Touch Compass Tutors

Susie Tate

From September 2005 to August 2008 Susie worked for Candoco Dance Company as the Director of the Foundation Course in dance for disabled students, and then the Director of a new project, ADAPT. ADAPT was a programme that supported thetraining and development of teachers in the vocational sector and in the identification of gifted and talented disabled dance students.  Both of these programmes were ground breaking and the first of their kind in the world. Susie initially trained in ballet gaining a degree from the Royal Academy, and on graduating in 1996, gained full time employment with the education unit of English National Ballet (ENB). On leaving ENB four years later, she continued to work freelance for the company along with other leading dance education departments and schools -The Royal Ballet school, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Central School of Ballet, The Place (London Contemporary) and Anjali Dance Company. Susie also instigated dance in an inner city London school developing the subject within the curriculum and teaching it at GCSE level as well as developing and leading after school dance projects and the Kingston Youth Dance Company.

Sue Cheesman 

Sue’s involvement with Touch Compass has been a multi layered relationship working as a stage manager, rehearsal director, administration support and also as a choreographer for Touch Compass over the years. Sue has worked extensively in dance as a choreographer, teacher, performer and lecturer both in New Zealand and England. She has an eclectic background and gained her MA in dance studies at the University of Surrey, England. After returning to New Zealand in 1993 Sue has worked as lecturer in dance at the University of Otago and Auckland College of Education and most recently Professional Development Manager for Arts Online. Currently Sue is working as a freelance dance consultant. Other recent work includes: choreographer of Playing Society’s Level Fields a work within the Acquisitions season 2003, rehearsal director for Touch Compass’s Lighthouse, a choreographer for Lab Project 2 for Touch Compass, a mentor for the choreographic platform, 2001 & 2002, and a choreographer for 2003. Sue’s own recent choreography includes youth work commissions, Curiously Quirky and solo’s Oh So Very Nice, Bloom and The Sophisticated Woman.

Catherine Chappell

Catherine is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and currently training to be a Watsu practitioner. Catherine founded Touch Compass in 1997 and is known for her pioneering work in both Integrated Dance and Contact Improvisation in New Zealand. She is the Artistic Director and founder of Touch Compass and has performed for many great NZ choreographers when she danced in LIMBS Dance Company (1986-88). While in Europe she performed with dance/theatre Company Vivienne Newport, Germany (1988-89) performing in Germany and Italy. She has been on the faculty of UNITEC, School of Performing & Screen Arts, since 1991 and a guest tutor at The NZ School of Dance and The University of Otago School of Physical Education.  In 1996 Catherine trained in mixed ability dance with Alito Alessi at the 1st DanceAbility International Teacher Training in Eugene Oregon.

Linda Parker

Linda performed with Touch Compass at the New Gallery 1999, in Wellington 2001 and the Tour of 2002. She began teaching flying dance after completing Touch Compass Dance Trusts' first flying dance workshop in 1998. Linda lead four week-long holiday workshops, performances, showings and in-schools programmes for Touch Compass. She was a choreographer on the 2001 Choreolab. In 2002 Linda trained and performed at the Aerial Dance Festival in the USA and taught flying dance to Blue Eyed Soul Dance Co. in the UK. She graduated with a Masters in Creative and Performing Arts (Dance Studies) from Auckland University in 2004. Linda is passionate about integrated flying dance. See www.flyingdance.prema.co.nz for information on full-time programmes and new initiatives with Splash Flying Dance & Co.

Tim Turner

Tim has been a dancer with TCDT since 2003 performing in Acquistions 03, 10 of Hearts 2005 but of late has enjoyed his role as a teacher for the company, most recently spending a term teaching at Rosehill Special School as part of the Artists in Schools project lead by Linda Parker and Sue Cheesman.