Chrissy Sharp (Chair), NSW

Chrissy Sharp was appointed chair of the Dance Board and a member of Council for three years from 19 October 2009. Chrissy was the inaugural Director of the Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas in Melbourne, a position that she finished in late 2011. She brings to the Australia Council more than 20 years experience in the arts in Australia and overseas.

Chrissy was General Manager of Sadler’s Wells Dance Theatre and a Board Director of Cheek by Jowl Theatre Company in London.   She was previously General Manager of the Sydney Festival, Head of Policy at SBS and the Executive Director of the Australian Writers’ Guild.  During her time at  Sadler’s Wells, this venerable institution saw a dramatic change in its financial situation and was repositioned as one of the leading European contemporary dance houses.  Chrissy grew up in Canberra and studied History at the Australian National University.

Sandra Collins, NSW

Sandra’s career began in media, sales and marketing where she held key executive positions at Nine Network, TEN and Media Sales Network. She spent several years living in Europe and the UK, where she worked in the finance sector and managed a visual artists co-op. Upon returning to Australia, she completed a Diploma in Dramatic Art and worked consistently as an actor on stage, TV and in film. In 1999 she was nominated for NZ Film Awards Best Supporting Actress. Sandra was also a stand-up comedian performing regularly on the stand-up circuit and comedy festivals in Australia and New Zealand.  She has taught drama at ATYP, Brent Street and the Sydney Acting School.

In early 2000 she worked with the Olympics Art Festival producing the Festival’s Live Sites entertainment. During 2000 she was offered the position of Business Manager at Bangarra Dance Theatre where for the next 9 years she was responsible for negotiating and successfully securing all the company’s national and international tours including seasons at Sadler’s Wells, London, Théâtre du Châtelet Paris, Kennedy Centre, Washington DC and Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York, Palace of the Arts, Budapest.

In 2011 she was responsible for project management of the inaugural NSW Aboriginal Dance Forum. Sandra currently consults to the Performing Arts sector and is the Producer at Version 1.0, a Sydney based performance company.

Matthew Morse, NSW

Matthew is the Sydney Theatre Company’s Cultural Development Manager. His previous roles include Cultural Development Manager of the Australian Ballet and General Manager of Melbourne based contemporary dance company BalletLab. Matthew has also been a board member of BalletLab and Ausdance Victoria, and was Chair of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. Matthew recently graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a post graduate in Cultural Community Development.

Elizabeth Walsh, Tas

Elizabeth Walsh is a respected figure across the arts in Australia and internationally. Her work and knowledge span the performing and visual arts, from small to medium size companies to major centres for the creative arts and multi-artform festivals. She has been a key figure in the development of Australian programme content which is both culturally relevant to audiences and pushes the boundaries of contemporary arts practice.

Elizabeth Walsh has just completed her term as artistic Director of the 10 days on the Island festival (2007, 2009 and 2011) having been involved since its inception as Program Manager (2001) and Executive Producer (2002–2005).

Elizabeth is former Program Manager of the Sydney Festival (1994–1997) and Sydney Opera House Trust (1997–1999), Director of Footscray Community Arts Centre (1991–1994) and held various roles with the Flying Fruit Fly Circus (1983–1989), including that of producer, Tour and Company manager.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts School of Drama and has worked in a freelance capacity with companies and artists including Circus Oz, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Danceworks, Lyndal Jones and Anthony Steel and Associates.

She is currently an external artistic assessor for Creative New Zealand, a board member of Theatre Royal (Hobart), a member of the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals and a life member of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.

Carol Wellman Kelly, SA

Having graduated with a B.A. Dance from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1985, Carol has worked with many companies during her 23-year career. Her commitment to dance education allowed her to work with the outreach education units of Rambert Dance Company, Richard Alston Dance Company, Cando Co foundation course and the London Contemporary Dance Theatre.

After a long performing, teaching and facilitating career in Australia, Europe, Asia and the USA Carol joined The Australian Dance Theatre  as Assistant Director and Rehearsal Director with Garry Stewart from 2000 - 2008. In 2002 she took 12 months to fulfil the role of Artistic Director for Buzz Dance Theatre-with whom she began her professional career in 1986 when the company was known as 2 Dance Plus.  Carol now works as a freelance dance artist, performer, manager and educator. She  works with Flinders University tertiary Drama/Theatre students, Force Majeure and DV8 as well as intensives for Ausdance SA. Recently Carol rehearsed and toured the latest Tasdance production and was commissioned to create a short work for Quantum Leap Youth Dance Company (QL2). She was a peer adviser to the Dance Board when they assessed all of their Key Organisations in 2008.

Michael Whaites, WA

After graduating with a certificate in dance at the centre for performing arts in Adelaide in 1984, Michael went on to work with Dance North and the Australian Dance Theatre, receiving Male Dancer of the Year Award in 1988 and 1989. In 1991 he moved to New York where he worked with Twyla Tharp and Dancers until 1993. While in New York, Michael also worked with Irene Hultman Dance. He moved to Germany in 1995 where he worked with Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal for five years.

Michael has choreographed works for a variety of companies in Australia including Dance North, Australian Dance Theatre; the Centre for the Performing Arts, Adelaide; NORPA; Restless Dance Company; One Extra Dance Company; Leigh Warren and Dancers; The Dance Project.

In 2003 Michael was awarded an Asialink Grant, which enabled him to teach technique and improvisation to the Beijing and Guangdong Modern Dance Companies in China for 3 months.

In 2005 Michael was Associate Director for Kim Carpenter's Theatre of Image in Sydney. In 2006 he was appointed Artistic Director of LINK Dance Company and a lecturer in contemporary dance at WAAPA in Perth Western Australia.

Michelle Ryan, QLD

Michelle Ryan is an arts practitioner with over twenty years experience in the areas of film, performance, choreography and administration.

Michelle worked for Queensland Arts Council before joining Meryl Tankard in Canberra and Adelaide (Meryl Tankard’s Australian Dance Theatre). She was a performer with Tankard for 7 ½ years followed by projects in Europe as Tankard’s assistant. On returning to Australia, Michelle was a founding member of Splintergroup. She was the Associate Artist and Rehearsal Director for lawn, roadkill and underneath. From 2005 - 2010 Michelle worked at Dancenorth in various capacities including Artistic Manager, Rehearsal Director, Choreographer and Assistant Producer.

In 2009 Michelle created the dance film Nerve Ending that has been screened nationally and internationally and in 2010 created Four Short Films About Juanita. Michelle performed in the Brisbane Festival season of Out of Context for Pina by Les Ballet C de la B in 2011 as the guest artist and currently works for National Disability Services Queensland.