Lisa Wilkinson
BA Theatre Studies, BEd Teaching
BA Performing Arts Studies, BEd Teaching
Artistic Director/Teacher, RASA School of Dance
Lisa Wilkinson had been walking the walk - or, more accurately, dancing the dance - as a performance artist for years before coming to Otago. For more than a decade, she had run her own dance company and worked as a dancer, teacher and choreographer.
"I loved my job," says Lisa, describing a career that saw her travelling to festivals around Europe, teaching classes in modern funk hip hop, and developing a "trademark choreography style" arising from a fusion of classical Indian and contemporary dance traditions.
It all changed, however, when a back injury forced Lisa to rethink her career direction, prompting her to come to Dunedin and train to become a teacher.
"For years I had been practising certain systems of movements, and not thinking too much about them," says Lisa. "Suddenly, I had an understanding of the history of dance. I found out about these movements' origins and how they had evolved. It was such an eye-opening experience."
After completing her studies, Lisa established and runs RASA School of Dance in Dunedin.
