TSPA Teachers
Jay Watson
Teacher
2007 culminates in a ten year anniversary for local teacher, dancer and choreographer Jay Watson and his time with Tasdance. In 1998 he created the first annual education project Fish finger, and has continued to work with Tasdance in various capacities.
Jay has been involved in 12 seasons, including three educational projects, various festivals throughout the state and professional performances both locally and nationally. During this time Jay has worked with several leading Australian choreographers such as Graeme Murphy, Paul Mercurio and Chrissie Parrott. He has also choreographed Story Lines, Passion fruit and the Poetry and Dance Festival and most recently for the Amalgamation Arts Festival.
2004 saw Jay venture into the Department of Education where he had positions in several schools. 2004 dance and drama teacher at Kings Meadows High School; 2005 special aid and dance teacher at West Launceston Primary School: and dance and drama teacher for Scotch Oakburn College. Jay currently runs six classes at the Tasdance School of Performing Arts.
Emma Porteus
Teacher
Emma is an independent dancer, choreographer and teacher currently based in Launceston. Emma began her contemporary dance career in 2001 with Stompin Youth Dance where she performed in a Placement as part of the first Ten Days on the Island Festival. After completing her degree in Contemporary Dance at Deakin University, graduating with distinction, she undertook and completed her Honours research into the collaborative process. This is a continuing interest of Emma's, and she constantly is drawn to new experiences that help her further her research. In 2004 Emma created and performed in the Melbourne Fringe Festival show Lamplight verses the Moon, which was selected for the Graduate Showcase at Dancehouse. In 2005 Emma was asked to co-choreograph Tasdance's education project Microscope. Later that year she was assistant director on Dance Path, held at Dancehouse in Melbourne. In 2006 Emma choreographed for Stompin as part of the Outback Fringe Festival in Roxby Downs and choreographed the 2006 annual education project Dry as a Bone for Tasdance. In November she performed and choreographed in Tasdance's Illuminations3, and has been thrilled to choreograph White Light with Jay.
Cindy Foster
Teacher
Cindy gained a bachelor of Music and performing Arts from the Queensland Conservatorium in 2005. Her teaching experience includes two years at Theatre Arts Mackay.