Teachers

 

All the teachers at the Australian Centre of Performing Arts are fully qualified and have experience in the field of Performing Arts.

 

 

Lindsay Saddington

 

Lindsay has taught for over twenty five years and has extensive industry experience. He has been an actor in Film, Television and Theatre, a director of Theatre and Music Video Productions, producer of Theatre, Music Video and Film. He is a Scriptwriter of Film, Television and Theatre and has experience in Film Production and Management.

 

Lindsay has completed a Bachelor of Arts with a double major - Psychology and Sociology inc. Theatre Arts at Victoria College, Toorak Campus (Deakin).

 

Lindsay has devised, developed, coordinated and taught Drama at:

Educational Institutions (inc. Theatre Arts at Victoria College), Community Organizations, Mental Health Institutions and conducts ongoing Group Classes and Private Tuition.

 

 

Mirco Pisano

 

With a relevant acting history, Mirco did his Theatrical Studies at “UDESC” (Universidade Do Estado De Santa Catarina) and “CIC” (Centro InterCultural) in Florianopolis, Brazil. He was a drama teacher at Cultural Association “T.I.L.T.” of Imola (Italy). He also taught drama in primary schools in Italy and conducted private drama lessons for adults and children.   Studying with Massimiliano Buldrini, Mirco Pisano has pedagogy training in:   - The development of expressive capacity   - Having a knowledge base of their motor skills, speech, expression and communication.

- The development of personal skills: imagination, originality, ability to perceive

- The discovery of the creative possibilities through the techniques of gesture theatre

 

- Promoting of cultural exchange

 

- Helping students to develop and support their own forms of expression

- Encourage socialization and dialogue

 

- Knowledge of body language (mime, posture, gesticulation) in the interpersonal communication

 

- Strengthening of own personal identity

 

- Knowledge of specificity theatrical languages (physicality, speech, music, scenic space and much more...)

 

- Development of inventive capacity

 

 

 

Elizabeth J. Marsh

 

An accomplished performer/singer songwriter, Elizabeth has an extensive background in live performance and studio recording; including two all originals albums, and an appearance at the prestigious Byron Bay Blues and Roots festival.

 

Graduating with a jazz degree from Southern Cross University in the beautiful Northern Rivers district of NSW, Elizabeth has enjoyed much success touring the region as a soloist and with her band as lead vocalist, and an accompanist on; electric bass, guitar and keys. Her multi faceted repertoire includes eclectic endeavors of; original, Jazz, Latin, funk, soul, and often an amalgamation of these electric genres.

 

In 2009 she enjoyed her debut at the auspicious Byron Bay Blues & Roots music festival where she graced the stage with the likes of Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ben Harper and Angelique Kidjo to name a few. Elizabeth’s original music has been described as the fusing of an eclectic blend of acoustic folk, soulful funk grooves and a twist of jazz.

 

Elizabeth is a seasoned educator and has had several teaching roles in Colleges and TAFEs in three states of Australia. Her educational philosophy and pedagogical approach mirrors that of the great Miles Davis …”knowledge is power.”

 

 

 

Ruth Sancho Huerga

 

Ruth Sancho Huerga (Castellon de la Plana, Spain) has written since the age of three. She studied English Philology at the University of Barcelona, Cultural and Social Anthropology in UNED (Castellon), Theatre Studies in Laboratorio de Teatro William Layton (Madrid) and Drama in Col.legi del Theatre (Barcelona).   She is a poet, playwright as well as a theatre and film director. She has worked on the stage for more than 20 years, publishing and performing theatre and poetry in different countries and festivals around the world such as Spain, England, U.S.A, Mexico, Colombia and Australia ('Melbourne Writers Festival 2005', 'Overload Poetry Festival 2006 and 2010' and 'Perth Poetry Festival 2011').

 

Also, she has worked in the Television and Film Industry. Some of her works are "Azahares, Tribute to Miguel Hernandez" (Award "Cultural Cooperation Program. 2010", and supported by the Spanish Minister of Culture, the Spanish Consulate in Melbourne and National University of Australia) "El Libro del buen amor" (Theatre Award "Jose Maria Rodero", Madrid), "In Praise of Folly" (Adaptation of "Don Quixot", New York), "Entre via y vi-a" (Award 'Jovenes Creadores', Valencia) and "Vive la Fiesta" (Art Centre Melbourne).

 

In 2010 she finished her visual poetry collection titled “The Shadows of the Words”. Her new Digital Interactive Poetry Installation called "Trip-T(l)ics" (Award, "Cultural Cooperation Program 2011") is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Education, The Australian National University, RMIT, and The European Studies Centre. Also, she is pursuing Masters in Digital Literature in the University of Barcelona (Spain) and Masters by Research in Creative Writing in R.M.I.T University (Melbourne. Australia).

 

 

Maria Hontalas

 

Maria Hontalas is originally from San Francisco and after working in the Los Angeles dance industry is now a permanent resident in Melbourne. For the past two years she has been teaching and managing at Fusion Dance and Lifestyle Studios in Fitzroy.

Maria has a wide range of styles under her belt; from ballet to acrobatics and everything in between. She is comfortable teaching children/adults and beginner to advanced. Her specialty is blending open level classes and is always prepared with variations on movement.

 

Below are links to Maria's choreography:

 

Beginners Lyrical Class:

 

 

Beginners Burlesque Class:

 

 

Music Video Choreography: