Jo Ford (she/her)
Jo has had over 30 years of creative enagagement with children and adults through the Performing Arts and (more recently) Wellbeing Sector, in both education and community settings.
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Checks
National Police Check
First Aid Certificate
Working With Children Checks NSW and VIC
Certifications
Half way through Masters of Creative Therapy - Majoring in Drama (Melbourne Uni)
Bachelor of Psychology (Edith Cowan Uni)
Life Coach/NLP Practitioner Certifications (Your Future Now Sydney)
Bachelor of Creative Arts - Dance (Nepean University/Wesley Institute)
Certificate II in Auslan (Hunter TAFE)
Cert III & IV in Fitness (Hunter TAFE)
Cert IV in Training & Assessment
Chito Ryu Karate - Brown Belt (HVMAC)
RAD Ballet Examinations up to Elementary Level (Robyn Turner Ballet School)
Teaching
Most Recently - 2003 to 2025 - Sydney and Geelong Team Leader and Education Facilitator for Bravehearts (child protection non for profit).
Role: To develop and sustain integral relationships with cliental and staff, and ensure quality delivery of ‘Ditto’s Keep Safe Adventure Show' as apart of a program designed to educate, empower, and protect children from sexual/other abuse.
5 years as Director/Teacher for children's Music Theatre school Theatre On The Rock Magnetic Island QLD
10 years as a Dance/Movement teacher at Hunter TAFE in Diplomas and Cert III/IV in Acting, Music Theatre, and Dance
10 years as Music Theatre teacher for Newcastle's top Theatre Companies: 3 years at Pantseat Theatre, 5 years at Hunter Drama, workshops for Tantrum Theatre
4 years as Contemporary Dance Teacher for Tessa Maunder/Robyn Turner Elite Ballet School
Movement coach for all male acapella group, The Novatones
Dance for sport, yr 3 to 6, Eleebana & Blackalls Park Primary Schools
Dance Choreogrpahy for year 2 at New Lambton Heights Infants School
Choreography
*CONDA - City Of Newcastle Drama Awards
Community Theatre Productions (2006 to 2022)
Cabaret
Beauty and the Beast
Annie Get Your Gun
Closer
Spring Awakening
Company
The Wild Party
Things I Know to be True (The Very Popular Theatre Company)
Won Excellence by a Choreographer CONDA 2021
The Wiz (Pantseat Theatre)
The Twits (Hunter Drama)
Disney's Little Mermaid Jnr (Hunter Drama)
Won Excellence by a Choreographer CONDA 2014
Tertiary Adult Education at Hunter TAFE (2006 to 2021)
Music Theatre Productions
Little Shop of Horrors
Euro-beat
Expiring Minds
Working
Bat Boy
The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Idaho (CONDA Nomination)
Have a Nice Life
The Drowsy Chaperone
The Other Woman's Child
Bubble Boy
Movement Pieces for Contemporary Plays
Stories From the Storm
The Trial (CONDA Nomination)
Redcap
History Boys
The Taming of the Shrew
The Chapel Perilous
Dog Sees God
Shopping and F***ing
Work Fight Unite
Salome
Choreography for Disney Junior Theatre Festivals
2023 New Zealand Troupe ‘Shrek Jnr’
for Australian Jnr Theatre Festival
Won Excellence in Dance
2022 New Zealand Troupe ‘Freaky Friday Jnr'
for Australian Jnr Theatre Festival
2015 Australian Troupe ‘The Little Mermaid Jnr’ for World Junior Theatre Festival Atlanta U.S.A.
Won Most Outstanding Production
Theatre on The Rock
Jo first moved from Newcastle NSW to rural Magnetic Island QLD in 2015, where she started a Music Theatre Class at the local Active Centre. The imagination and joy the kids brought to each class inspired her to expand the opportunities she offered.
Her students performed in many settings including: The Biggest Morning Tea, Cabaret Charity for Myeloma Cancer and many local concerts.
Jo also worked with the students/community to create original scripts including; Magnetalent - a talent quest with a twist; Barbie Doll - inspired by a video online of Miss America pageant contestants from the 80's answering the question, "Should we have Maths in schools?"; The Magnetic Island (Please Please Make Me Feel Like My Life Is Way Way Better) Retreat - at the Picnic Bay Golf Club; Mad Hatter Tea Party- at Amaroo; Rock it Solo - at Picnic bay Golf Club; Choreographic Workshop; Creativity Competition; Lost in the Right Direction - an epic pantomime performed throughout the gardens of Amaroo; and The Wizard of Oz -told in a whole new way!
Uncensored Bodies
2013 & 2014
Co-created and creatively directed the unique dance project Uncensored Bodies 1 to 5, in collaberation with Hunter Tafe, resulting in winning a 2014 Hunter TAFE staff Innovation Award
Uncensored Bodies provided a supportive environment for emerging, established, or exhausted professional dancers/choreographers to challenge and expand their creative scope.
An experimental project that challenged emerging choreographers to extend their view of 'dance' and that dance is exclusive to a certain age group, gender, body type or ability.
Uncensored Bodies # 1 - Expect the Unexpected
Uncensored Bodies # 2 - Renewed Bodies
Uncensored Bodies # 3 - Under and Over Exposed Bodies - ex dancers choreograph
Uncensored Bodies # 4 - Moving Instruments - collaboration with live musicians
Uncensored Bodies # 5 - Male Only - bringing awareness to the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance
Uncensored Voices #1 - Singing on stage for those who usually only sing in their shower or car
Testimonies of the "Bodies"
"Taking part in Uncensored Bodies was exhilarating and liberating, a turning point in my life."
" I faced the challenge, I did it, and thoroughly surprised and enjoyed myself. At age 55 that's no mean feat. If I can do it, anyone can!”
“The experience has inspired me to be more creative more often."
"The support everyone showed for each other was truly beautiful."
"The process of working with people you have never met before and creating something together and then having the opportunity to be on stage was incredible."
"They say we should do things that scare us and remind us who we are and what we are capable of, this gave me that.”
Testimony of a Choreographer
“Uncensored Bodies was a refreshing and inspiring experience. Usually when choreographing a dance piece I concentrate on technique, but using 'bodies' allowed me to return to honest and organic storytelling. The movements became natural and meaningful, and showcased how beautiful movement can be on all bodies. A rewarding and invaluable learning experience.”
Short + Sweet Short Play Festival
Major international festival, with way over 1,000 entries each
Choreographed and performed in "From a Great Height" the winning play of Newcastle's 2011 'Short + Sweet" showcase, which won a semi final heat in Sydney, and then won 'Best Director' in the 2012 Sydney Gala Final.
Jo performed in, devised, and directed the play “People Strings” which won both people and judges choice in a semi final heat in Sydney, then won the top prize of 'Best Overall Production' in the 2013 Sydney Gala Final.
Jo Adapted/Directed the play ‘Advanced’ which came second in the judges choice in 2014 semi final and scored her main actor the 'Best New-Comer Actor'
Jo performed in, wrote, and directed the comedy "Chance You Can Dance" which came second in the judges choice, scoring a spot in the Gala final as 'Festival Director's Choice.'
In 2021 Jo performed in and wrote the comedic work "That Play about Time and Space" in Knock and Run's 2021 short play festival.
WELL-BEING
(Last 10 years)
2024 - Work Placement at Bayley House - Melbourne based day centre for adults living with intellectual disabilities. Weekly connection with 5 seperate groups facilitating Drama Therapy Sessions involving storymaking, games, improvisation, and film.
For the participants: to increase participatory confidence in an encouraging environment, and to experience personal power through opportunities for choice and control.
Vision Board Workshop on Magnetic Island
Individual NLP/Life Coaching Sessions
Speed Coaching - Inspirational 5 to 20 minute interventions via phone
Creative Director of Uncensored Bodies Program (see below)
Presenter for a 4 week Self Esteem Course for the Junior Newcastle Knights Recruits
Presenter for the HUG Program - Self Esteem Course - delivered through the Hunter TAFE
HUG Program for case workers
HUG Program for young mums
HUG Program for hospitality students
Creative Contributor to 'She – True Stories' exhibition for International Woman's Week hosted by YWCA
Choreographer for R.I.P.A’s Original Dance work 'Pinch' which brought awareness to the ‘Butterfly Foundation for MIND HEALTH
Presenter and Coach for “All I Know is that I Love To Dance” a Dance Career Workshop
Host for over 40 Speed Dating Events in Newcastle
Testimonials From Dear Past Students
"What's great about Jo is that she truly cares." Stephanie Priest - Award winning actress/vocalist
"Jo is a rare artist. She always creates fresh and vibrant work with a range of abilities. Her methods are always fun, engaging and challenging. Jo searches for and finds untapped potential in every person, then develops and develops and develops it." Hilary Park - actor/movement/fashion
"As my teacher, Jo gave me the confidence to move and dance. I now act, direct and teach musical theatre to kids and always try to teach the way Jo did - with passion and joy!" Drew Holmes - Award winning actor/director
"Jo Ford was the most fun tutor I ever had. Her talent and teaching style encouraged me to enjoy dance and performance, and this is coming from a guy who played rugby for years!" Glen Waterhouse - Award winning actor/film director/photography
"Jo Ford was not only my dance teacher during my Advanced Diploma in Arts at The Regional Institute of Performing Arts, but she was also a life mentor. Jo had the patience and expertise to explain the techniques of dance to me in a way that made sense. A knowledgeable, invested and encouraging teacher, Jo truly empowers her students with a heart felt approach that truly transforms the student’s confidence and ability." Seth Drury - Stage and Screen actor/dancer/singer - Best known for Australian Idol (2009), Please Like Me (ABC), ZooMoo Groove (Channel 7)
"Jo is a unique and special teacher. Her innovative teaching style and contagious energy inspires and challenges her students. She inspired me towards my personal best. The patience, kindness and care Jo took with the students in her class was special and I am fortunate to have been taught be someone as unique as Jo." Michelle Lim Davidson - best known for her screen roles on Play School (ABC), The Newsreader, and After the Verdict.
"Coming from a non-dance background and being incredibly insecure about my body I was petrified of what was in store. Jo immediately made me feel welcome, calm and comfortable. She nurtured me and empowered me and made me realise my potential. She is wickedly funny, intelligent, insanely talented and can see the beauty and strength in everyone no matter what shape or size." Phillips Spicer - Professional actor
"Jo Ford is one of the most creative and caring arts teachers I have had the pleasure of working with. Her abstract way of thinking and welcoming personality allows you as a student to be unapologetically creative, inventive and most importantly, your true self." Rachel Davies - actress/singer/dancer - best known for her role of Elphaba in the Newcastle Production of Wicked
“During my 3 years of my Acting Diploma I found Jo her to be one of the most caring, empathetic and encouraging teachers I have ever met. She is talented, kind, hilarious and treats every student equally. She gave me confidence in a time where I had very little. I can honestly say that having her as a teacher has changed me for the better and I’m forever grateful to her.” Anna Lambert - comedian/actor/singer
Contact details
Jo Ford
jofordcreativespace@gmail.com
0415 877 885
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