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BILL PENGELLY
Rehearsal Director
 Born
in Townsville, Bill began his dance training at the age
of nine. In 1976 he became a member of the Queensland Ballet
and over the next four years performed in all company repertoire
including many principal dancer roles.
In 1980 Bill was
invited to join Sydney Dance Company under the direction
of Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon. He performed
in all seasons and toured extensively both nationally and
internationally. During the sixteen years that he was with
the company he also reproduced Murphy repertoire for companies
such as Singapore Dance Theatre and West Australia Ballet.
He also took the role of Dance Master/Rehearsal Director
as well as continuing to perform.
In 1996, he was appointed
Rehearsal Director for Bangarra Dance Theatre. He toured
with the company with major works
such as Ochres and Fish.
In 1997 Bill worked alongside Stephen Page for the initial
season of Rites,
a collaboration with Bangarra and the Australian Ballet.
Bill
was appointed Acting Artistic Director in 1998 for
the West Australian Ballet. He was given the opportunity
to choreograph his first work for the
Company which then lead to a second work during the company's
1999
Quarry season.
In 1999, Bill moved to Adelaide to join
Australian Dance Theatre as Artistic Director. During
this time he auditioned
and created a new company as well as developing and choreographing
for two major Adelaide seasons and working in collaboration
with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. From 2000 to 2005,
Bill taught and choreographed at various ballet schools
in Sydney and Brisbane and also worked on the closing
ceremony of the 2000 Paralympics and the Centenary of Federation
ceremony in 2001.
He was invited to rejoin Bangarra Dance
Theatre in 2006 as Rehearsal Director and since then
has worked on the
revival of the work Rites with the Australian Ballet
and toured both nationally and internationally with
Bush.
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Jasmine Gulash
Company Manager  Born in Murwillumbah, northern NSW, Jasmine is a descendant of the Gubbi Gubbi people in south-east Queensland. In her final year of studies at NAISDA College, 1988, she performed with the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre in Melbourne, Germany and Finland. She also undertook a three-month secondment with the Melbourne company Danceworks, under the direction of Nanette Hassall.
Jasmine joined Bangarra Dance Theatre when it was established in 1989 and toured with the company for two years. In 1991-92 she was course coordinator at NAISDA College before joining the Aboriginal and Islander Dance Theatre as a company member (1993-95) and then as a guest artist. In 1996-97 she was based in Alice Springs, teaching in schools and remote communities. She choreographed two pieces for CAAMA's TV music series Corroboree Rock and a primary school production that she choreographed and co-directed at the Araluen Arts Centre. Upon her return to Sydney she took up a position with AIDT. During her time there she choreographed a piece for the 1998 Indigenous dance conference in Adelaide, danced in the AIDT collaboration with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for the Festival of the Dreaming and also performed in The Awakening ceremony. In 1998 she rejoined Bangarra as a performer and cultural coordinator for DanceClan, becoming rehearsal director in 1999. Jasmine choreographed and performed at Uluru for ABC TV's Today 2000, an event that took place on the first day of 2000. Later that year she was appointed Assistant Artistic Director of Bangarra. Jasmine also assisted Stephen Page with the opening ceremony of the Olympic Arts Festival Tubowgule and Bangarra productions Skin, Corroboree, Walkabout, Bush and Unaipon.
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Sidney Saltner
Dancer
 Sidney
was born in Theodore, Queensland. He graduated from NAISDA
College in 1991. Whilst studying he performed with The Aboriginal
Islander Dance Theatre (AIDT) and undertook his apprenticeship
with the Australian Dance Theatre.
Sidney has performed in Harold ('91-'92); River
Woman (Bodies '96); Senesino (Mardi Gras Festival
'97); and The Pearl Fishers (Opera Australia 2000).
He has also done extensive film and television work, appearing
in Billie's Holiday, Fish (the film) and various
commercials.
In April 1992 Sidney joined AIDT and undertook the role
of Assistant Director. He danced major roles in such productions
as Maralji, Colours, Gelam, Asik, Sanctum, Drums of Mer
and Frontier Stories, a collaboration with Side
Track Theatre. He also appeared in Cockroach Opera
- a collaboration with Company B Belvoir.
In 1997 Sidney became a member of Bangarra Dance Theatre,
performing major roles in Fish,
The Dreaming, Dance
Clan, the
WOMAD Festivals and Rites,
a collaboration with The Australian Ballet, which toured
to New York and Washington.
Sidney has performed and taught extensively throughout
Australia and internationally in such places as Asia, North
and South America, Europe, South Africa and the Pacific
Islands.
Sidney also featured in the opening ceremony of the Olympic
Arts Festival, the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the
Sydney 2000 Games, Bangarra's Skin
and Corroboree
(both Australian and US versions), in which his performance
received acclaim from US critics. Sidney has been a leading
dancer in all of Bangarra's productions since joining the
company in 1997. He was nominated for Best Male Dancer in
both the 2003 Australian Dance Awards and the 2003 Deadly
Awards. In 2004 he was nominated for a Mo Award. In 2005
he was appointed Rehearsal Director for the company's production
Boomerang.
One critic from The Courier Mail described him as 'beautifully
sinuous, arching and undulating' and his dancing has been
described as 'outstanding' by The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Elma Kris
Dancer
 Born in 1972, Elma was raised on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. She is a descendant of people from the Wagadagam, (Kai Dangal Buai), Sipingur, Gebbara, and of those from the Eastern, Western and Central Islands, including the Songoro people from Mabaduan, near the coast of the Pahoturi River in Mugie Daudaiop Deudai (PNG). Elma is also a descendant of the Aboriginal Torres Strait Kaurareg of the north. Elma's language is Kulkagau Ya and Kala Lagaw Ya. Elma's tribal totem is Wagadam, Kigus, Kadal, Snake, Dangal, Waru, Warup, Umai, Serra, Walisirsir, Pibi, and Umailag.
Elma completed a Visual Arts course in Cairns and taught Visual Arts on Thursday Island TAFE Campus for a year in 1993. The following year she moved to Sydney to further her studies in traditional Torres Strait dance at NAISDA College. During her time as a student Elma choreographed and performed in two pieces for college productions: Bupau Ipikazil (Bushwomen) in 1996 and Bupau Mabigal (Bush People) in 1997.
Elma has appeared in the films Oscar and Lucinda, Reef Dreaming, Farscape and also in the ABC radio broadcast Not Your Mob Next Door by Helen Anu. In 1997 Elma joined Bangarra under NAISDA's ADAPT Program and performed in Fish. After graduating from NAISDA Elma joined the Aboriginal Islander Dance Theatre Company for her first international touring experience; to Germany, Israel and England with Warup Kodomir. She later performed in Albert David's piece Bipotim for Dance Clan.
Elma founded her own dance group named Bibir (Strength) and choreographed Malu, presented as part of Artyfact at the Opera House. Her work Bupau Ipikazil appeared as part of Fusion at the Sydney ANA Hotel. In 1999 Elma toured the UK with Bangarra's production The Dreaming and was part of Bangarra's DanceClan 2.
Elma danced in the Opening Ceremony of The Olympic Arts Festival and at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and choreographed the Torres Strait element of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. More recently, Elma danced in Gail Mabo's work in progress Koiki, Bangarra's Bush in the UK, Walkabout, Unaipon, Boomerang and Gathering.
In 2007, in her choreographic debut for Bangarra Dance Theatre, Elma created Emeret Lu, a Torres Strait Island-inspired work part of Bangarra's True Stories double bill. Emeret Lu won much acclaim around the country, which culminated in a one-off special performance in Mer Island. Emeret Lu was named 'Best New Work' by critic Hilary Crampton at the 2007 Critics' Survey.
In recognition of her outstanding achievements as a dancer, Elma was awarded 'Dancer of the Year' for 2007 at the Deadly Awards ceremony presented at the Sydney Opera House.
In 2008 Elma Kris leads in Mathinna, Stephen Page's brand new work.
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Yolande Brown
Dancer
 Yolande is a descendant of the Bidjara clan of the Kunja nation, central Queensland and also shares Celtic and French origins.
Yolande believes that people can achieve whatever they set their hearts on. A keen scholar, she received the Australian Students' Prize of Excellence - awarded to the top 500 Australian high school graduates. With a passion for creativity, Yolande completed a C.Mus.A (AMEB) in piano performance and a BA (Dance) at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
Joining Bangarra in 1999, her company highlights include dancing 'out bush' with the Pitjantjajara and Yirrkala people, performing in Rites (a collaboration with the Australian Ballet - New York) and Corroboree (BAM Festival - New York). In 2004 Yolande was nominated by Dance Australia's Critics' Choice as 'Most Outstanding Dancer' and 'Dancer to Watch'.
Yolande appeared nationally in the musical The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (2002-04) directed by Nadia Tass. This highly acclaimed production enabled her to further explore her acting and singing talents in a principal role as Susan Pevensie. Yolande enjoys contributing vocals to Bangarra soundtracks and last year she produced an EP featuring her original songs. She had a ball at this year's Cracker Comedy Festival Sydney singing jazz and cabaret and was thrilled to be an artist in this year's Sydney Festival working in Kaidan - a collaboration between TaikOz, Meryl Tankard, Regis Lansac and dancers.
An advocate of awareness through education, Yolande has been a Guest Lecturer at QUT and was honoured to receive the QUT Outstanding Alumni Award for the Creative Industries, 2005.
Following her outstanding performance in True Stories, in 2007 critic Chris Boyd named Yolande 'Dancer to Watch' in the 2007 Critics Survey.
Yolande is looking forward to soon returning to her traditional homeland and sharing workshops with the community - a project supported by the Australia Council of the Arts.
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Patrick Thaiday
Dancer
 Patrick
was born in 1970 in Biloela, Queensland and grew up in Mackay
- his parents come from Iama and Erub in the Torres Strait
Islands. Patrick believes that his in-built desire to dance
is derived from his parents' ancestors who originated from
Lifu, South Sea Islands and Jamaica. With a strong cultural
background, he learnt traditional dances from an early age.
In 1998 Patrick choreographed and was Assistant Stage Manager
for the opening and closing ceremonies of The Reconciliation:
Working Together conference in Mackay. He was invited
that same year to perform at the opening ceremony of the
second world Indigenous Pathways Conference in Toowoomba.
Whilst working for Queensland Health, Patrick's family
encouraged him to pursue a career in dance. In 1999 he moved
to Sydney to study at NAISDA, performing both traditional
and contemporary dance.
Patrick completed his three years at NAISDA and did six weeks
ADAPT in Adelaide with Leigh Warren and Dancers. During
this time he formed close relations with the company and
was inspired by the content of work and the strength of
technique provided by Leigh and the dancers.
Patrick joined Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2002, where his
solo in Walkabout
earned him recognition for his talents.
In 2004 Patrick won the Ausdance Award for Best Male Dancer for his performance in Unaipon as part of Bangarra's highly successful season of Clan.
In 2005 Patrick won the Green Room Award for Best Male Dancer for his performance in Bangarra's production of Boomerang.
In 2007 Patrick returned to Mackay to perform and participate in workshops
during NAIDOC week. For his outstanding performance in True Stories, particularly his solo in Frances Rings' X300, Patrick received much acclaim - including 'Most Outstanding Dancer' from critics Deborah Jones and Jill Sykes in the 2007 Critics' Survey.
Patrick dreams of one day returning home to choreograph and to teach dance.
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Deborah Brown
Dancer
Born in 1978, Brisbane, a descendant of Wakaid Clan, Badu Island. Her grandmother is a descendant of the Mer people, Murray Island, Baizam Clan. Deborah is also of Scottish descent.
At age 5, Deborah began dance classes at the Pamela Le Ray School of Dance, Brisbane. During her twelve years of study, she gained Honours with Distinction in Tap Dance and High Commendations and Honours in Modern and Ballet (RAD). Under her tutelage, Deborah worked with choreographers such as Elsie Seaguss and Natalie Weir She then changed her focus to acting and trained at The Actors Conservatory, Brisbane, for the following three years.
Deborah has had extensive involvement with Kooemba Jdarra Performing Arts, conducting movement and dance workshops with various schools throughout Queensland. Here, she also gained her first professional role as Pearl in Luck of the Draw (2000) at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex.
Another notable achievement was her appearance in the documentary film, Bush Survival which aired on channel 7 in 2004.
Deborah joined Bangarra in 2003 and has enjoyed her involvement in such productions as Bush (2003), Clan (2004) and Boomerang (2005). Her highlights include touring Bush, to the United States and United Kingdom, as well as Bangarra's collaboration with The Australian Ballet for Gathering in 2006.
In 2007 Deborah performed in True Stories with Bangarra, touring Australia's capital cities and regionally into 2008.
Deborah's inspiration comes from her family, especially her parents. They both come from opposite ends of the world, with cultural backgrounds that enrich her and teach her to be proud of her identity.
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Jhuny-Boy Borja
Dancer
 Jhuny
was born in Manila, The Philippines, and was brought up
in the outback town of Katherine in the Northern Territory.
Jhuny's dance career began in 1997, performing in the Australian
Choreographic Centre's inaugural fellowship project The
Thousand Mile Stare, choreographed by Brett Daffy.
By 2002 Jhuny completed his Bachelor of Arts with First
Class Honours at WAAPA and was a founding member of Link
Dance Company. With Link, Jhuny performed across the country
in works by some of Perth's leading choreographers including
Jon Burtt and Katie Lavers (Skadada), Angelyn Diaz, Chrissie
Parrott and Sue Peacock. Jhuny also performed at World Dance
2000 Seoul, in Taiwan with Shih Gee-Tze's Acme Physical
and with One Extra Dance collaborating with many of Sydney's
established independent artists.
Jhuny has also worked as a software engineer and his other achievements
include: the highest University Entrance Score in the Northern Territory, the Australian National University's National Undergraduate Scholarship, and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Pure Mathematics and the Northern Territory Department of Arts and Museum's Arts Scholarship. His choreographic projects have incorporated digital technologies such as multimedia applications, human movement modeling and digital video editing applications.
Jhuny joined Bangarra Dance Theatre in 2003 and has danced in the company's acclaimed works Bush, Clan, and Boomerang, as well as Rush and Reflections and Bangarra's collaboration with The Australian Ballet, Gathering. In 2007 Jhuny performed nationwide in Elma Kris' Emeret Lu and Frances Rings' X300 as part of Bangarra's brand new double bill, True Stories.
In 2008 Jhuny tours with the company to present True Stories to regional Australia and will return to Sydney to rehearse Stephen Page's brand new work, Mathinna.
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TARA GOWER
Dancer
 Tara
is a Yawuru woman of Lake Eda in
the Kimberleys. She believes growing up on Yawuru land, in the multi-cultural town of Broome, gave her the strength of identity to pursue her artistic dreams.
In 1998 Tara was the recipient of the Most Outstanding Female Aboriginal Student for Western Australia award. In 1999 she was accepted into the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Visual Arts and also studied dance part-time. Tara successfully sold all her artwork in the 2002 Visual Arts Graduation Exhibition and continued to exhibit in Leederville with sell-out results.
Tara continued to study dance at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), and performed in the productions Beyond Blue and When The Dust Settles.
In 1995 Tara graduated from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with an Associate Degree of Dance, where she had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Rosetta Cook, Csaba Buday and Frances Rings.
Tara's performance highlights include the 5th World Indigenous Youth Conference in New Zealand; Australian Dance Awards at the Sydney Opera House; Quinkan choreographed by Marilyn Miller; 2005 National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebrations (NAIDOC) week in Perth with Broome's Modern Dreamtime Dancers, 25th Anniversary of NAISDA and cultural residency on Yam Island, Torres Strait.
Tara is committed to assisting young dance students and has taught and choreographed with WAAPA Aboriginal Theatre students and Modern Dreamtime Dancers and has also worked with Sydney primary school students.
In 2006 Tara joined Bangarra Dance Theatre and performed in Clan, Spirit, Bush and Gathering (a collaboration with The Australian Ballet). Highlights include performing at Sadler's Wells in London and returning home to Western Australia to perform for her family. Earlier this year Tara was nominated 'Dancer to Watch' in Dance Australia's Critic's Choice awards.
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LEONARD MICKELO
Dancer
 Born
in Ipswich, Queensland in 1987. Leonard is from the Waakka
Tribe and a descendant from the Darimbandi, Kulalie and
Bidgera Tribes from Charliville and St George. His parents
are from Cherberge and Barcaldine. Leonard graduated and
received his senior certificate at Laidley State High School,
QLD.
In 1997 Leonard began studying Tap, Modern Jazz and Classical
Ballet under the direction of Fiona McIvor at the Fiona
Armstrong Dance Academy in Biloela. He completed his studies
in dance in Brisbane under the direction of Sandra Breen
at The Southern Academy of Dance.
Leonard's performance history includes performing in the
Queensland Wakakirri Story Dance Eisteddfod in 2004 with
his secondary school, receiving runner up in the state;
as a special guest artist in the Laidley Mayors Command
Performances in 2003, 2004 and 2005; in physical theatre
productions with the Toowoomba University and as lead in
many Queensland musical theatre performing arts groups.
Over the last 7 years Leonard has received outstanding
results competing in Dance Festivals and Eisteddfods all
over Queensland. He has received awards including the Most
Outstanding Male Dancer of the Festival in Rockhampton 2003
and 2004; Most Dedicated and Versitile Dancer of the Year
2002 and 2003; Most Outstanding Performer in the Biloela
Eisteddfod and the Gatton Dance Festival; $200 Tap Bursaries
as well as winning over 30 Championship sections in the
last 5 years.
Leonard's mentor is his foster mum, who opened Leonard's
heart to dance. To Leonard dancing is the best way to express
emotion from the body. Leonard believes being a member of
Bangarra Dance Theatre is an amazing opportunity and will
help him in his successful journey as a dancer. To him dancing
is his life.
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WAANGENGA BLANCO
Dancer
 Waangenga
Blanco grew up in Mission Beach, North Queensland. His
father is from Meriam Island (Murray tribe) and his mother
has Scottish/English ancestry.
Waangenga started dancing at the age of eight, taking Modern
Dance classes. In 2001 he joined Naisda Dance College to
learn more about his heritage and traditional dance. He
graduated from Naisda in 2004 and was asked to join Bangarra
Dance Theatre after Artistic Director, Stephen Page saw
him perform in Naisda's end-of-year show.
Waangenga's performances at Naisda include: Which Wei 2002; When
the dust settles 2003; and Apu Kazi 2004. He
says a highlight was performing with Gumatj Clan in Yirrikala
during the Garma Festival in 2004.
In January 2007, he performed with the acclaimed choreographer
Meryl Tankard in her work Kaidan:The Ghost Story as
part of the Sydney Festival 07.
Waangenga is inspired by people and by life. He says that
he joined Bangarra to be a part of a culture that is
still evolving.
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JASMIN SHEPPARD
Dancer
 Jasmin
was born in Brisbane in 1983 and raised in Melbourne, a
descendant of the Walangamma tribe in the gulf of Carpenteria
At 18 she began full time training in musical theatre
and completed three years at The Dance Factory,
Melbourne. During this time she performed in HAIR The
Musical (David Atkins, The Production Company, 2002) and
The Green Room Awards (2002). In addition to this she obtained
qualifications to teach Jazz and Tap dance to Advanced
level.
In 2002, she studied for a further two years at NAISDA
Dance College, working under choreographers such as Jason
Pitt,
Bernadette Walong, and Jennifer Newman-Preston.
During her
time at NAISDA she was privileged to learn traditional
dance from Yirrkala and Mornington Island regions, and
Darnley and Badu Islands in the Torres Strait. She was
particularly moved by Mornington Island dance, (also known
as Lardil), and felt spiritually touched in every lesson,
later discovering that her tribe is closely situated to
Mornington Island, and many people from Walangamma having
moved there in early colonisation.
Whlist at NAISDA she
performed at Garma Festival NT and also in Melbourne to
dance at the Australian Youth
Arts Round Table, and was a choreographer and Dancer
in Albert David's production of Apu Kaazi (2004).
Other
recent work credits include: Screen Dancer, Melbourne 2006
Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony; Dancer, The
Migrant Project Creative Arts Show, 2006; and
Dancer, 2006 Australian Dance Awards choreographed by Jason
Pitt.
Jasmin is looking forward to the rich experience, creativity
and new challenges with Bangarra Dance Theatre, and one
day hopes to use her knowledge of dance and her love
of teaching children to inspire and teach other indigenous
children to dance and create a career for themselves.
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DANIEL RILEY MCKINLEY
Dancer
 Daniel
is a descendant of the Wiradjuri people, from the Wellington
area in western New South Wales. His Indigenous
blood line runs through the Riley clan from that area.
Daniel has been involved in dance since the age of 9,
where he began his tap dancing experience with Jess Morrison.
He then moved to Canberra and became a performer and member
of Quantum Leap, an initiative of The Australian Choreographic
Centre. He performed with Quantum Leap between the years
1998 and 2003, where he worked with such choreographers
as Ruth Osborne, Solon Ulbrich, Paul Zivkovich, Rowan Marchingo,
Vivienne Rogis, Darren Green and Zoe Ventoura. Whilst in
Canberra Daniel was also an inaugural member of Cadi McCarthy
and Company Members, performing in Awkward and Restless.
Daniel then went on to attend Queensland University
of Technology, where he studied his Bachelor of Fine
Arts
in Dance. Whilst at QUT he worked with such choreographers
as Paul Boyd, Rosetta Cook, Francis Rings and Brian Lucas.
In
2005 Daniel was fortunate enough to be the recipient of
an Indigenous Australia Council Grant titled Making
Tracks. With this grant he then spent seven months
with Leigh Warren and Dancers in Adelaide. There he performed
in two brand new works entitled Like No One
Is Watching, choreographed by Antony Rizzi and Petroglyphs-Signs
of Life, which was choreographed by Leigh Warren
in collaboration with Gina Rings. He later toured this
work with the company to the Indigenous dance festival
'The Dreaming', in Woodford, QLD.
Daniel joined Bangarra in 2007, performing in Clan at the Glen Street Theatre and in True Stories around the country.
Daniel wants
to share his Indigenous heritage and the culture with
the world. His inspiration comes from
his close friends and family who have always supported
and encouraged him.
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KATINA OLSEN
Dancer
 Born
in Rockhampton, Queensland in 1986. Katina is a descendant
from the Waka Waka People in the Central Queensland Region.
She also has Norwegian, German and English ancestry.
In
November 2006, Katina completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Dance at the Queensland University of Technology
(QUT). At QUT she further developed her contemporary dance
training and studied under Cheryl Stock, Gavin Webber,
Csaba Buday, Shaaron Boughen, Sue Leclercq, Evan Jones
and Avril Huddy. During her three-year course she also
worked with choreographers: Paul Boyd, Rosetta Cook, On
Yong Lock and Brian Lucas. In her second semester of 2005
she worked with Bangarra's Frances Rings in developing
the work Happy Place for QUT's Graduation
Season. Katina was one of the top ten students from QUT
chosen
to perform at the Hong Kong International Dance Festival
in June 2006 performing in Frances' work Happy
Place.
In Jan 2007, Katina performed in Mumbai, India
as part of the New Years celebrations at the JW Marriott
hotel;
she performed alongside ten other Australian dancers and
a host of Bollywood celebrities which was televised on
national television.
Katina's passion for dance began
at age three with the Beverly Prange Academy of Dance Rockhampton
where she
trained in Classical Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Character.
In 2002, Katina was successful in receiving a placement
to continue her senior certificate with full-time dance
training at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence.
Here in association with the Queensland Ballet Company
and Kelvin Grove State College she received the Tap Scholarship
in 2002 and completed her studies in 2003 with a Year 12
Certificate and a Diploma in Dance.
Katina's inspiration
comes from the beauty of this great country in which we
live. It is the grace that is
shown through the land and ocean that captivates her.
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PERUN BONSER
Dancer
 Perun Bonser grew up in Broome, Northern Western Australia. He is a Bununba man of Aboriginal, Chinese, French and Irish descent.
In 2002 Perun moved to Sydney to join NAISDA, graduating with a Diploma in Dance in 2005. During his studies he performed in 1st and 2nd stage developments of Vicki Van Hout's Wiradjourni and Leigh Warren and Gina Rings' collaboration of Petroglyphs for which he later toured to The Dreaming Festival.
In 2006 Perun received an ATSIA Council Skills and Arts Development Grant to spend a season with Leigh Warren & Dancers Dance Company in Adelaide. While there he workshopped and understudied for Einstein on the Beach, Wanderlust and performed in Satyagraha.
Perun performed at the 2007 Helpmann Awards, My Right Foot Your Right Foot, and directed and performed in the section titled Workshop 1: How to be a Better Blackfella for the Culturally Disadvantaged of the PACT Step Up program which was later performed at the Performance spaces Laugh Out Loud comedy night.
In January of 2008 Perun joined Bangarra Dance Theatre and embarked on a regional tour of True Stories with the company.
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