About Us
Melbourne Dance
Theatre was formed in May 2003. The company was birthed out of a
passion to create works that both captivate and challenge,
inspire and stimulate audiences. We seek to be at the forefront
of dance, creatively pushing the constrains of our art form,
however in this pursuit never compromising the essence what
dance is. Our desire is
to be seen, to endue audiences of all ages and across cultures,
presenting our works
for audiences in locally, regionally, nationally and
internationally.
While our dancers
are united a strong classical background, choreographically we
allude to a myriad of disciplines, drawing on the dancers great
versatility of skills. As we employ hints of acrobatics, prose
and voice to the indefinable gamete of dance forms, an entirely
unique form is fused. Thus we are not purely a dance company,
but a Dance Theatre, a collaboration of art forms and an
exciting union of skills.
Our Directors |
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Martin Sierra - MA.
Director, Choreographer and Teacher Melbourne Dance Theatre
Martin is a growing authority in Australia’s dance industry.
His pioneering choreographic brilliance embraces a blend of European artistry and Australian innovation.
Martin learned his craft, as both choreographer and instructor , from leading exponents of the Russian Vaganova method and received his own training at the world class State Ballet School of Berlin.
His corrections and technical mastery have resulted in the transformation of willing student dancers into highly proficient professionals. Martin’s unbridled creative talent is backed by a master of Arts in Dance Studies from the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, London.
His majors were in Choreography, Visual Design and Choreological studies.
Apart from working alongside some of Europe’s leading dancers, including principal artists from leading dancers, including principal artists from the Royal Ballet, Martin has an impressive resume: Soloist Saarlandisches Staatstheater Saarbrucken, Germany; Soloist Komische Oper, Germany; Director, Martin Sierra Dance Company, Germany; Soloist, Compania Nacional de Danza, Mexico; Founder and Director, Melbourne Dance Theatre and MDT Performing Arts Courses.
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Michelle Cassar de Sierra Director of the Melbourne Dance Theatre Full Time School, and
Assistant Director Melbourne Dance Theatre, Choreographer and Teacher.
Michelle has a widely recognised gift for crafting choreography that infuses the most loved classical ballets
with a creative freshness and flair that accentuates the beauty of the original masterpiece, rather that detracting from it. This unique ability
to balance the tension between innovation and tradition has earned Michelle wide respect within Australia’s dance community.
Michelle’s passion for classical ballet was fuelled whilst on a dance study tour of Moscow in 1984 during which
she spent considerable time at the renowned Moiseyev School which specialises in character dance.
Her classical dance and teaching skills were subsequently honed at the highly regarded Victorian College of the Arts.
She was winner of the prestigious Pratt Scholarship in 1986.
Her progress was rapid under the tutelage of Anne Woolliams.
Michelle’s resume reflects an enviable breadth of experience:
Apprentice, Kolobok Dance Company; Member, National Ballet of Israel;
Soloist, Saarlandisches Staatsheater Saarbrucken; Guest Artist, Klagenfurt Opera House, Austria,
Principal Dancer, Martin Sierra Dance Company, Germany;
Co-founder Melbourne Dance Theatre; Principal, Melbourne Dance Theatre Performing Arts Courses; Co creator, International System of Character Dance, Private Coach in classical ballet preparation and training for competitions, productions and major school and company auditions both nationally and internationally.
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The Company
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Paris Hodson
Paris did her professional training at the VCA and Tanya Pearson's Academy. After her arrival from a Europe tour, she got offered a soloist position with the Melbourne Dance theatre. Since then, Paris has performed the main roles in Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Her versatile technique had inspired director Martin Sierra to create many contemporary roles for her. Paris has an extremely broad range of experience in dance including ballet, contemporary, jazz and acrobatics. She has been touring with the company to Austria, Slovakia and Poland. |
Matt Dillon
Matt trained at the VCA before being accepted into the Australian Ballet School. Soon after he got offered a soloist position with the Melbourne Dance theatre and since then he has performed the main roles in the Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. His specialty is classical ballet but he is an outstanding contemporary dancer and highly proficient in acrobatics. He has done tours with the Melbourne Dance Theatre to Austria, Slovakia and Poland. |
Hannah Lowe
Hannah has been dancing since she was 4 years old. In 2004 she was awarded a scholarship to train in New York with Ajkun Ballet Theatre Company. In 2006 Hannah completed her diploma in dance with MDT having joined the company in 2004. Hannah has an extremely broad range of experience in dance including ballet, contemporary, character, jazz, tap, funk and acrobatics. |
Amanda Conti
Amanda has grown up with a passion for dance. She began training seriously in 2003, training in hip hop, Jazz, ballet and pas de deux. Amanda is a seasoned performer having danced with many prestigious corporate events including AFL functions, The Prime Ministers Olympic Gala Dinner, Copacabana International, Melbourne Storm functions. Amanda joined MDT in 2005 and since then she has done tours with the Melbourne Dance Theatre to Austria, Slovakia and Poland.
Emma Vaiano
Emma began training as an elite gymnast from the age of 8. Emma completed her dance studies in 2006 but thanks to her high level of technique, she was offered a position with the Melbourne Dance Theatre since 2003. Emma's talent as a dancer has given her the opportunity to dance solo roles in Swan Lake as Odette and she is Martin Sierra's main dancer in most of his works. Emma is an experienced in ballet dancer, contemporary and acrobatics. She is also a choreographer with MDT and rehearsal assistant of MDT.
Stacey Knight
Stacey has been dancing for 20 years. She has been dancing professionally for over 10 years including dancing with Disney Hong Kong Tour, Good Friday Appeal channel 7 and Channel 10 Rock It New Kids Series. Stacey completed her Cert. II in dance & Performing Arts at Bartuccios. She joined MDT in 2004.
Kathleen Skipp
Kathleen is originally from New Zealand and has always studied performing arts graduating from VCA in 2000. She is a seasoned performer having toured with Anna Smith’s Co.motion Dance Company, Next Wave Festival and more. In 2002 she was nominated best Female Performer and Best Emerging Artist for Green Room Awards. Kathleen joined MDT in 2003.
Paul Fennell
Paul has had various involvement in the entertainment industry. Apart form his contemporary and classical ballet techniques, Paul specializes in ballroom, funk, hip hop and break dance. He has been a soloist of MDT since 2007 and has preformed the lead role in Red Rain as Elijah. He is guest artists with different companies and performs with different pop artists. He versatility as dancer has allowed him to performed various roles for
Opera Australia including Faust 02 and Orpheus 03, Underworld and more. Paul has done tours with the Melbourne Dance Theatre to Austria, Slovakia and Poland.
Tyson Wakely
Tyson is an experienced entertainer performing as a singer, actor and dancer in the entertainment industry. He graduated with a bachelor of Dramatic Arts in 2003. He has performed with John Farnham in the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth games. He is a regular performer with “Ticklish All sorts’. Tyson joined MDT in 2007 showing a great talent and passion for dance and performance. |
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