Erica Rose Jeffrey

Dr Erica Rose Jeffrey believes in the power of movement connected to positive social change. A ‘dance activist’ she seeks to create positive ways of seeing, participating and collaborating in, around, and through dance. Involved in multiple communities, she has worked internationally as a peacebuilder, facilitator, performer, educator, and arts leader.

Erica Rose co-founded the Dance for Parkinson’s Australia program with David Leventhal in 2012. The first Dance for PD® certified teaching artist in Australia, Erica Rose holds a PhD in Creative Industries focusing on Dance and Peacebuilding from Queensland University of Technology, a M.A. in International Relations-Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Queensland, and B.S. degrees in Dance and Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Indiana University. She is a Director of Dance for Parkinson’s Australia working in Partnership with Dance for PD®, and has presented workshops with Queensland Ballet in Brisbane, the Sydney Opera House, The Australian Ballet, Ausdance, the Belconnen Arts Centre and other organizations throughout Australia. Working with Dance for PD®, she is supporting the expansion of training and class opportunities in China, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand and Japan. Erica Rose is also a co-Director of Peace and Conflict Studies Institute Australia, implementing and researching peacebuilding projects in the Asia and Pacific regions. Her research has included work in the Philippines specifically in Mindanao, Fiji, Bougainville (Papua New Guinea) and the United States. As a Director of PaCSIA, she is currently engaged in community level peacebuilding projects, including many with arts and culture components, in Australia and internationally including Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

Jess Conneely

Jessica is an experienced creative teaching artist and trainer in dance education. With over 30 years of performing and educating others on the benefits of dance, currently facilitating programs for older adults in Community and Aged Care across NSW through the foundation of Dance4wellbeing in 2017.

https://www.dance4wellbeing.com.au/

Jess trains Health & Care professionals to support the use of creativity, movement & music to improve quality of life for older adults. For the last 5 years has led a TAFE NSW accredited skill set course partnering with NSW Health and state training providing accessible learning.
Jess holds a BA degree and qualifications in both vocational education as well as studies in Inclusive & community dance practice, dance psychology, dementia, and Parkinson’s training. Jess won the Trailblazer award, Arts Health Institute as dance program lead in creative engagement for older people. In 2014 wrote the contemporary dance foundation curriculum for the Australian Dance Institute.
Jess presents regularly at Arts and Health conferences and has received numerous awards and grants to further expand best practice in dance and creativity for our ageing population., including 2021 Arts Leader Award, Lake Mac Council & Best Choreography for Sydney Mardi Gra Community Awards. 2022 she was the recipient of Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion at the Lake Mac Business Awards. Jess is on the committees of ACFIPS as Arts & Health Sector advisory member, Arts Health Network NSW/ACT, Outside In Collective and Co-director of Dance for Parkinson’s Australia.

Philip Piggin

Philip is currently a member of the ZEST: Dance for Wellbeing Team, delivering classes to seniors across Canberra. He is also a Co-Director for Dance for Parkinson’s Australia, a member of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Ageing in the ACT, and a Co-Director for the GOLD company at Canberra Dance Theatre.

He has worked across Australia and the UK as a Dance Artist/Educator, specialising in the community and education sectors. Philip has worked with Savidge Dance Company, Common Ground Dance Theatre, Clwyd Dance and Men Dancing in the UK, and in Australia with The Contemporary Dance Company, Ausdance, Canberra Dance Theatre, The National Portrait Gallery and Belconnen Arts Centre. He has taught at several universities, and served on the boards for a number of arts organisations and as a panel member for state and national funding authorities.
In 2014 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to research dance programs for people with Parkinson’s and Dementia. Twice nominated for Services to Dance at the Australian Dance Awards, in 2016 he received Life Membership from People Dancing, UK.

Paige Gordon

Paige Gordon has worked in the Australian dance industry for over thirty years. After initial training with Kira Bousloff, Paige studied at WAAPA. She has performed with WA Ballet, Fieldworks, Meryl Tankard Company and numerous independent practitioners.

Paige formed a project company in the ACT in 1993 creating an ongoing and significant independent dance presence in the ACT, which drew national interest. Paige was the Artistic Director of WA based Buzz Dance Theatre (1998-2003), where the company was central to the strong dance ecology in WA, performing in the Perth International Arts Festivals, Awesome Festivals, hosting Merce Cunningham & Company (2000) touring throughout WA, nationally & internationally. Paige received a Churchill Fellowship and Centenary Medal for her Service to Dance in 2000. Paige has taught dance in a number of primary and secondary schools across NSW and WA.

Paige is a passionate advocate for dance and seeks ways to connect dance with community through vital partnerships. Paige was co-founder and AD of TRACKSUIT (DADAA) from 2010 - 2020 which offered accessible, inclusive dance workshops, performances and film opportunities for adults of all abilities. Paige has created and facilitated dance-in-health projects within WA hospitals and a recent report by the Chamber of Arts & Culture WA identified Paige’s dance-in-health work as a key ‘resource’ in WA, to be used as a framework for future arts-in-health projects. Paige trained in the Dance for Parkinson’s Program in 2015, teaching classes throughout the Perth and Peel region. She founded Lifespan Dance in 2019 to offer outreach dance services and to continue Seated Dance classes. Paige has created seated dance performative opportunities and has performed WINGSPAN I and II at the Mandurah Arts Festival. Paige was the Dance Curator for the Fairbridge Festival from 2019-2022. In 2022, Paige assisted Meryl Tankard and Link Dance Company (WAAPA) for the ICON : Pina Bausch Project.
https://www.facebook.com/lifespan.dance/

Natasha Cesco

Natasha is a community dance artist and early childhood educator with extensive experience and qualifications from Italy, the UK, and Australia. She graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London with Specialists Diplomas in Dance Studies and Choreological Studies. While pursuing her career in creative movement practice, performance and dance teaching in community settings, Natasha has facilitated performing arts programs across Europe before relocating to Sydney and the Blue Mountains (NSW), in 2014.

In Australia, Natasha has tutored inclusive creative programs and projects across various settings including schools, community and family services, councils and arts centres. Since completing the Dance for Parkinson’s Training in 2015, Natasha has been facilitating weekly classes and serves as a DPA Committee Member. With over fifteen years of experience, she advocates for the arts in health, aiming to enhance quality of life and empower communities through creativity.

Natasha also holds a certificate in Intergenerational Practice from Griffith University. Her ongoing collaborations with organizations like Dance for Parkinson’s Australia, Move and Groove and the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice allow her to deepen her knowledge ongoingly and apply her movement practice as a universal language, fostering collective creativity, holistic wellbeing and togetherness.

Bridget Gildea

Bridget brings extensive global management experience leading growth strategies and engaging partnerships for iconic brands in the retail/consumer goods sector. Roles have included luxury brand management, lifestyle retail development, and manufacturing.

Bridget’s professional career includes international management roles in the United States and Hong Kong that demanded commercial acumen, and long-term strategic vision integrated with practical strategies to achieve positive outcomes. From these experiences grew a deep respect for cultural nuances, the power of dynamic relationships, and personal resilence. At the same time she completed a B.Bus and MBA, both in Retail/Wholesale Management.

Outside corporate life, Bridget is a ballroom dancer who competes at global competitions whenever possible. She is grateful for this opportunity to utilise her professional skills coupled with her love of dance to enhance the well being of the Dance for Parkinson’s community in Australia.

Katrina M Rank PhD

Dr Katrina Rank is an award-winning choreographer and educator based in Naarm, Melbourne, Australia. Her work creates spaces where the imagination flourishes and dynamic exchanges occur.
A graduate of the Australian Ballet School, she performed in dance companies in Australia and abroad before returning home to study a Bachelor of Education and complete a PhD that explored the presence of narrative in live dance performance.
Katrina was the 2007 Caroline Plummer Community Dance Fellow, NZ, which celebrated her dynamic and collaborative dance practice with many diverse communities. In 2013 she founded Fine Lines Dance, a contemporary dance program for older dancers and weekly dance sessions in Residential Aged Care, developing a pedagogy that values individuals and the exploration of ideas through movement.
In 2014 Katrina completed Dance for PD training and founded Dance for Health and Parkinson’s in Hampton, Victoria. In 2019 she established Dance for Health and PD in Preston, Victoria, which she continues to lead today.
In 2018, Katrina and fellow Dance for PD certified teacher, Paris Wages co-directed and choreographed the short film Stupendous: Dancing Through Parkinson’s. In 2023 and in 2025 they collaborated with the Australian Ballet and Dance for Parkinson’s Australia to present the Beaut Ballet Series, connecting dancers living with neurological conditions with artists of The Australian Ballet.
From 2008 – 2024, Katrina led Dance Education programs and advocacy for Ausdance Victoria and Ausdance National, peak bodies for dance. In 2018 Katrina was presented with the prestigious Australian Dance Award for Services to Dance Education.

Michael Bullock

Michael Bullock has been in senior leadership roles for over 15 years, through roles within the manufacturing and construction sectors.
He has worked predominantly within commercial sales and Project Management activities, developing these skills to ensure a broad range of experience to succeed in executive roles.
He has worked across Europe, SE Asia and Australia, including a placement in Vietnam for nearly 4 years.
He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Graduate Certificate in Management, and has recently become a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Professionally he is dedicated to delivering energy and passion to foster businesses and improving connections to prosper growth.
He is also committed to sharing his knowledge and skills, to help DPA increase its reach to those in need.

Justin Lawrence

Justin is a seasoned global business leader with over two decades of experience spanning the medical technology and government sectors. He brings a proven track record of strategic execution, revenue growth, and leadership in highly regulated and diverse operating environments.
Currently serving as General Manager at Eurofield Information Solutions, Justin has led the organisation to significant commercial success through innovation and partnerships. His previous roles include leading Asia-Pacific marketing at 3M’s Medical Solutions Division, and spearheading international engagement for Australia's healthcare sector at Austrade.
Justin holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is passionate about enhancing wellbeing through inclusive and community-driven initiatives and brings a unique blend of commercial acumen, scientific rigour and empathy.

Gordon Coss

Gordon is the Finance Officer for Dance for Parkinson’s. He has spent over 40 years in the IT industry in various roles, culminating in heading up Programme Offices for major projects in the airline industry with responsibility for reporting on projects tracking to schedule and budget.

He is also a dedicated student of dance, having studied various forms of dance for over 40 years. Sadly (according to him) he started way too late to be involved professionally. With a close family member suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, he joined Dance for Parkinson’s Australia after watching an interview with Cathie Goss. It is watching the pleasure and joy that participants have from the classes and activities that motivates him.