Workshop Tutors
Sarah Armour
Sarah is thrilled to be currently working with The Arts Unit as Arts Coordination Officer for the North Coast. After completing a degree in Music Education she ran a successful instrumental music and Kindermusik studio.
As a CAPA teacher, she has extensive experience in teaching K-6 classroom music and creative arts lessons. In this capacity, Sarah has conducted bands, ensembles, directed concerts and school musical productions. She is passionate about children developing a love of singing- choir is her most favourite time of the week.
Sarah is an experienced primary school classroom teacher having most recently taught Kindergarten. She believes in creating rich and engaging opportunities for children to explore their world, be playful and nurture creativity through immersion in books, music and movement.
She loves musical theatre, Big Band music and lives on Bundjalung Country.
Neville Boney
Neville Williams Boney is a proud Wiradjuri/Weilwan man from Wagga Wagga. On his mother’s side, his family kinships from Cowra, Griffith, Yass, Canberra Area. And his father side, he has kinship connections to Brewarrina, Lightning Ridge, Walgett and Coonamble.
Neville is a 2018 Graduate of NAISDA Dance College. He is currently an independent, interdisciplinary artist living on Dharug Land Sydney.
Neville danced with Karul Projects in their work CO_EX_EN premiering at Dance Massive (2019). He then pursued many different artistic endeavours. He co-created with Amy Flannery, BRUTAL (2019) Dance collaborator in Phunktional’s Beyond The Wall (2019), Artist in Residence for Carriagework’s Solid Ground Program (2021, 2022) Associate Producer for Sydney Festival (2020, 2021,2022, 2023)
He teaches with various companies in various disciplines across Sydney. Teaching for UNSW, University Of Sydney, Sydney Theatre Company, Poetry In Action, NAISDA Dance College, Bush To Bowl, The Conservatorium of Music,, and The Australian Reptile Park.
Rachel Collis
Sydney songstress Rachel Collis has been described by reviewers as no less than “prodigy”, “sheer genius” (Australian Stage) and “a welcome jolt back to the time of Joni Mitchell and Carole King” (The Orange Press). Rachel is good old-fashioned songwriting, combined with whirlwind virtuosic piano and Celtic–like vocals.
Rachel has released 4 studio albums with ARIA and Emmy-award winning producer Sean Carey, which have grown Rachel a dedicated fanbase in Australia, the UK, the US and Canada. Her songs and stories explore the beauty and spirituality of everyday life. Beautifully-crafted and emotionally honest, each song is an invitation to find affinity and belonging in the simplest of moments.
With a passion for social justice and inclusion, Rachel is also a champion for widening the tent of who is seen and heard in society. Through her stories of love, loss, shame, and messy, authentic faith, Rachel creates connectedness and a safe space for listeners.
Rachel has performed to sell-out audiences at the prestigious Riverside Theatres, at the Sydney and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, and is a regular performer at folk and music venues in Sydney and beyond. Originally a classically trained pianist, Rachel is nothing short of a virtuoso. She was awarded a Masters Of Music in Composition in 2012.
Sally Dangar
Sally Dangar is a choreographer, dance teacher & performer. She graduated from ED5INTERNATIONAL with a Diploma of Performing Arts and has since worked extensively in theatre, television and film. Most notably, she appeared in Australian film Ladies in Black as a featured dancer and played the role of a Dancer/Nurse in the Jungle Entertainment and ABC drama Wakefield.
Sally is currently Dance Director for Pulse Alive, choreographer for Pulse Far West and SpecFest for The Arts Unit as well as Wakakirri for Strathfield North Public School. Previously, she was the associate choreographer of Into The Woods for Bloom Creative Productions, assistant choreographer of; Matilda and Charlie & The Chocolate Factory for Wenona School, Wicked and Kinky Boots for Packemin Productions and has also choreographed for Home & Away.
Sally is the founder and director of 123 Dance With Me, an Australian program created for dance studios and childcare facilities to offer high-quality dance education that explores movement, coordination and creativity in a fun and engaging way.
In addition to this, Sally teaches an array of dance programs in NSW studios and schools, including competitive dance teams and her own programs such as Dance Challenge. She is also proud to teach and train for the Dance Health Alliance, a NFP organisation specialising in inclusive and accessible dance classes.
With a sincere passion for dance education, Sally's programs are engaging, positive, comprehensive and fun. She hopes to inspire, encourage and challenge her students, providing them with a strong foundation and training as they explore their love for dance.
Virginia Ferris
Virginia is a choreographer, artistic director, adjudicator, dance tutor, and event coordinator specialising in contemporary choreography, musical theatre, and jazz styles. As a classical ballet dancer for the Tasmanian Ballet Company, Virgina has performed as a TV and film dancer, as a musical theatre performer in shows such as Hello Dolly, and Dancin’ Man, and as a contemporary performer for Company in Flight (San Francisco). She has also choreographed and performed with Frank Sinatra, Kylie Minogue, Peter Allen, Marilyn Jones, KD Lang, Kath & Kim, Bob Downe, Keith Bain, and Jimmy Somerville to name a few.
Sonja Sjolander
Sonja’s tertiary training at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, cemented her passion, pride and pedagogy in the arts, culminating in an original musical written in her final year showcasing strengths in music, dance and drama and a targeted graduate position with the NSW Department of Education. Directing, choreographing, musical directing and performing in community and professional productions extended her collaboration with extraordinary creatives and her reputation for excellence.
Sonja’s teaching career began at Caringbah High School teaching Music and French, and then, later as Head Teacher Creative and Performing Arts. Sonja passed her knowledge and experience on to her students and colleagues generating a culture of excellence and inclusivity, resulting in one of the most prolific co-curricular arts programs in the state.
In 2010, Sonja was seconded to corporate office to develop and deliver an innovative, interactive showcase on the value of Arts and Sport endorsed by the Director-General of Education and presented at the annual Principals Conference with accompanying resources distributed to every school in the state. This led to positions at The Arts Unit, designing and delivering initiative programs for students state-wide. These programs targeted students from regional, rural and remote locations, students at risk of disadvantage or disengagement and students with high potential and giftedness. As a result, a significant positive impact has been made on thousands of students’ lives, supporting their wellbeing, creating career pathways and providing new opportunities for growth.
As the Creative Director of the Schools Spectacular, since 2011, Sonja works with a dynamic team to annually lead over 5,500 students and 700 teachers in the creation and delivery of the department’s highest profile performing arts event with national credibility fostering excellence, inclusion and diversity. In addition, Sonja collaborates with a range of industry partners and supporters to facilitate high profile events that promote the students and staff of public education. She is driven by her passion for the arts and unleashing the potential of each individual she comes into contact with.
Jack Tier
Jack Tier holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre) and a Master of Teaching (Primary). With a belief in the importance of Public Education, he has been working as a Primary School Teacher on Sydney’s Northern Beaches since 2014. Jack holds a passion for Music, Dance and Drama and works with The Arts Unit to assist in the delivery of programs such as Pulse Alive and Schools Spectacular. He is committed to creating inclusive and equitable learning environments where every student has the opportunity to thrive.