FACULTY

The calibre of our teaching staff and team speaks for itself. They comprise of world class, sought after Professionals, Performers and Choreographers with a wealth of industry experience. Their individual credits provide inspiration and a wealth of knowledge.

OUR DIRECTORS

TODD PATRICK

FOUNDER/DIRECTOR

Todd Patrick is the proud Founder and Director of Patrick School of the Arts, which he launched in 2005.  (originally established as Patrick Studios Australia)

Todd started his career working for Disney. Whilst on tour he began modelling and choreographing for designers including Versace, Dior, Issey Miyaki, Gucci and Chanel across Europe and Asia.
He built his professional dance career and strong reputation performing in an array of cabaret shows, including The Lido in Paris. He quickly moved up to principal dancer, performing across Korea and Germany.

Commercially, Todd has worked with famous Australian pop artists including Vanessa Amorosi, Guy Sebastian and Dannii Minogue across a range of entertainment and media productions, including film clips, TV appearances and live performances.

Additionally, Todd also choreographed for international music festivals, DJ’s and pop artists. Under his talent and production companies Kissing Bee Productions and Clover Agency & Events Todd has delivered worldwide acclaimed theatre and television performances for brands such as SK2, Target, Cabaret De Paris, Peter and the Wolf, Countdown -The Arena Spectacular (Aust. Tour), Tobia (Malaysia) as well as entertainment icon Sesame Street.

Todd continually choreographs for corporate clients including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cricket Australia, KPMG, Flight Centre & HBA.

Amanda

AMANDA STONE

DIRECTOR OF ARTS HIGH & PROF.  DEVELOPMENT

Amanda Stone is a highly acclaimed Producer, Choreographer, Director, and Teacher, who runs a tight ship with laser precision and professionalism.

 

As a younger performer, Amanda danced in numerous Disney productions across Australia and Asia until her talent for choreography was discovered, and she stepped up as one of their highly respected Choreographers.

In-between tours, Amanda worked on TV shows, film clips, and significant corporate events for Australia’s leading productions, such as Kylie Minogue, Batchelor Girl, Melbourne Storm, and Crown Melbourne.

From there, Amanda’s success soared as she began choreographing for powerhouse entertainment companies, including Walt Disney Studios; Andrew K and Associates (Hairy Maclary, Giggle & Hoot & friends); Shine Entertainment (Thomas and the Hidden Treasure); X System Entertainment (Barbie -Mattel, Nickelodeon; Hit Entertainment (Sesame Street Workshop, Astro Boy, Garfield, Care Bears); Marilla productions (Looney Tunes, Winx Club, Totally Spies and Strawberry Short Cake) …. just to name a few.

But that’s not all. Under her own company name – Stone Productions Australia – Amanda has produced several successful shows for big brands, including Sesame Street, Pororo, Chuggington, and Looney Tunes in Singapore.

Does Amanda ever stop? No chance. And Patrick’s is lucky to have such a high calibre of leadership in its creative arsenal, continually inspiring her student and colleagues and demonstrating unwavering passion by nurturing and supporting young artists on their way to success.

© Steven Grace Photography, 2020

STEVEN GRACE

ARTIST MANAGEMENT: PATRICK MANAGEMENT
Steven is an award-winning performer with an international career spanning over 25 years. His vast experience, reputation and strong industry network is aimed at enhancing the careers of our artists.
His appetite for showbiz success began at the age of 10 , after playing the role of ‘Luke’ in Strictly Ballroom. At 18 he played ‘Radio City Music Hall NYC’ in Dein Perry’s ‘Steel City’, ‘Fame’ for Kelley Abbey and has danced for Danni Minogue, Jessica Mauboy and Kylie Minogue. He also toured with We Will Rock You and was personal choreographer to Caroline O’Connor. Since then, Steven has experienced incredible international success working with, and performing for, high-calibre theatre shows and productions including West Ends’ Chicago, Priscilla (Assistant Dance Captain), Carmen (Royal Opera) as well as performers Michael Bublé, Elton John, Sam Sparro, Geri Halliwell, Jamelia, Take That, Will Young, Aleesha Dixon, Top of the Pops and The Royal Variety Show.
© Steven Grace Photography

NATHAN PINNELL

TERTIARY  CO-ORDINATOR
Nathan is an award-winning performer with a career spanning over two decades.

His professional career began at the age of 9 in two Opera Australia productions, Falstaff and Manon Lescaut. As a young boy he also appeared in numerous television commercials such as Sea Monkey’s, Australia Post and Meadow Lea.

Nathan has been teaching and choreographing for various universities, full time courses and dance studios for the last 16 years. He is renowned for his progressive work as a passionate performer, teacher and artist within the industry and continues to create and work with the world’s finest.

Theatre credits include Singin’ In The Rain (Dance Captain/Swing/Cover: Production Tenor and Dialect Coach), Hugh Jackman: Broadway To Oz (Dance Captain/Featured Ensemble), Anything Goes(Dance Captain/Swing/Cover: Billy Crocker), Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom: The Musicalas Liam Lamb (Understudied and performed Ken Railings, Nathan Starkey and Clarry Welch), Legally Blondeas Carlos (Savoy, West End), West Side Storyas Baby John, Chicago: The Musicalfor which he received a Green Room Award (Cover: Mary Sunshine), Dusty: The Original Pop Divaas Young Tom, We Will Rock You (Ensemble and Swing), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, High School Musical(Cover: Jack Scott/Ryan Evans), Eurobeat: Almost Eurovisionand Rhythm and Runners(Melbourne Fringe Festival).

JanDIPietro

Jan di Pietro

ASSISTANT TERTIARY CO-ORDINATOR

Jan has been a working professional across theatre, film, TV, and commercials since the age of 13. His recent theatre work as a performing artist was in Muriel’s Wedding- The Musical for Global Creatures.

On the screen, Jan can be seen in the latest season of ABC’s Utopia. He has appeared in numerous TVCs, Musicals, Plays, and Operas across the years.

As a creative, Jan has been a Director and Choreographer for education, private institutions, corporate, and commercial. He has devised new works for large scale cultural and sporting events including the AFL and the Australian Open.

Jan is currently a Resident Playwright with leading independent theatre company Q44 where his debut play Tuntable Ck is being developed for production. As a producer and coordinator, Jan has worked in film production, theatre, art, and events. He was particularly excited and challenged by his work that helped produce the Australian premier of the immersive existential evocation ALONE.

Jan’s early training was done at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. After graduating high school, Jan took a place at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) in New York City where he undertook practice-based theatre training under chief instructor Jackie Bartone. In his graduating year, Jan was honoured with the Charles Jehlinger Award for excellence in Acting. He also gained a place in the highly competitive third-year Academy Company of Actors where we worked under seasoned Broadway veteran and Director/Writer Jonathan Bolt.

Whilst continuing a creative career in Australia and abroad, Jan began studying online to further his education. He now holds a Bachelor Communication (Hons) from Griffith University, and has been awarded 1st Class Honours for achieving outstanding results across the program. His creative dissertation/thesis was a multidisciplinary transmedia experimental fiction called The Laika Project. It explored the morality and ethics of blending human and machine creativities, humanitarian crises, and the existential threat of AI.

TEACHING STAFF

GUEST TEACHERS

TODD PATRICK

Jazz / Contemporary

AMANDA STONE

Jazz/ Musical Theatre

MICHAEL RALPH

Musical Theatre

NICK HEDGER

Vocals

BEN NICHOLSON

Acting

NADIA TORNESE

Hip Hop

DAVID WISKEN

Vocals

NATALIE GAMSU

Audition Prep

PRISCILLA STAVROU

Latin / Jazz

LISA WOOLLEY

VCE / VET Dance

BEN SCARMOZZINO

Hip Hop

SCIMM

Contemporary

ELYSIA KENNEDY

Ballet

JENSEN OVERSEND

Jazz

GILLIAN D’MONTE

Singing / Repertoire

SOPHIE WEISS

Singing / Audition Prep

ANNA BURGESS

Acting

KATE COLE

Acting

KALLEE RICHARDSON

Jazz / Commercial

KELLEY ABBEY

KIRSTEN KING

MICHELLE HOPPER

STEPHEN TANNOS

YVETTE LEE

ORIANA SIEW-KIM

BRITTANY PAGE

SAMANTHA DODEMAIDE

TENNILLE BURDON

SOPHIE HOLLOWAY

ADAM NOVIELLO

THE BEST VIEW COMES

AFTER THE HARDEST CLIMB