Diane studied dance at the University of
Western Sydney, Australia from 1992 to 1994.
She has worked internationally as an
independent artist, collaborating with a diverse
range of artistic groups in the capacity of
dancer, acrobat, teacher, choreographer,
producer and director.
Diane toured the world for over ten years with a
professional dance company based in Berlin,
Germany. During that time she worked with a
seniors group and performed at various
festivals across Germany and Europe.
She has Masters Degree from Macquarie
University and studied Art and Dementia
through the University of Tasmania. Her passion
is to use her skills to encourage the aged to
keep on dancing in their twilight years.
Diane’s mother worked in a nursing home
where she had her first performance as an
eight-year old. She is currently caring for her
father who has dementia.
Diane studied dance at the University of
Western Sydney and has a Masters Degree from Macquarie University. She has worked internationally as an independent artist, collaborating with a diverse range of dance, theatre, circus & opera companies in the capacity of dancer, acrobat, teacher, choreographer, mentor & director for over 30 years.
She manifested her childhood dream & toured the world for 15 years with a professional dance company based in Berlin, Germany, during which time she worked with a seniors group and performed at various festivals across Germany and Europe.
She returned to Australia in 2015 to be her father's carer & has studied various courses on dementia to support her carer's role.
Her artistic passion is to use her skills to encourage people to keep on dancing in their twilight years. Diane believes dance and art is a strong device that unites all communities.
Business Manager Vanessa Ronan-Pearce
Vanessa started dancing at the age of 3 when
her Mum, ex-principal dancer Borovansky Ballet
(now Australian Ballet) started teaching dance.
She trained in ballet, tap and jazz completing
her HSC at The McDonald College. Vanessa went
on to run The Glebe School of Performing arts
for over 15 years and also taught at other studios including Brent St, Dynamite,
Urban Dance Centre and Sydney Dance Co.
She completed a Bachelor of Arts (Dance)
followed by study in Sports Therapy, Music,
Communications and Business. She also spent
many years working as a professional singer
and dancer before moving into the corporate
world.
Managing Creative Caring provides a unique
opportunity for Vanessa to combine her passion
for dance and creativity whilst utilising her vast
corporate experience.
Drama teacher Vashti Hughes
Vashti has a BA Theatre Studies UNSW. She went on to study performance at UWS Nepean. She has made independent theatre and cabaret since then as well as comedy. Vashti writes and performs her own shows.
Vashti deeply values and respects the input that our Elders have to society. Over the last few years she has been increasingly involved in the Kings Cross community. She created a work called Piccolo Tales with 80 year-old Sydney icon, Vittorio Bianchi writing a performance piece which they performed together.
She then went on to create community gatherings at the Kings Cross library throughout the City of Sydney celebrating the lives of its elder members who have contributed to its rich history. She gathered stories with the assistance of Kings Cross community centre reaching out to senior members of the community, which she then performed, in the form of interviews, at the library.
Vashti taught drama in high schools and toured with children's theatre company Loose Canon Arts to Singapore and Indonesia. She is currently working with Milkcrate Theatre with homeless and disadvantaged people.
Dance teacher Renata Commisso
Renata Commisso was born in Sydney, Australia. She began her education in classical ballet and contemporary dance in Sydney before moving to Munich, Germany to complete her studies. For the next 10 years she worked with professional dance companies between Europe and Canada.
Her professional dance career at Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal and with The National Centre for Dance Therapy.
Renata loves exploring collaborative contemporary performance for the community; creating works for galleries, choreographic labs and charity performances, including Le Livart Galleries, A Suvire 2016, Leucan, and Parkinson’s en Mouvement.
Returning to Sydney in 2018 as an independent artist, Renata is pursuing opportunities to develop accessible dance works and share her passion for dance through guiding and teaching various community groups. She has received her Parkinson’s en Movement Certification in Montreal, her Social Arts Immersion Training- Cirque du Soleil and Centre of National Dance Therapy and most recently Dance for PD.
Since 2017, Renata has been teaching community dance classes for people with Parkinson’s in Sydney and also improvisation classes.