Dancers

Ashlee Barton

Born in Sydney, Ashlee started her dance training at Tammy Worth Academy of Performing Arts. In 2007 she was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) to complete her Bachelor of Arts (Dance). During this time she performed works choreographed by Bianca Martin, Nanette Hassall, Vicki Van Hout, Anton, Sue Peacock and Lucy Guerin. In her final year at WAAPA she choreographed a work for the student works season ‘Zilch’, performed at PICA in Perth. For the beginning of 2010 Ashlee worked with You Move Dance Company, directed by Kay Armstrong. This led to her performing in the 2010 season of Short, Sweet and Dance (Sydney). She also participated in the Soft Landing 2 program run by QL2 (in collaboration with Brian Lucas) in Canberra. After returning to Perth Ashlee  performed in a work choreographed by Emma Fishwick in LINK’s  “Dancers Who Choreograph” season and  collaborated with 2 contemporary performers and a musician to create a work based on Equality for an Amnesty International event called “Lapse – A 24 Hour Theatre Experiment”. This event was performed at BamBoo in Perth.

Rebecca Frasca

Born in Adelaide, Rebecca moved to Canberra when she was six. Training at the National Capital Ballet School and the former Quantum Leap Youth Dance. Rebecca  was able to work with choreographers and artists such as; Alice Holland, Anton, Gala Moody, Fiona Malone, Natalie Cursio, Viki Van Hout, Sue Healey, Paul Zivkovich and Shona Erskine. Completing her Advanced Diploma of Dance  at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. She has danced in works choreographed by, Tim Harbour, Sue Peacock and most recently with Justin Rutzou and again with Anton. In July 2010 Rebecca  had the opportunity to perform with The West Australian Ballet in their  production of Sleeping Beauty, re-staged by Marcia Haydee. Most recently she  undertook a performance secondment with Fiona Malone on her work ‘Picture Perfect’ in February this year.

Hayley Kollervris

Hayley Kollevris is 27 years old and acquired her interest in dance from the age of 3. For 14 years she trained in Calisthenics at A grade clubs and was chosen to compete in State and National teams receiving numerous awards. Hayley also undertook training in jazz, tap and modern at Sheila Lang Dance Academy and Dancecraft studios. Under the directorship of Jason Smart, Hayley completed her SACE 11 and 12 Dance at Scotch College working with Terry Simpson and Michelle Buday. Throughout Hayley’s studies at the Adelaide College of the Arts, she has worked with choreographers Alison Currie, Sol Ulbrich, Xiao Xiong Zhang, Peter Sheedy, Daniel Jaber and Zaimon Vilmanis. As well as performing repertoire works by Xiao Xiong Zhang and Leigh Warren. In 2011, Hayley performed with Australian Dance Theatre  at McLaren Vale for one of the company’s biggest sponsors. From 2008, Hayley has also been a member of ‘FabCab,’ a local Adelaide cabaret troupe who perform at private functions and public venues. In 2012, she has been asked to dance with independent artist Jessie Lauren Mikinlay in ‘Foxing Round a Story.’

Bernadette Lewis

Bernadette completed her degree in Dance at WAAPA in 2005. During this time she performed new and remounted works by renowned choreographers including Paea Leach, Tracie Mitchell and Phillip Adams. As well as performing in the Adelaide Fringe Festival she has worked as an independent dancer in Perth performing new short works by Patrice Smith and Bianca Martin. Her teaching experience has spanned many different styles including elite level gymnastics, ballet, contemporary, choreography and social dance styles such as latin and ballroom and lindy hop.

Jeanine Lui

Born in Singapore, Jeanine began training in Ballet and Chinese Dance at age 8. She was awarded a scholarship by Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing to attend the Perth Theatrical Festival and clinched the 3rd prize in the Asia-Pacific Dance Competition in National Solo Category in 2004.  Jeanine graduated with an Advanced Diploma of Dance in 2010 from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she received training in both Ballet and Contemporary Dance. She has since had to opportunity to work with many well-respected choreographers including Sue Peacock, Justin Rutzou, Anton, Kim McCarthy, Andries Weidemann & Kim Jae-Duk. She is excited to be a member of LINK Dance Company in 2011.

Shaughn Pegararo

Shaughn was born in Townsville Nth Queensland and is the youngest of 5 children. He went to the local dance school from 4 yr old and fell in love with dance. At the age of 13 he was accepted into Extensions Youth Dance Company based in Townsville where he performed for 5 years. He toured with the company to the Australian Youth Dance Festival in Armidale NSW and to Suwon for the Hwaseong cultural festival in Korea. In 2007 Shaughn completed a Certificate iii in Hairdressing before being accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance where he received a Diploma in Dance Performance in 2010, through out his time at school he had the thrilling chance to work with the choreographers  Michael Parmenter, Sarah Foster, Craig Bary, Taiaroa Royal, Taane Mete, Frances Rings and Claire O’Neil. Shaughn is excited to be in LINK and looks forward to the challenges the year will bring.

Amanda Phillips

Amanda Phillips grew up in Canberra and began dancing in various genres and styles from a young age.  Amanda was a member of the Quantum Leap Youth Dance Company (2006-2007) working with Artistic Director Ruth Osborne, and choreographers Vivienne Rogis, Alice Lee Holland, and Paul Codeiro.  Amanda was invited to join the ‘Come Out’ Tour at the Adelaide Youth Festival 2007 performing in Quantum Leap’s ‘Reckless Valour’.  She has also choreographed and performed in works for the QL2 Centre for Youth Dance ‘On Course’ season.  In 2008 Amanda commenced the Bachelor of Dance Degree at the Victorian College of the Arts, graduating in 2010. Throughout her three years at VCA Amanda worked with choreographers Brett Daffy, Sandra Parker, Rebecca Hilton, Anna Smith, Wendy Houstoun, and Lina Limosani.  In 2009 Amanda travelled to New York, Rhode Island, and London to further her dance studies.  During her graduating year at VCA, she attended a secondment with The Sydney Dance Company and was a recipient of the VCA/DanceNorth Scholarship for their Master Classes.  Amanda is excited to be a member of the LINK Dance Company Honours Program 2011, expanding her knowledge and experience as a performing artist, and to pursue a professional career in Contemporary Dance.

Amber Riches

Amber completed her Bachelor of Creative Arts at Deakin University, Melbourne in 2010, majoring in Dance with a minor in Creative Entrepreneurship. During her degree, she trained under industry teachers Olivia Millard, Shaun McLeod and Sally Gardener, amongst others. Amber was also fortunate to collaborate with Phoebe Robinson in an original piece Walking Down a Sideways Street in 2009. Amber’s interest in improvisation, composition and creating collaboratively were further enhanced during this time, and she was given the opportunity to work with dance in Deakin’s Motion Capture studio. In her final year, she also gained experience from an internship with Adam Wheeler and 2ndToe Dance Collective during their creative season. Amber is looking forward to all that Link Dance Company may offer and is eager to continue developing her technical and compositional skills.

Tarryn Runkel

Tarryn Runkel, born and raised in political tumultuous South Africa.  After completing an Advanced Diploma in Drama and Dance in South Africa I auditioned for WAAPA and was fortunate to be offered a place in the BA dance course.  In 2007 I packed up my life and moved to Australia. During those exciting years I experienced and worked with choreographers such as Nanette Hassall, Sue Peacock, Vicki Van Hout, Lucy Geurin and Anton. I have a strong interest in physical theatre and last year I wrote a thesis on the idea of dance being used as a tool for social change.  In 2010 as part of my research I returned to South Africa to work with Jazzart Dance Theatre, the countries flagship dance company. During this time I taught dance in extremely disadvantaged communities which, sparked an idea of an arts exchange programme between Cape Town and Perth which is in early stages of development. I am one of the coordinators for ARTillery Youth Arts Festival, an initiative of Amnesty International to educate young people about human rights through the arts. I am currently a member of LINK Dance Company and will be working with Alex Harrison, Ross McCormack, Francis Ring, Paul Selwyn Norton  and Michael Whaites this year.