Suzanne Watts

Experience

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  Freelance

  Jan 1992 - now

  Artistic Director, choreographer and dancer

  Highlights of Suzanne's work includes 15 years of multi-age platform cultural sharing, skill sharing and youth mentorship programs with Fitzroy Atherton Gardens Communities and 30 years collaborating with African music bands such as Musiki Manjaro, King Bell and Soukous Ba Congo, Randy and the Jah Roots, Congo Boys and Waraco Musica, Thula Sana, Matat Sound, Sambole ( Power of the Land) and Kotoko Ma. Clients include African Communities Foundation Australia ( formerly EACACOV) since 1995, African Music and Cultural Festival since 2015, Werribee Open Range Zoo Rhythms of Africa since 1998, Council of Adult Education 1993, Multicultural Arts Victoria and directed and choreographed more than 35 Victorian Primary and Secondary Schools productions since 1992. Suzanne was Artistic Director of Opening Games Ceremony for City of Whitehorse, directed and performed with Mzuri Dance at United Nations World Environment Awards, Premier Gala For Diversity Week, MCG South Africa Boxing Day Cricket performance, Arts Centre and Hamer Hall performances and toured nationally and internationally with So Kalmery and Musiki Manjaro, and more recently (pre covid) with Afrovival in Southern Africa. Show less

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  Mzuri Dance Network

  Jan 1995 - now

  Artist and Community Development Facilitator

  Suzanne facilitates artistic collaborations between multidisciplinary artforms with performance outcomes for audience and community participation to create a change and shift in pathways for underrepresented women artists and migrant artists in Melbourne Australia. Suzanne's role as director at Mzuri Dance focuses on social equity and engagement through the arts for people of colour and brings people together through music, dance, performance and facilitation of skill sharing focusing on culturally diverse arts with a specialised knowledge and experience in Traditional and Contemporary African dance and the African Diaspora. Show less

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  Mzuri Dance Company

  Jan 1995 - now

  Director

  Suzanne has directed, performed and choreographed works commissioned by:● Premier and Cabinet for International Womens Day at Federation Square ● City of Melbourne Summer Fun in the City at Queensbridge Square (5 consecutive years)● City of Whitehorse - Suzanne was as Director of the Opening Ceremony of Commonwealth Games ● South African International musician Jo Malatji at the MCG and Hamer Hall ● VCA Drama School for the production 'The Rover' ● Department of Education and Early Childhood Development as Dance Director for Joining the Chorus at Rod Laver Arena, ● Vic Arts Centre Education Programs at Hamer Hall ● Poppy Kettle childrens Festival and Childrens Picnic ● Arts Centre Beach stage C/W Games Arts Festival, and ● Directed or choreographed15 school musical productions staged at Karralika Theatre, National Theatre, BMW Edge , Collingwood College etc.Suzanne is a grant recipient for a Performing Arts project entitled ‘Afrovival and the Oil Can Project' supported by the City of Melbourne and Multicultural Arts Victoria in 2013 -2014. Please refer to a 5 minute show reel at www.vimeo.com/mzuridanceSuzanne won 1st place for her choreography 'Lost in the Bush' for the Victorian Ballet Teachers Workshop and 2nd prize the following year for 'Gondwanaland'Australian World Music Award winner 2003 with King Bell and Soukous ba Congo performance then invited to perform for Premier Gala Dinner at Crown Paladium and WOMADelaideWon the Student of the year Award at Kilmaire College at VCESuzanne along with her company, Mzuri Dance was invited to perform at United Nations World Environment Awards at the Grand Hyatt - testimonial go to http://www.mzuridance.com.au/pages/testimonials.html Show less

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  African Communities Foundation Australia

  Jan 2000 - now

  ACFA arts and education community facilitator
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  Mzuri Dance ArtisTree

  Mar 2021 - now

  Chief Executive Officer