice Hinde. Abby performed in ‘On Course’ 2008 and 2009 at the QL2 Centre for Youth Dance, Canberra and in 2009 attended the Guangdong Summer Dance Camp and performed in the Guangdong Modern Dance Festival, China. Abby performed in Hey Scenester, choreographed by Clare Marshall, at Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Brisbane and completed a secondment with Expressions Dance Company, Brisbane.

Jayde Macdonough

Born in Melbourne, Jayde MacDonough began her dance training studying the British Ballet Organization (BBO) syllabus. She became a BBO scholar (1999) and was awarded the BBO Dame Ninette de Volois scholarship (2001). In 2001 she was accepted into The Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School (VCASS). While studying at VCASS she had the privilege of working with many highly accomplished teachers and choreographers. She performed in the 25th Gala Performance (2003), Racing Victoria’s Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Awards (2005) and the Warnnambool Kid’s Festival (2004, 2005, 2006). Jayde choreographed two works in collaboration with other students for VCASS performances in 2004 and 2005. In 2006 she performed in the featured classical works of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games opening and closing ceremonies. Jayde graduated from VCASS in 2006 gaining her Victorian Certificate of Education. In 2007 she undertook a Bachelor of Dance degree at the Victorian College of the Arts. During her time there she performed in the 30th Anniversary Celebration performance season and in works by Phillip Adams, Rebecca Hilton, Stephanie Lake, Lina Limosani and Dianne Reid. Upon graduating in 2009 Jayde became a member of LINK Dance Company Honours program at WAAPA.

Caitlin Mackenzie

Caitlin MacKenzie has trained in a variety of genres and styles of dance from a young age. Before beginning her tertiary training, she was a company member of QL2 (2005 -2006 ACT). Additionally, she was emcee at the Ausdance ACT Dance Festival (2006). In 2009 Caitlin graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, with distinction. During her time at QUT she worked with Keith Hawley, Justin Rutzou, Clare Dyson, Vanessa Mafe and Alice Hinde. She worked as a volunteer during the 2008 World Dance Alliance and toured to China to participate in the 2nd Guangdong Summer Dance Camp, performing in the Goangdong Modern Dance Festival (2009).Outside University Caitlin has made and performed in several works for QL2’s ‘Hot-to-Trot’ and ‘On Course’ programs. She successfully auditioned for a role in a Kate Miller-Heidke video clip (2007). In 2008, Caitlin initiated and co-organised the roaming artists for the ‘Defusion Festival’, a QUT and University of Queensland collaboration. Most recently, she performed in an instillation work ‘Hey Scenester’ by independent choreographer, Claire Marshall.  In 2010 Caitlin will commence her postgraduate studies with Link Dance Company in Perth, WA.

Talitha Maslin

Talitha was born in Manjimup, a small town in the South of Western Australia. She trained in the Royal Academy of Dance Syllibus before being accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Advanced Diploma program. While at WAAPA she performed in classical works La Sylphide, Giselle and La Vivandere. She undertook secondment with Leigh Warren and Dancers and has choreographed for her former ballet school. In her final year she performed contemporary works by Timothy Harbour, Sue Peacock, Natalie Weir and Lucy Guerin. Upon Graduating Talitha received the Finley Award for the most improved.

Rachel Perica

Rachel Perica was born in Perth Western Australia. After completing a Certificate II in dance at WAPPA she was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts (University of Melbourne) where she undertook a three year Bachelor of Dance degree. During this time Rachel gained extensive training in both ballet and contemporary and worked with renowned choreographers including; Sue Healey, Stephanie Lake, Philip Adams, Carlee Mellow, Rebecca Hilton, Don Aska and Dianne Reid. In 2009 she performed in Dance House’s ‘Open Season’ program in Carlee Mellow’s ‘Without Pretense’, and in 2007, performed in ‘Leaving the Left’ as part of John Cage’s Musicircs in the Melbourne International Arts Festival. Rachel is excited to be apart of the 2010 Link dance company, furthering her knowledge, performance experience and self as an artist.

Maddison Rogers

Maddison Rogers was born in Perth, Western Australia. She began dancing at the age of six at Shirley Farrell Academy of Dance and later moved to Sefton Dance Academy. Maddison was accepted into Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in 2007 and just completed a three year Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (classical ballet). Maddison has worked with renowned choreographers and dancers Kim McCarthy, Margaret Illmann, Lucette Aldous, Sherilyn Kennedy, Andries Weideman, Justin Rutzou, and Tim Harbour. She also performed with the West Australian Ballet Company in Giselle in 2009. Her performance highlights include Kim McCarthy’s The Nutcracker and Natalie Weir’s Proof sheet.  She was a performer with the Oz Concert in 2005 and 2006 and won the Finley Award for the most progress in her graduating year. Maddison is grateful for the opportunity to work and study within Link Dance Company to further strengthen her contemporary dance studies.

Isabella Stone

Isabella Stone began dancing aged 12 at Balcatta Senior High School. Under the teaching of Danielle Rock at danceLAB she was able to continue developing her contemporary technique and choreography skills. She was a member of Steps Youth Dance Company where she worked with choreographers Danielle Micich, Danielle Rock, Alice-Lee Holland, Shona Erskine and Richard Cilli, performing in seasons MANIA (2005), KISSXX (2006) and dash (2007). In 2007 she began her Bachelor of Arts degree at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts completing the degree in 2009. During her time at WAAPA she worked with choreographers Nanette Hassall, Alice-Lee Holland, Vicki Van-Hout, Anton, Sue Peacock and Lucy Guerin. In 2009 Isabella’s choreographic work, “…problems with drinking milk…”, was selected to be performed in the student works season Zilch. This work was also selected to be performed in Sydney at Dance Compass, a showcase and workshop week for dance graduates from around Australia.

Hannah Timbrell

Hannah Timbrell grew up in Adelaide where she trained with Christine Underdown at Dancecraft Studios.  In 2009, she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at the Queensland University of Technology.  During her third year at QUT, Hannah attended the three week Guandong Modern Dance Festival in China. Hannah has worked with choreographers and dancers including Christine Underdown, Csaba Buday, Avril Huddy, Alice Hinde, Vanessa Mafé, Yolande Brown, Justin Rutzou and Keith Hawley.  She is excited to be part of the LINK 2010 company and hopes to pursue a professional career in contemporary dance.

Ella – Rose Trew

Ella-Rose began dancing in Canberra at the National Capital Ballet School training mainly in classical ballet and contemporary. She was a member of the Quantum Leap Youth Dance Company. As part of the company Ella-Rose worked with director Ruth Osbourne and choreographers Vivienne Rogis and Jodie Farrugia in the 2005 playhouse season Reckless Valour. In 2008 Ella-Rose took part in the On Course season at the Quantum Leap Centre for Youth Dance as both a dancer and choreographer. Her first major choreographic work The Truth in Lying was presented in 2009 at PICA as part of the Zilch season. In 2009 Ella-Rose graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts with the Hawaiian Award, for the most outstanding graduating student. During her time at WAAPA Ella-Rose worked with choreographers Alice Lee Holland, Nanette Hassall, Vicki Van Hout, Anton, Sue Peacock and Lucy Guerin. In 2010 Ella-Rose joins the Link Dance Company and looks forward to expanding her skills in both performance and choreography.