Talent Watch | Neale Whittaker, Alex Miedzinski and Ben Zammit
Featuring in the WE.ARE Dance Project’s Inaugural Show FOUND
Interviews by Chris Duncan
Seasoned professional, Neale, and rising stars, Alex and Ben, are joining the inaugural cast of FOUND – the premiere show by new non-profit dance company WE.ARE Dance Project, choreographed by Stephen Tannos and premiering in April at NIDA, Sydney. More shows to be announced soon! Get to know the cast of FOUND.
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PRO TALENT WATCH | Neale Whittaker, a pioneer in dance creation and well known for his work with comedic hip hop group Phly Crew, is another incredible addition to the cast of ‘FOUND’. Today, he shares with us what he is most looking forward to in this current chapter, some insights from his career so far and his ambitions for the future.
Q: What most attracted you to be part of the WE.ARE Dance Project and it’s premier season of ‘FOUND’?
I’m always looking for opportunities to work with creatives. Stephen Tannos is definitely someone I’ve wanted to work for. WE.ARE Dance Project’s premiere season of ‘FOUND’ is bound to be a loud, energetic and entertaining production. Cannot wait to hit the stage!
Q: What projects have you been working on recently?
I recently produced and choreographed my own contemporary show called ‘Una Palabra’ which graced the stage with a sold-out weekend in Sydney last year. Also, I have continued to perform and manage Sydney’s comedy Hip Hop group Phly Crew whom have been taking the corporate entertainment world by storm.
Q: What do you believe every dancer should try at least once in their lives?
Every Dancer/person should try something that they’re interested in and afraid of. If you’ve always wanted to ‘do that thing’ then you should try! With dancing, it’s so important to round yourself out with as many skills as possible so you don’t lock yourself in a box.
Q: What’s in store for you for the coming year/near future beyond premiering ‘FOUND’?
2019 and 2020 are looking to be very exciting years for Phly Crew. We are hoping to put on a brand new production to send it across as many fringe festivals as possible. The big plan is to land ourselves in Edinburgh Fringe Festival and finally debut Phly Crew to the world. Also, Aimee and I want to have babies.
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HOT TALENT WATCH | Trailblazer Alex Miedzinski is yet another unique and bright spark joining the cast of the WE.ARE Dance Project’s premiere season ‘FOUND’. Today, she lets us in a little on her journey so far, as well as her aspirations for her own creative gifts.
Q: What are you looking forward to most as a member of the premiere cast for WE.ARE dance project’s ‘FOUND’?
I am most looking forward to working closely with one of my biggest mentors growing up, Stephen Tannos. He played a big part in my early urban contemporary training. I used to attend Sydney Dance Company every Saturday morning, before my other classes, just so I could do his open class. Knowing Stephen, he is going to put 120% into this show, with the music, production and choreography. The audience will be jumping out of their seats. I’m very excited to be a part of it and to share the stage with this incredible cast.
Q: Who or what has helped shape you into the performer you are right now?
The list of people is endless. I have met so many incredible people who have inspired me, mentored me and influenced me as a dancer and a person. Each one different from the last and teaching me something new that I’ve applied to my training. In my earlier years, definitely Stephen Tannos, Lucas Newland and Renee Ritchie. After graduating and spending a lot of time in America, Brian Friedman, Sisco Gomez and Tessandra Chavez became huge influences also. Then, when Chris Martin and Larkin Poynton came into my life with ‘Project Home’, a whole new side of me was created. Now, as well as all of these people; everyday life, music and the beautiful friends I surround myself with continue to shape me into the performer I am today.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I can’t eat anything with an unusual texture. For example, jelly, panacotta, pavlova or eggs. I’ve tried many times but it’s a no go!
Q: What’s in store for you in the coming year/near future?
In the near future I will be travelling to America to assist Brian Friedman and Sisco Gomez at Radix and the Main Event, as well as touring the US teaching at the NRG convention. I’m very excited! Also, to bring back all I learn and share it with my students.
I’d also love to work on my own creative projects. A dream of mine is to create an all male dance company that pushes the boundaries of physical strength and ability, but also showcases the pure beauty and elegance in the way male dancers can move and interact with each other. I would love to submit this company to organisations such as Cirque Du Soleil and tour Australia with a show I’ve created. I would love to plant this seed in the near future and continue to develop this dream. I’ll keep you all updated!
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HOT TALENT WATCH | Ben Zammit has continued to thrive in his career since we last caught up with him in 2017. Below, he shares about how he has evolved in the last two years, his feelings about the upcoming premier of ‘FOUND’ and what most inspires him moving forward.
Q: How does it feel to have been cast in the premiere season for the WE.ARE Dance Project?
It’s an incredible feeling to know I get to train under the guidance of Stephen Tannos in ‘FOUND’. I am feeling so humbled to be dancing and training alongside such a talented and creative cast, who I know are going to create a positive energy and an inspiring work space. Being cast in the Premiere season – it’s a special feeling, as I will get to experience the development of the company and witness the start of something, I believe, will be carried on for many years.
Q: Two years ago, we caught up with you for an interview and you had just completed a contract with Opera Australia, about to start a season with The Dream Dance Company. Can you tell us a little bit about what you’ve been doing since then and what your most valuable lessons have been?
I had the most incredible experiences as a cast member of The Dream Dance Company. I built myself as a dancer both physically and mentally, it taught me a lot and it guided me to the direction I want to go in with dance. I was then inspired to teach and to share my knowledge and experiences with the upcoming generation of dancers and also to travel Europe, to continue training and learning as much as I can.
In 2018 I was cast in ‘Una Palabra’ (directed by fellow ‘FOUND’ cast member Neale Whittaker). Neale has inspired me since full-time and continues to. I am now fortunate enough to have worked with him in The Dream Dance Company, ‘Una Palabra’ and currently in ‘FOUND’.
Q: What is on your bucket list in life?
The one thing I’m certain about is the idea of travelling. I am a very spontaneous person so nothing is ever set in stone and I love the idea of change. My current aspirations are to re visit New York City, to live in London for an indefinite period of time, for dance and for the lifestyle change, and to continue to build myself as a human by letting dance gently guide me to being my truest self.
Q: What’s in store for you in 2019 and near future, after you complete the WE.ARE Dance Project season premiere?
I will continue to teach, audition and take on everything that comes my way. I have definite plans to travel overseas in December, but I will always live embracing change, continue to develop my skills and consistently push myself for more.
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BIO | Neale Whittaker
Neale completed his full time dance training at Ev & Bow in 2008, and attended Urban Dance Camp in Germany with some of the most prestigious choreographers in the world in 2014 and returned on scholarship in 2015, after which Neale taught throughout Europe.
Neale’s TV credits include being in the top 40 for hit TV show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ in 2010 (which he also assisted Sarah Boulter with since 2008), ABC’s ‘Dance Academy‘, ‘Australia’s Got Talent‘ (as a Semi Finalist in 2012 and Grand Finalist in 2016) and performing a solo routine on ‘The Voice’ in 2017 alongside celebrity guest Jennifer Hudson.
Neale’s stage credits include ‘Shorter and Sweeter Dance’ (touring Australia in 2011) working with Australian choreographers including Travers Ross, who Neale also collaborated with in 2012 for the ARIAs, co-choreographing and performing for artist 360, the Dream Dance Company’s ‘Enter the Vortex’ Produced by Marko Panzic and Choreographed by Sarah Boulter (touring Australia in 2017 as Dance Captain), ‘Una Palabra’ a show he produced, choreographed and performed in during 2018.
Neale’s talent for Hip hop led him to become Co-Director and manager of Phly Crew, Grand Finalists on ‘Australia’s Got Talent‘ in 2016, and who are now Sydney’s Leading Comedy Hip-Hop group. They independently produce and perform a variety of stage shows and corporate events having worked with Nikon, Telstra, Blackberry, Beyond Blue, West mead Children’s hospital and more.
