Sarah Knox

Undergraduate Advisor, The University of Auckland

Sarah Knox (MCPA, NZSD DipDP) is a Lecturer in Dance Studies at The University of Auckland and is also conducting research for a Doctor of Philosophy in Dance Studies.

She is an ex-professional contemporary dancer, having worked with Black Grace, The New Zealand Dance Company and Footnote NZ Dance, as well as an extensive freelance performing career. She has choregraphed for the Royal New Zealand Ballet (winner Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award, 2017), Ballet Collective Aotearoa, Tempo Dance Festival, New Zealand Fringe Festival, Footnote NZ Dance, Dance Nucleus (Singapore), Auckland Chamber Choir, and The University of Auckland. She has worked extensively as an adjudicator ad guest teacher in diverse dance contexts across New Zealand. Sarah is the Founder of Dance Education Resources and will launch the first products in early 2022. She is heavily involved in the wider arts community both nationally and internationally, holding numerous support, advocacy, advisor and leadership roles. She is the Chair of the World Dance Alliance Asia Pacific Education and Training Network. Sarah’s academic research is situated in the areas of professional dance, dance education, choreographic and dance technique pedagogies, creativity, and collaboration. Sarah is passionate about Dance Education being accessible to all young people. She wants to see all dancers achieve their goals, learn to appreciate diversity and to collaborate well, and be creatively supported in relevant ways.

Andrew Cesan

Choreographer

Andrew the Director of Momentum Productions, based in Auckland. He is a choreographer, dancer and music producer who enjoys amalgamating these mediums to create works for television, music videos, live shows and corporate events.

Andrew started dancing at an early age with jazz, tap, ballet and contemporary dance. In his early teens he won PACANZ in the tap division. Soon after Andrew grew an obsession for hip-hop culture and dance, performing with various crews throughout the Auckland hip-hop scene. In 2013–2014 I won two silver medals in the world Hip-Hop Dance Championships in Las Vegas as part of Identity Dance Company.

Since graduating from the University of Auckland in 2016 with a Bachelor of Dance Studies, Andrew has toured Europe and Australia with various productions, working in Macau, India, Oman and Russia as a choreographer or dancer. He was a lead choreographer for The X Factor NZ and performed in the 2018 WOW Awards show. Recently, Andrew choreographed the world of wearable art show in 2022 and 2023 and the FIFA women’s World Cup opening ceremony.

Nikki Dowling

Huihui Director, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College

Nikki gained a Bachelor of Dance Studies in 2014 and is now a teacher at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. Over the past 7 years, she has taught dance in a variety of high schools, most recently Hobsonville Point Secondary School where she was the sole dance teacher.

With a background in Ballroom and Contemporary Dance, Nikki has performed and competed internationally and been a national and international title holder. She has taught in studio and school settings and in 2019 was invited to present at Contemporary Unzipped, a week-long NZ Dance Teachers Conference.

Dance education is Nikki’s passion. She believes that all people can be dancers and that, given the opportunity, all students can create beautiful, thought-provoking choreography.