Beyond the Curtain: Recent Episodes
Samantha Laurence
Beyond the Curtain breaks down barriers and explores the human stories of successful performing arts individuals. It delves deep into their life journeys, shares tips for success and fosters human connection.
Oh my gosh here we are at the end of Season 3!! What an amazing ride it has been. Once again I have been blown away by all of the incredible guests sharing their stories on the show. I get goosebumps listening back to everyone in this episode! Thank you for joining me on this BTC experience and listening in! Big love, Sam x + BTC Website + Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Oh my gosh!! We are at the FINAL episode of Season 3 of BTC!
To finish off with a bang, today I am sitting down with the total goodness that is Katie Sanchez!
Katie is one of the most in demand models and commercial dancers in the industry. A multi-talented and accomplished performer and model, Katie has worked across Stage, TV, Film, Fashion and advertising over the past 13 years - both in front of the camera and behind the scenes.
You have seen her face in major TV commercials and advertising campaigns for iconic brands including Samsung, Qantas, Westfield, Toyota, MasterCard, The Iconic, Priceline, Bonds, Sportsgirl, Westpac, Marley Spoon, Corona, Brown Brothers. She has graced the pages of magazines like Cosmo, Shop Til You Drop, Marie Clare, Elle and appeared in print campaigns for Tree Of Life, Tony and Guy, and Harvey Norman.
As a dancer, Katie has done it all – she has travelled around the world, performing alongside artists including Pink, Jason Derulo, Kylie Minogue, Flo Rida, Ricky Martin, Zara Larsson, Black Eyed Peas, Ricki-Lee, Jessica Mauboy and Havana Brown.
Not only is Katie a seasoned pro in front of the camera and on the stage – she has also worked behind the scenes on major fashion shows, as an assistant choreographer and calling the MYER Spring/Summer Fashion show led by Jennifer Hawkins and as the assistant choreographer for Dami Im’s 2016 Eurovision performance.
As a choreographer and movement coach – her work has been featured on The Voice Kids, GQ Awards, television commercials and music videos and large scale corporate events.
Having worked with Marko Panzic for over 12 years – Katie has become his trusted right-hand woman, working alongside him on projects including The Dream Dance Company, Australian Dance Festival, music videos and live tv performances for local and international artists.
In every area of her work, Katie is dedicated and hard working – and in an industry where careers can be fleeting, she has worked hard to carve out a career spanning over 10 years.
In today’s chat, you will get to know the awesome person that Katie is as she shares a little insight into her upbringing and what her life is like now. She is so down to earth and so humble. I’m sure you will fall in love with her as much as I did. Enjoy!
+ Follow Katie + Katie's website + Follow BTC on insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders and we extend our love and friendship.
Today we welcome a very special international guest, Coco Maria. She is known as one of the most unique and uncompromising DJs in the world. Coco Maria is a selector, curator and a radio host with impeccable taste. Hailing originally from Mexico and now based in Europe, she specialises in Brazillian, South-Central-American and Caribbean wax. Her music is made up of irresistible slices of jazz, samba, cumbia and all sorts of rarities from sunnier, far-off places, all mixed with her irrepressible energy and original style. Coco Maria hosts her flagship morning show and "Club Coco" on Worldwide FM and she can also be found showcasing her original sounds at festivals globally. Coco Maria is the stage name for Ana Lucia. In today's episode we get to know the person, Ana Lucia. She shares about her childhood in Mexico, the influence of music throughout her life, how she went from a teacher to a DJ, the ups and downs of her performance career, as well as her experience with hypnotherapy and its powerful impact on life. There is a lot to take from this very special person. Enjoy! + Follow Coco Maria + Coco Maria + Follow BTC on insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders and we extend our love and friendship.
Today we welcome the fabulous, Jarrod Draper! A proud Wiradjuri man, Jarrod is the first Indigenous graduate from the prestigious Music Theatre course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Born and raised in Orange, country NSW, Jarrod earned a full scholarship to the Regional Conservatorium to study Music Theatre and Classical Voice, which saw him perform both nationally and internationally for several years.
During his time at WAAPA, Jarrod played roles such as ‘Sam’ in Lord of the Flies, ‘Black Fox’ in Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, ‘Louise’s Soldier (pas de deux dancer)’ in Carousel and most notably, ‘George’ in Sunday In The Park With George, for which he was voted Male Performer of the Year by Perth Theatre Reviews.
Jarrod recently performed in Big Sky Entertainment’s production of Mimma! at the Regal Theatre and in The Hayes Theatre Company’s sold out production of Catch Me If You Can. He is currently performing in the spectacular Moulin Rouge the Musical.
Get yourself comfy, you’re in for a great episode. Here’s Jarrod.
Thank you to our partners Creative Plus Business and Reverlust Design.
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On today's episode we welcome the wonderful, Rob McLean! Rob is a teacher, dancer & choreographer based in Sydney, Australia, with a passion for community, conversation & connection through movement.
He is the co-director of One Dance Collective; a community support network and company that hosts weekly training and creative development sessions, artist development weeks, as well as training and performance opportunities Australia wide.
He is also the creative behind Unite Dance Intensive; an Australia workshop intensive, hosting Australian and International teachers with a focus on community building and support.
As a performer, Rob has danced for many Australian and International artists including Justin Bieber, Rita Ora, Jason Derulo, Kelly Rowland, Vera Blue & many more. Rob is a very well-respected teacher and has worked extensively across Australia and Internationally, teaching in Japan, Canada, China, the USA & New Zealand.
Rob’s passion for sharing the healing qualities experienced within dance and community is a driving force behind his encouragement for fellow artists and students to find their voice, meaning and connectivity through movement, creativity, conversation and community.
In this episode Rob bravely shares a really vulnerable discussion with me as we look at the beauty that can come out of struggle.
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Today on BTC we have our first episode with TWO guests as we welcome the beautiful married couple, Steph and Tim Maddren.
Steph and Tim have both had very successful individual careers in the performing arts and together they formed Got Ya Back Productions on the NSW Mid North Coast in 2017. Since then, they have created and produced three original touring theatre productions, a feature length film, a drive in cinema, music/corporate videos and 14 separate theatrical productions for aspiring young performers across Taree & Port Macquarie.
Between the two of them, this power couple have covered many disciplines in the performing arts industry including MT, contemporary and commercial dance, choreography, children's entertainment and modelling.
Steph holds a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and enjoyed a busy career in Sydney and Melbourne as a commercial dancer, choreographer, model and teacher. Her work as a dancer took her to stages all around Australia from The Sydney Opera House to the Quarry Amphitheatre in Perth. She has danced in Film and TV including Baz Lurhmans's Great Gatsby and you might remember her from season 1 of So You Think You Can Dance. She is absolutely one of the most beautiful contemporary dancers I have ever seen.
Tim is also a WAAPA grad and as a performer, Tim's credits include major roles in numerous Australian music theatre touring productions such as The Rocky Horror Show, The Addams Family Musical, Topol's Fiddler on the Roof & Altar Boyz.
Tim is a former member of the children’s group Hi-5 with whom he filmed 135 episodes, released 3 albums with Sony Music Australia and toured internationally. Whilst in Hi-5 he was nominated, along with the rest of the group, for two TV Week Logie Awards, two ARIA Awards and an Asian Television Award.
In today’s episode we hear about each of their careers and the journey that has led them to starting their successful production company together. They share how they manage balancing their family of two young boys whilst running Got Ya Back Productions. There is lots to learn from this one! Enjoy!
Thank you to our partners Mama Movement and Reverlust Design. + Follow Got Ya Back Productions + Follow Steph + Follow Tim + Got Ya Back Productions + Follow BTC on insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders and we extend our love and friendship.
We have hit the half way mark of Season 3 and today I welcome the brilliant, Luca Dinardo!
Luca is a musical theatre performer, dance captain and choreographer whose professional credits include; ensemble and dance captain in the Australian Premiere of Bring It On – The Musical, children ensemble in Billy Elliot the Musical, ensemble and dance captain in Stage Art's NINE The Musical , choreographer for RENT at the Sydney Opera House, Assistant director and assistant choreographer for Kiss of the Spider Woman by the Melbourne Theatre Company, she played the role of Anybodys and was Dance Captain in West Side Story for Hando Opera on the Sydney Harbour and she is currently working as a Swing in Hamilton the Musical.
Luca’s career has also seen her assist some of Australia’s finest choreographers, including Andrew Hallsworth, Kelley Abbey, Michael Ralph and Marko Panzic and international choreographers Travis Wall, Stacey Tookey & Al Blackstone.
In this chat Luca shares a lot about her beautiful childhood and winding career journey, what her experience working on Hamilton has been like and she openly shares about her personal experience with overcoming mental health challenges. She is an absolute bundle of joy and her honesty is golden. Get yourself comfy, here’s Luca.
Thank you to our partners Chris Cheers Psychology, Ally Kallis Audio & Podcast Production and Reverlust Design. + Follow Luca + Hamilton the Musical + Follow BTC on insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders and we extend our love and friendship.
Today we welcome the beautiful, Eliza Hull. Eliza is a contemporary musician based in regional Victoria. Her music has been described as ‘stirring, captivating and heartfelt.’ Think a bit like Florence and the Machine, she totally gives me those vibes!
Eliza’s music has been used in ABC KIDS TV episode ‘And Then Something Changed,’ ABC ‘The Heights’ and American TV shows ‘Awkward, ‘Teen Wolf’ and ‘Saving Hope,’ and has been played on radio nationally and internationally including on ABC, RN, BBC and triple j. She has toured nationally and internationally, performing at The Natural History Museum in London and Central Park in New York and supporting Australian artists such as Mia Dyson, Katie Noonan and The Cat Empire. She has released three EP’s and debut album ‘The Bones of Us.’
Eliza is a proud disabled woman, and a disability advocate within the contemporary music space; she has performed at Ability Fest, and spoken at the music conference CHANGES. Recently she curated ‘Accessible All Areas’ as part of Isolaid. She is currently working on a new EP due out late 2021.
I loved this heartwarming chat with Eliza about her career in music as well as her experience of hiding her disability for most of her life and how wonderful it is for her now to live so authentically and work towards making this world a better place for those living with a disability.
I hope you enjoy listening to this special episode.
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Today we welcome the gorgeous, Jillian Green.
Jillian made her professional musical theatre debut as an original Australian cast member in the Queen musical, We Will Rock You, touring Australia & Japan (LWAA).
She was an original cast member and Assistant Dance Captain in Baz Luhrmann’s global premier of Strictly Ballroom - The Musical (Global Creatures) and completed both the Australian and Japan tours of Singin in the Rain (Dainty) where again she took on the role of Assistant Dance Captain.
Other theatre credits include Chess – The Musical (TPC), Wicked (USJ), Now & Then (Michael Ralph), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (James Anthony Production), Rigoletto (Opera Australia) and Lorelei (Victorian Opera).
Most recently Jillian appeared as an ensemble member in the Australian tour of Chess – The Musical (Storeyboard Entertainment) and is currently a swing in the cast of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Crossroads Live).
Jillian is also a children’s chaperone, having worked on many shows, including Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, Love Never Dies, Moonshadow, Matilda, The Bodyguard, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as well as productions with The Australian Ballet and Opera Australia.
In this episode we discuss Jillian’s musical theatre career as a swing and chaperone, as well as her experiencing living and performing with diabetes for the past ten years of her life. Lots of great career and life lessons in this one! Enjoy!
+ Follow Jillian + Follow BTC on insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders and we extend our love and friendship.
This week I welcome a wonderful guest from the UK, Reece Darlington-Delaire.
Reece’s professional career started whilst attending Italia Conti Academy performing as young Simba in The Lion King (West End). He later trained at the Urdang Academy graduating with a diploma in musical theatre.
After leaving college, he appeared in Bodyguard das musical in Germany and also performed in the stage as well as the recorded film version of Aladdin (West End).
His TV credits include ITV’S All Star Musicals and Strictly Come Dancing Live Launch. Other credits include Grayboy Entertainment and Qdos pantomimes as dance captain and also workshopping the choreography for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again the Movie.
In the commercial industry Reece has performed Nike fashion shows, Goldwell hair performances and featured in Music Videos for Limahl and Misunderstood.
In 2019, Reece launched his own film production company, Silver Cactus Productions. His experience as a performer provides a perspective behind the camera that enhances the artistry of his talent from his understanding of how the movement should look and also feel as a dancer.
Reece is currently performing in The Lion King (West End) as part of the dance ensemble.
Reece is very insightful and shares beautifully in this episode about his childhood, career pathway, how our passions can change, trusting your instincts to fuel your creativity and the importance of separating your identity from a creative job. I could listen to his dulcet tones all day so I’m sure you will enjoy them too!
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Welcome to Season 3 of Beyond the Curtain!
We are kicking off with a BANG as I chat with the divine, Alinta Chidzey.
Alinta is a multi-award winning, seasoned Musical Theatre performer and one of Australia’s most captivating leading ladies. She has starred in many musicals including Chicago, West Side Story, Mary Poppins, Curtains, Jesus Christ Superstar, Singin' In the Rain and Show Boat, just to name a few!
Alinta is also an acclaimed jazz vocalist, songwriter and recording artist, and sings with not one but TWO bands - Hook Turn Orchestra and Alinta and the Jazz Emperors.
Currently Alinta is starring as Satine, the sparkling diamond of Moulin Rouge! The Musical Australia. We are all eagerly awaiting theatres to open to witness the magic of this show on stage. In this episode Alinta shares how she successfully auditioned for the leading role whilst 37 weeks pregnant and commenced rehearsals just weeks after giving birth to her daughter, Harley Rose. You will also hear all about her childhood, career pathway and what to look out for in the spectacle of Moulin Rouge! The Musical.
Alinta is an incredibly talented and humble human being. You will hear her constantly compliment everyone else she is working with! She was an absolute joy to chat with and we are so grateful to have her share with you on the podcast.
Get comfy, settle in, here’s Alinta.
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Well it's been a hot minute but WE ARE BACK BABY!! Welcome to Season 3 of Beyond the Curtain! We have a brilliant lineup in 2021. Here is a sneak peek! Kicking off on September 15th + Insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Website www.beyondthecurtain.com.au + Find us on Youtube Beyond the Curtain is the podcast connecting the performing arts through human stories. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and extend our love and friendship.
What a season?!! It is so crazy to be at the end of 2020 and reflecting back on all of the incredible guests featured on Beyond The Curtain this year and the amazing stories they have shared. It has been such a privilege to connect with such inspirational guests and share these moments with the most beautiful listeners! Thank you! I hope you have all enjoyed the ride. I look forward to sharing more stories with you in 2021. Love, Sam x + BTC Website + Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Join our Facebook Community + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Oh my goodness, here we are at the last interview for Season 2!! Today I sit down with the winner of the inaugural AOC Initiative, Martha Berhane. Martha is a proud Canadian-born Eritrean singer, dancer and actor who is passionate about the performing arts and immersing herself in various styles of art. She is an extremely talented and a very mature, humble young woman who was an absolute joy to sit down and chat with. Martha’s love for theatre came from playing many roles across different musicals in school, and her dancing from growing up watching many dance movies. She was trained in a diverse range of dance styles under the Elite Performing Arts Program at the Melbourne Academy of Performing Arts (MAPA) in 2019, and is currently attending the Victorian College of the Arts where she is studying acting. Martha made her TV debut on the ABC ME Series ‘Mustangs FC’ in 2017 and has been featured as a dancer in music videos for a range of great artists in 2020. In this chat we go beyond the curtain and get to know a bit about the beautiful human being that she is. Enjoy! + Follow Martha+ AOC Initiative+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Today’s episode with Creator and Activist, Samuel Gaskin really is a special one. This interview epitomises everything that BTC is about, truly highlighting the human being behind the creative and exploring all elements of life with a positive outlook. Sam is such a beautiful soul and a ray of light and it fills me with so much JOY to showcase him in all his glory through this episode today. Hailing from African, New Zealand and European roots, Sam has always been one to stand out in a crowd. Embarking on a career as a commercial dancer at the age of 19 saw him feature in numerous video clips and awards shows such as the ARIAS, Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards and TV Week Logies. His television and film credits include Orange, Neighbours, Angry Boys, Fit for Fashion & most recently “All together now the 100” for Channel 7 as judge. He has also appeared in various commercials and worked with the likes of Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Vanessa Amorosi and Marcia Hines. Sam hosts Christine Anu’s kids’ project, Chrissy’s Island Family annually, and has performed in major musical theatre productions including “The Jungle Book” and “Hairspray.” Sam is also a talented musician! His early work “GANK” spent 4 weeks at no.1 on the Triple J Unearthed Electro Charts and in 2016 Sam signed with Razor Recordings and released two debut singles “Good Enough” & “Love”. He is passionate about uplifting and inspiring the next generation of performers and facilitates Master classes & workshops for Ausdance & Chunky Move. He also helped roll out the “Diversity in Theatre” program for the VCA & Melbourne University through Stage a Change. Sam is proud to sit on the National Performers committee for MEAA as the Victorian Vice President and also works as a speaker for beyondblue sharing his journey with mental health and well being. In this chat we discuss the evolution of Sam’s career and how life led him to his most recent work on the masterpiece, “RECKONING”. There is a LOT to take from this interview and Sam is a joy to listen to. Enjoy! + Sam Gaskin's website + Follow Sam + Reckoning Sounds + Beat Entertainment + Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Join our Facebook Community + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
I am SO excited to be back today after a quick mid-season break with an AMAZING episode, featuring the very talented and humble, Phill Haddad! New Zealand born-Melbourne based choreographer, Phill Haddad is a highly sought after choreographer who has been choreographing, performing and teaching on and off stage and screen for approximately two decades! He has worked nationally and internationally and has a wide variety of credits to his name in the musical theatre, commercial and hip hop dance worlds. He has worked with many artists including Destiny’s Child, Boys II Men, Ja Rule, Ashanti and Ru Paul, and he has performed in multiple musical theatre productions including Grease The Arena Spectacular, Shout, Annie Get Your Gun, High Society and Oh What A Night. His talents are highly respected and he has been invited to judge all the major Australian Hip Hop Competitions such as UDO, Australian Hip Hop Championships and Australian Step Off Hip Hop Competitions. He has also been a senior judge for the world wide UDO International World Finals competition in Glasglow for the last 3 years! Phill is currently working as the Dance Director for the Performing Arts Department at Saltwater P9 College. In this chat we talk all about his successful career, the importance and influence of performing arts teachers and Phill also shares about his experience with injury. He always has much wisdom and advice to share and this chat was no exception! Enjoy! + Follow Phill+ Follow Reverlust Design (Sam's new design business for branding)+ Reverlust Design website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
I am SO excited to bring you this special episode with the one and only, Jason Gilkison.Jason is a world-renowned ballroom dancer, director, choreographer and artistic director. Jason and his dance partner, Peta Roby, were the undefeated Australian Champions from 1981-1997. They went on to work on the ballroom and latin dance spectacular, Burn The Floor, where Jason accepted the role of choreographer and artistic director. Burn The Floor went on to successful seasons on Broadway and the West End and is still an absolute juggernaut today. Jason was a popular judge and choreographer on the hugely successful TV series So You Think You Can Dance, both in Australia and the USA, and has created over 100 routines for the franchise. Currently, Jason holds the coveted position of creative director for BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in the UK where he has been for the last 8 years. Along with the team, Jason has helped to transform the show into the huge success it is today. This role has seen him choreograph for artists including Celine Dion, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli, Shania Twain, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett. This year he was awarded with a BAFTA for his creative vision and artistic direction on the show! In our chat we discuss his childhood, longstanding partnership with Peta, competing against Todd McKenney, and the stories behind his experiences on Burn The Floor, So You Think You Can Dance and Strictly Come Dancing. Jason also shares how he gets the most out of his dancers, how he says inspired and what his creative process entails. Jason is such a joy to speak with and a wonderful story teller full of inspiring insight and advice! His humility and kind heart shines through the entire chat. I hope you enjoy listening. + Jason Gilkison's website+ Follow Jason+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Today I welcome the very talented, Daniel Clarke to BTC! Dan is Creative Producer at the Arts Centre Melbourne and has a wealth of experience to share in direction and production.Some of his roles have included Executive Producer of Programming at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, CEO and Creative Producer at Theatre Works in Melbourne, Creative Producer of Leicester Haymarket Theatre in the UK and Artistic Director and CEO of Feast Festival: Adelaide’s Queer Arts and Cultural Festival. His work has received many Green Room nominations and this year he won the 2020 Green Room Award for Contribution to Cabaret. In this chat we discuss the latest project he is working on for the Arts Centre Melbourne, Take Over! 2020. It is a wonderful program providing opportunity for artists in this tough economic climate, whilst continuing to entertain audiences and provide them insight into the creative process. Dan shares all about his childhood, a formative gap year in Costa Rica and his savvy decision to move from drama student to direction and production. We discuss his career highlights and the business knowledge that he has learnt on the job over the years.He also shares what he looks for in a performer, what it’s like being on the panel for the Helpmann Awards and his experience of winning his first Green Room Award in 2020. There is lots to learn from Dan! Hope you enjoy the chat :) + Take Over! 2020+ Follow Arts Centre Melbourne+ Follow Dan+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
I am so happy to bring you this episode today with a truly beautiful soul, Fiona Luca. Fiona is a lifelong creative, business facilitator, qualified Dance educator, Yoga and Pilates instructor and mother of two gorgeous girls. She has an absolute zest for life and deep desire to make an impact wherever she goes. In our chat we explore her really interesting and varied career pathways and delve into the topic of body image. Fiona generously shares her own experience with anorexia and how she has found herself today helping others going through similar struggles. Fiona also shares her experiences choreographing for hotel resorts in Europe, becoming a Yogi and starting a dance school that grew to 300 students over 11 years before she sold it, as well as the identity exploration she faced at the end of this chapter in her life. Fiona shares all about her new business ‘Move With Fiona Luca’ and podcast ‘Talking Youth’ and provides some beautiful business advice as well. Fiona is full of that good soul wisdom! She has a beautiful energy and lots to share. I hope you enjoy the chat. + Follow Fiona+ Move with Fiona Luca Website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Here it is. A very special one-off episode to celebrate The AOC Initiative and document a pivotal moment in Australian theatre. In today’s episode, I share a round table discussion with AOC Founder, Tarik Frimpong and AOC Panellist and Equity Diversity Committee member, Dean Drieberg. Tarik is a very talented performer who has starred in West End productions such as ‘Aladdin, The Musical’ and Disney feature films such as ‘Mary Poppins Returns.’ He was also a guest on Season 1 of BTC where you can hear all about his life and career. Dean is an acclaimed theatre director and producer of many shows including ‘Sunday in the Park with George’ and works with many organisations to strive for racial justice within the Arts. In our chat we deeply discuss the lack of representation on stage and behind the scenes in the Arts industry, BIPOC casting, the unfolding of the 2020 Rob Guest Endowment and how The AOC Initiative came to be. You will hear all about AOC and what the future of Australian theatre looks like. It is a raw and vulnerable, honest discussion from all three of us. Enjoy, and thank you for listening. Much love, Sam. + AOC Initiative GoFundMe + Follow AOC Initiative + AOC Initiative Website + Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Join our Facebook Community + Find us on Youtube Acronyms used in this episode: AOC – Artists of Colour BTC – Beyond The Curtain BIPOC – Black Indigenous and People Of Colour MEAA – Media and Entertainment Arts Alliance EDC – Equity Diversity Committee Links to support racial diversity within the Performing Arts industry: AOC GoFundMe The People of Cabaret Stage A Change Be You BIPOC In Theatre Guidelines Equity Diversity Committee Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Today I am speaking with the brilliant James Maxfield! Jimmy is a very talented creative with a diverse career that spans across TV, musical theatre and commercial dance. He has succeeded as a performer, dance captain, choreographer and creative producer and has a lot of knowledge and experience to share! Most recently Jimmy worked as Creative Producer for The Voice Australia and Creative Director for Dancing On Ice UK. He has choreographed for The Masked Singer Australia and has been Dance Captain for several TV and musical theatre productions including X-Factor, The Rocky Horror Show, My Fair Lady and Wicked. Jimmy has performed in a long list from musical theatre productions from The Boy From Oz, Wicked, Sweet Charity and Grease, Miss Saigon and A Chorus Line. As a commercial dancer he has toured with Kesha and Samantha Jade, and has performed live with many artists including Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, Kylie Minogue, Kelly Clarkson, Ricky Martin and Wynter Gordon.In today's chat we discuss his childhood in Sydney, how as a dancer you are a business, his transition from music theatre and commercial dancing to creative production, his experience working on The Voice Australia and confronting what your identity is aside from your career. Jimmy is a bundle of energy with a genuine passion for the performing arts industry. He shares many experiences and lots of advice, there's a lot to take from this one! Enjoy! + Follow Jimmy+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
I am so excited to bring you today’s episode with the incredibly talented, Sarah Alice Burns!Sarah is a professional dancer, model and artist development coach born and raised in Perth, Western Australia. After several years of working overseas as a dancer, Sarah decided to take a leap of faith and move to the 'City of Angels'. After several setbacks and countless ‘no’s, she soon became accustomed to understanding that the LA dance industry was not for the faint hearted. Sarah's fierce determination for success and extreme passion for her craft drove her to exceed all expectations and she went on to dance for an amazing list of artists including Brandy, Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Janelle Monáe, Kelly Rowland, Usher, Ne-Yo, Hailee Steinfeld and QUEEN BEY! Her hard work, talent and determination was rewarded with continuous work dancing for Beyoncé, for four years. Sarah joined Beyoncé on world tours, award shows, feature films, music videos, the infamous Super Bowl and the worldwide Ivy Park campaign. In our chat, Sarah and I talk all things Beyoncé, life in LA, her career as a commercial dancer, rehearsing for the Super Bowl (think 14 hour days, 7 days a week, 3 months!), audition prep, self-care and Sarah’s program ‘Industry LA’. Sarah has such a beautiful energy! She has a strong sense of self and is super driven and yet super sweet at the same time! It seriously felt like a fun chat with a girlfriend and I just wanted to go have a wine and dance the night away with her! I hope you enjoy listening to everything Sarah has to share. + Follow Sarah+ Follow Industry LA+ Sarah's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
On today’s episode I chat with one of the brightest stars in Australian comedy! The very talented and hilarious comedian, Steph Tisdell. Steph is a proud Indigenous woman who is taking the comedy world by storm. Ever since she won the 2014 Deadly Funny National Grand Final, Steph has been a hit with audiences and critics alike and is now a regular on Australian mainstream TV shows such as The Project and Hughesy We Have A Problem. She was a part of the Aboriginal Comedy All Stars line-up, who sold out during their festival run at Edinburgh Fringe, before heading to London’s Soho Theatre. Steph’s 2019 spot on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala went viral and she was invited to host the gala in 2020. In our chat we discuss Steph’s childhood in Brisbane with her mixed-race family, her pivot from studying Law/Journalism to a career in comedy and its power to address social justice issues, the importance of BIPOC representation in the arts and the pressures Steph has faced with the unrealistic expectation and responsibility to represent the entire Aboriginal community. We also discuss mental health challenges and Steph’s career highlights including the Edinburgh Comedy Gala and filming her first feature film “Love You Like That.” Sharing this chat with Steph was like talking to an old friend. I loved her as soon as I started chatting with her and was struck by her warmth and authenticity throughout our conversation. She has this amazing hearty laugh that comes from the depths of her soul and fills the whole room with a golden happy glow, and every time she laughs it just makes me want to laugh! She is honest, brave, intelligent and a whole lot of fun. There is so much to take from this episode and I hope you enjoy the listen! + Follow Steph+ Steph's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
In today’s episode I have a beautiful chat with Cristina D’Agostino. Cristina is a very talented musical theatre performer who has graced the stage in many shows including Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, A Chorus Line, The Addams Family, Matilda, Strictly Ballroom, and Jersey Boys – which she starred in only four months after giving birth to her first child! Cristina has most recently worked as Resident Choreographer on ‘Shrek The Musical’ and is currently studying a masters of counselling whilst baking her second child in Melbourne’s lockdown. In this chat we discuss her childhood in Mt Gambier, her journey in musical theatre and the many performance experiences she has had, as well as her work as Resident Choreographer on ‘Shrek The Musical’. We also talk all things motherhood! Cristina shares her experience entering motherhood, maintaining a career in the performing arts and her blog ‘The Show Can Go On.’ Cristina, and her husband Jordan, have somehow managed to strike the balance between a traditional life journey of getting married, buying a house and starting a family, whilst both maintaining successful careers in the performing arts. Cristina shares the triumphs and challenges of how they make this work! It’s a special episode showcasing a different perspective on the performing arts, with lots of inspiring nuggets of gold for anyone who has ever considered starting a family or maintaining a long distance relationship whilst working as a performer. Enjoy! + Follow Cristina+ Follow The Show Can Go On+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Today on the podcast I bring you the supremely talented, intellectual and somewhat mysterious, Michael Ralph. I say mysterious as I have always thought Mikey is such a private person. It was such a joy to share this special chat with him where he generously shared details about his upbringing and personal experiences. In this chat we discuss his childhood and upbringing in New Zealand, the climb to success as a Choreographer and Director in Australia, self producing his own work, the highlights and challenges of his career so far, plus loads of advice for budding performers and choreographers! This episode is a really special insight into how Mikey thinks and experiences the world. There is SO much inspiration to take from it. Hope you enjoy the chat :) + Follow Michael+ Check out Michael Ralph's choreography+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Hello! Welcome to the second episode of Season 2! Today I have a very special episode prepared with the gorgeous Morgan Choice. Morgan is a professional commercial dancer who was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and has spent the last 8 years working in LA. In Australia, Morgan was the co-owner of the successful contemporary dance company ‘Tannos and Choice’ and she performed as the understudy of the lead, Carmen, in national tour of the hit musical Fame. Morgan landed her first job in the states dancing for Britney Spears on her ‘Piece of Me’ residency at just 22 years old. Since then she has performed with many artists including J Balvin, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae, Wynter Gordon, Jessie J, Kendrick Lamar and many more! In this chat, Morgan shares so much! She delves into her experience landing her first gig in the states, the difference between the LA and Aussie dance scene, how she stays fit and healthy between auditions and gigs and her daily routine on tour. She tells me about some dance highlights performing at Coachella and at Madison Square Garden, as well as some very confronting personal truths. This episode is full of love and hope and I hope you receive a piece of that as you listen.Morgan is a beautiful example of being sure of who you are and living your truth openly in the world. I want to thank her again for sharing so generously in this chat. + Follow Morgan+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Welcome to Season 2 of Beyond The Curtain! We are kicking off the season with an incredibly inspiring episode with the wonderful Kelley Abbey. Kelley is an award-winning Australian dancer, singer, actress, choreographer and creative director. Her resume is truly too long for me to even begin to do justice here! Just SOME highlights include leading lady in productions Sweet Charity and Fame – The Musical (which she both starred in and choreographed!), choreographer, performer and creative motion capture consultant on Golden Globe, BAFTA and Oscar winning feature film Happy Feet, and most recently Creative Director on the rebooted Warner Brothers version of Dancing With The Stars. In this episode we discuss an array of topics including being a commercial dancer in the 80s, her lead role experience on Sweet Charity, working on Happy Feet and DWTS, social media, self-care and many words of wisdom! I was struck by Kelley’s authenticity and generous spirit from the moment I first contacted her and throughout our recording process. It was a true joy to share this experience with her. I hope you enjoy the first episode of Season 2 with this truly beautiful soul. + Follow Kelley+ Kelley's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
After a brilliant first season full of fun and inspiring episodes, we are back for SEASON TWO! With a stellar line up of incredible creative and performing artists sharing their human stories, we have an insightful, thought provoking and inspiring season in store. Here is a preview of some guests you will be hearing from. First episode drops August 12th! + Insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Website www.beyondthecurtain.com.au + Join our Facebook Community + Find us on Youtube Beyond The Curtain acknowledges the traditional custodians of the Australian land we live and create this podcast on. We pay our respect to our Indigenous sisters, brothers and their Elders, past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the injustice and impacts of colonisation still present today.
Checking in for a quick episode to take a trip down memory lane and celebrate the beautiful highlights of Season One's incredible guests! Season One of Beyond the Curtain is wrapping up, however SEASON TWO is already underway and looking AH-mazing!! I can't wait to bring it to you super soon. Taking a quick break to give you a chance to catch up on any episodes you have missed and revisit your favourites. It was so emotional listening back to all of these beautiful guests in this little summary! I hope you enjoy reminiscing and I look forward to be back in your ears very soon. Love, Sam. Be the first to know when Season 2 drops:+ Insta @beyondthecurtainaus + Website www.beyondthecurtain.com.au+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
Musical Theatre Buffs, this one is for you! Karli Dinardo is an Aussie performer who moved to New York City straight out of high school and never looked back! After completing college at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC, Karli has performed in a plethora of incredible musical theatre productions. Performing in a variety of positions including ensemble, dance captain, swing, and understudy, Karli has graced the stage in shows such as Flashdance, West Side Story, The Music Man, 42nd Street and in the First National Touring Company of Hamilton. Karli is currently a First Company member of Moulin Rouge! The Musical on Broadway as the dance captain, swing and understudy for Nini. In this chat we discuss the journey Karli has been on that led to such great success and celebrate the hard work she has put in to achieve her goals. Super driven and quietly confident, Karli is a very inspiring and motivational leader in the performing arts, whilst remaining humble and caring. There is much to take from this chat! Enjoy! + Follow Karli+ Moulin Rouge! The Musical+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
It is an absolute joy and honour to bring you today’s episode with the divine Frances Rings. Fran is the Associate Artistic Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre, an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company. She has enjoyed a long standing, successful career with Bangarra, starting as a dancer in the company, spreading her wings to become an award winning choreographer and returning in 2019 as Associate Artistic Director. In this special yarn, Fran generously shares her thoughts and feelings in response to the Black Lives Matter movement across the world and the impact it is having here in Australia. She credits her Indigenous peoples’ ability to mimic and adapt to fit in and cope with ever-changing and ongoing challenges, noting their quiet and strong nature. We discuss the need to dismantle structures in this country and how Australia has had the opportunity to do this in the past and yet have continuously fallen short due to fear of change. Fran beautifully articulates how a flame has been lit all over the world and what once was acceptable is now inappropriate. If you turn away you are complicit and a part of the problem. She also shares the heartbreaking fear experienced as a mother of Indigenous children in Australia today. We discuss Fran’s childhood upbringing and introduction to dance, training here and abroad, transition from dancer to choreographer at Bangarra Dance Theatre and the challenges faced as a female Indigenous choreographer. It was a very moving interview which ended in overwhelming emotion and tears. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for listening. I would like to acknowledge our traditional custodians of our beautiful land and pay respects to our Indigenous brothers, sisters and elders, past and present. + Follow Bangarra Dance Theatre+ Visit Bangarra Dance Theatre website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
I am so excited to bring you the beautiful soul that is Samuel Akins!Whilst taking time to pause, reflect, learn and unlearn during this radical time in history, I came across a powerful video on social media that the gorgeous Sam Akins posted. In this video he openly and honestly shares some of the racial discrimination he has experienced in Australia’s Ballet industry. He is brave and vulnerable and I want to shine a light on his story. He has also encouraged me to share some of my experiences. I am aware that I have been brought up in white privilege, but as a mixed race person of colour I have also experienced discrimination which we discuss in this episode. Sam is a very talented ballet dancer who moved from Birmingham, Alabama to New York City to study ballet at the young age of 14. Whilst studying he had many performance opportunities and danced with New York City Ballet. Since graduating, Sam has performed various principal, soloist and company roles with Los Angeles Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Some of these include Cavalier, Tea and Candy Cane in George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” and Bluebird, Puss in Boots, and Rose Adagio Suitor in “The Sleeping Beauty.” Sam recently moved to Australia to continue his ballet career and in this chat he shares some of the adversity he has experienced here.I hope you enjoy this powerful conversation and thank you for listening to Sam’s story. Sam’s petition for Racial Equality in the Ballet World: http://chng.it/cZSfqckqww + Follow Sam+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
Today I bring you the powerhouse that is, Tarik Frimpong! I can’t wait to tell you all about him, but first I need to say this. It’s been a heavy week in the world with the police murder of George Floyd in America. I found myself overcome with emotion, finding it hard to breathe and concentrate on anything in my life. How could I record a sparkly introduction to a performing arts podcast episode with such weight overwhelming me? So I decided to get on the mic and speak my truth. Ultimately, this podcast explores humanity - there are many parts to this, good and bad. Racism is not new in our world, it is just being filmed now. I implore anyone reading this to follow Shaun King to educate yourself, join the conversation and take action to create change. It is going to take as many people as possible, and the time is now. Use your voice. It is also National Reconciliation Week in Australia, and it is important to own and remember what our ancestors have endured and the injustice that still exists here today. I would like to acknowledge our traditional custodians of our beautiful land and pay respects to our indigenous brothers, sisters and elders, past and present. When I contacted Tarik to share the way I wanted to start his episode, he was right there with me. He is advocating hard. In retrospect, this episode seems like divine timing. Both Tarik and I are mixed race African descendants and we found our chat naturally flow in a direction that explored these themes when we recorded long before the events of this week. So who is Tarik?Tarik is a trail blazing actor, singer and dancer from Melbourne who is making his mark on the performing arts industry worldwide. He has worked as a commercial dancer for the likes of Justin Bieber and FKA Twigs, performed in musicals such as The Lion King, Aladdin, Bring It On and MADIBA in Australia and on the West End, and made his Disney Motion Picture debut in the role of Angus in Mary Poppins Returns. In this film he starred alongside acting royalty including Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. In our chat we discuss his experience on set of Mary Poppins Returns, as well as another Disney Motion Picture he was involved in filming before COVID hit. We discuss overcoming self-doubt and self-sabotage, as well as Tarik’s life mantra, “If you want something, go get it. Period.” This guy is seriously relentless, he truly lives the advice he gives. He is also super creative which you will get a taste of during our chat. There is plenty to take from this one! I hope you enjoy the chat, it’s hard not to be inspired by Tarik Frimpong.. . .Please use your voice and take action here: https://www.justiceforbigfloyd.com/#petition#BlackLivesMatter + Follow Tarik+ Tarik's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
I’m super pumped to be bringing you this episode with Cat Santos today! She is an incredible human being who is a true light and leader in the Australian performing arts industry. In our chat, we explore all the glorious parts that make up Cat ~ dance, gut health, illustrations, mindset and more. There’s a lot to take from this one! Cat shares the origins of her latest dance project, Home Feed, a collaboration between Cat, Zoee Marsh and Caetlyn Watson. We also discuss a number of her other projects including The I.Am.Her Project and Illustrations by Cat. We talk about self-doubt and how it’s okay not to feel super positive all the time ~ how it’s your second thought to encourage positivity that is key! We also discuss coping with life in isolation and the importance of not being so hard on yourself. Hope you enjoy listening to this chat. It is high energy, there’s lots of giggling and it is truly bursting with inspiration! Welcome to a little insight into Cat’s world. Witness the magic that is Cat Santos and be inspired to rediscover your own. + Follow Cat+ Cat's website+ Visit Illustrations By Cat+ Follow Illustrations By Cat+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
So today’s episode features an interview I had with Peter Wallace quite a few months ago now, pre-COVID! I had been saving it for when the Moulin Rouge was coming out to conduct auditions in Melbourne this year, hosted at Peter’s studio. Since all things travel are now out of the question in the foreseeable future, I thought it was time to release the episode. If you’ve ever dreamt about dancing at the Moulin Rouge in Paris this is the episode for you. Consider it a bit like a Moulin Rouge history lesson! Peter spent 13 years in Paris working as a dancer and dance captain at the Moulin Rouge and Lido, and choreographer at La Nouvelle Eve. He is good friends with Janet Pharaoh (Artistic Director of Bal Du Moulin Rouge) and knows what she is looking for in a prospective dancer. In this chat we also discuss Peter’s fight with cancer, living abroad and marrying his now husband after 30 years together.Enjoy the chat! + Moulin Rouge website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
In honour of Mother’s Day this weekend, I have a very special episode for you with the gorgeous Lucy Doherty. Lucy is a talented contemporary dancer, teacher, choreographer, and director of One Dance Collective. One Dance Collective is an independent Australian Arts organisation facilitating empowerment and connection through the art of dance and movement. Lucy began her career dancing across the world as Ariel at various Disney parks, as well as performing at Universal Studios. Her passion for contemporary dance followed her throughout her travels and when she settled back in Australia, her career in this field quickly took flight before she ultimately created her successful company, One Dance Collective. Lucy has a gift for following her intuition and producing moving dance works that tackle the heavy and difficult parts of life. A big influence in her life and career has been the passing of her beautiful mother a few years ago. We discuss the often unspoken topic of grief and how dance has helped Lucy navigate these difficult emotions. There were tears from both of us and I am grateful to Lucy for her open vulnerability. I hope you enjoy our chat and find something healing and inspiring for yourself.This episode is dedicated to Lucy’s mother, Jane Doherty. + Follow Lucy+ Lucy's website+ Visit One Dance Collective+ Follow One Dance Collective+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
Today I bring you, Jordan Pollard! Jordan is a very talented musical theatre performer and an all round good human being with a positive attitude and hard work ethic.In our chat we discuss his childhood introduction to performing through his dance teacher mum, the variety of musical theatre shows he has performed in from Guys and Dolls to West Side Story, and what it is like bringing up a child with his beautiful and talented wife, Cristina, who is also a performer. The Tap Pack, a high energy, tap comedy show inspired by the infamous “Rat Pack”, is Jordan’s show baby and a production company that he has created and worked on with his friends for the past seven years. The company has gone from strength to strength and they have just completed their first American tour. Jordan shares the napkin moment that sparked the idea for the show, how it has grown to the success it is today and what it is like running a production company.There’s something in this episode for everyone, enjoy the chat! + Follow Jordan+ Follow The Tap Pack+ Visit The Tap Pack+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
You are in for a treat today! I am so excited to bring you the glamorous Philmah Bocks!With a dazzling career spanning over 25 years, Philmah has performed all around the world. She is the current AAMI ambassador, has rubbed noses with Aussie icons such as Kylie Minogue and even launched an exhibition with Jean Paul Gaultier himself. She has earned two fabulous Sydney Mardi Gras awards for her costuming creations and runs her very own ‘WerkShop’ specialising in the manufacture of glamour. But today’s interview is with Daz Partington, the amazing man behind the queen that is Philmah Bocks. Daz’s life is rich with fascinating stories and experiences. In our chat he shares what it was like growing up as a homosexual in a small country town in a time that was less accepting than today, his interesting career as an animator that took him around the world and the evolution of Philmah Bocks. He is one of those people who is insanely talented at everything ~ from make up and costuming to animation in the advertising industry, he can and has done it all! Daz is such a beautiful human being which you will hear for yourself in this chat and he really has paved the way for drag queens today. Grab a cuppa or go for a walk and get this one into your ears for a super fun listen. Enjoy! + Follow Philmah Bocks+ Visit Philmah's Werkshop+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
I’m very excited to bring you this episode with Yvette Lee today. Yvette is a successful leading Choreographer in the Australian Dance Industry with over a decade of experience and a crazy long CV to back it up! Her choreography spans over a broad range of mediums including music videos, stage, musical theatre, modelling, commercial and corporate. She is also a talented performer, and was most recently rehearsing for the production of Dance Nation before COVID-19 hit and they had to close the show on opening night. Despite all of her success, what is crystal clear is how truly humble and grounded Yvette remains. She is beautifully open and generous with the insight and advice she shares during our chat. We recorded this remotely because #coronavirus. If you listen out you may hear a typical Melbourne tram or two passing by at the start of the interview. I hope you enjoy listening to our chat and witnessing the magnetic force that is Yvette Lee. + Follow Yvette+ Visit Yvette's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
Today we feature the first actor on Beyond The Curtain. Ethan Panizza is a talented actor, most recently seen on our screens in the Channel 10 show Playing for Keeps. He has an interesting journey where he was on a straight road to one life in footy and changed course to follow his heart and pursue an acting career. Whilst playing professional footy for Claremont Football Club in Western Australia, the team his Dad played for, and obtaining an electrical apprenticeship; it was an injury that gave him the space to listen to his deep calling for acting. In our chat we discuss his road from footy to acting, his experiences in LA and most recent time on set of Playing for Keeps. Ethan is also super open with his experiences with depression and what he has done to combat this and prioritise his mental health. Something in this for everyone, enjoy! + Follow Ethan+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube
Will Centurion is a talented musical theatre performer whose life has changed course and is now supporting the performing arts industry through his counselling and life coaching services. He has performed in numerous large scale musical productions including Aladdin, The Lion King, West Side Story, King Kong, The King and I and We Will Rock You. With the whole world feeling the anxiety and pressures of our new reality since COVID-19 came crashing down on us, the performing arts industry has been hit hard. This is sure to have a major impact on the mental health of many people. Who to turn to at a time like this? Mr Will Centurion! Will provides psychological support for the performing arts industry and in this chat we learn about his journey from performing to counselling and how he is tackling this current climate we are faced with. Beyond the Curtain was created to connect the performing arts industry through a positive and inspiring platform, with a focus on mental health. It appears that we need this more than ever right now and I will continue to produce the podcast to try to help bond and support this beautiful community. + Follow Will+ Visit Will's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on Youtube I Lost My GigIn Between AustraliaArtstaskerOpen Studio Co
Zoee Marsh is a beautiful light in this world, and in particular the performing arts industry. She is a very gifted choreographer and movement coach with a resume boasting many musicians including George Maple, Kite String Tangle, George Alice and the Dianas. Her body of work also includes the likes of C2 Melbourne, Neighbours, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Dream Dane Company, SYTYCD (Warsaw, Poland), “Spring Awakening” The Musical and “Tarzan” The Musical. If her resume doesn’t impress you enough she has also won several awards for her choreography including ‘Video Choreography of the Year’ at Ground Industry awards 2019 and ‘Best Choreography’ at the Seattle International Film Festival 2019. In our chat we discuss her late introduction to dance and subsequent journey to becoming a movement coach. We explore the notion that your identity is not wrapped up in being ‘a dancer’ and the importance of daily meditation. Zoee is like a wise little yogi (I say little because I think she is the only person I have ever met that is slightly shorter than me). She completed a 10 day silent mediation camp at the age of 21. I know right! We talk about this experience and what she has learnt from it to incorporate in her daily life today. Zoee also shares her advice and tips for any aspiring professional performers and choreographers (and let me tell you it is good!) and what creativity means to her. Grab a cuppa and enjoy this moment of escape and positivity x + Follow Zoee+ Visit Zoee's website+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube
What a treat this episode is! You will notice I am very up and about in this recording. Mel really has a way of bringing out that side of someone. We had a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy listening and learn something from her worldly wisdom. Mel Tracina is a radio announcer on Nova 100. You can hear her weekdays between 1pm-3pm. She started working on air at Nova in 2018 and in this chat, we dive deep into her journey leading up to her current position. We explore the ins and outs of how to create a successful career in radio and how it all works behind the scenes, which includes moving out of Melbourne and working in the regional town of Dubbo for 7 months. We talk about the fun parts of the job, as well as the challenging parts such as presenting and being on air during tough times such as the Australian bushfires. We also chat about her amazing podcast Social.Just.Us which is a beautiful philanthropic project where she uses her media and radio skills to help those in need. In the podcast she interviews people from all walks life with interesting life stories of hardship, bringing awareness to various topics and how to help. + Follow Mel Tracina+ Check out Nova 100 + Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube
So this was actually my very first interview for the podcast! At the time I was dealing with the new technology and not wanting to hear the sound of my own voice so please be kind when you're listening to me.Georgie on the other hand is a total goddess ~ comfortable in her own skin, owning her journey and completely open and honest.Georgina Hagerty is one talented woman! After a very successful career as a professional ballerina where she performed across the world in many shows including Swan Lake, Giselle and Phantom of the Opera she pirouetted to study and business and is now working as an incredible talent agent at Hansen Creative Management.In this chat we discuss what it was like moving from New Zealand to London at a very young age to pave her way in life and into the professional ballet industry. Georgie shares her advice on finding success in ballet and her experience working in Europe, Perth and Melbourne before retiring a few years ago. She is open about the grief experienced when giving up her dance career at a time where she was also grappling with her divorce after 16 years of marriage. We also discuss her transition into becoming a talent agent, how she went out and made opportunities happen and the importance of mentors and how that has influenced her new career path. + Follow Georgie+ Find Hansen Creative Management.+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube
Freya is a very talented contemporary and music theatre choreographer with a heart of gold. In this chat we discuss her journey to success so far and her many philanthropic endeavours. She sure knows how to use dance to help a good cause! One of her many projects is an event called Playing Field which combines live music with dance improvisation and she is holding one to raise funds for the Australian bushfire relief! In this episode Freya shares who her biggest inspirations are, tips for becoming a choreographer and how she incorporates mindfulness into her personal life and her teaching. We are like two giggling school girls in this chat, grab a cuppa and join in the fun! + Follow Freya for all kinds of dance inspiration+ Get involved with Dancing through India+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube
We’re kicking off the season with musical theatre veteran, Darren Tyler, who not only has had an incredibly successful and enduring career, but is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet! In this episode we hear about his A Chorus Line start to dancing, the experience of auditioning for 6 years before getting into his first show, his transition to getting a talent agent and stories from some of the very many (21!) musicals he has performed in. He imparts the wisdom he has gained through being on the audition panel and holding dance captain roles, shares some of the ways he practises mindfulness and self-love, his struggles and experience with eczema and the honour of receiving the Australian Gypsy Cloak in 2018. Darren is currently performing in Billy Elliot the Musical, opening in Melbourne February 2020. + Follow Darren+ Get tickets to Billy Elliot the Musical,+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube
Ever wondered what the day in a life of a performer is like? Who they are beyond the facade? Beyond the Curtain is connecting the performing arts through human stories. + Follow host, Samantha+ Keep up to date on our insta @beyondthecurtainaus+ Join our Facebook Community+ Find us on tik tok and Youtube