One of Australia's most unique creative voices, Stephen’s refusal to conform and follow is exactly what manifested his innovation and thus his popularity, propelling him to international status as an artistic director and choreographer.

 

Stephen began his dance training at the late age of 17, with his only previous movement experience being self- taught improvisation. Stephen would soon graduate from university with his Diploma in Performing Arts, along with his ballet training under the instruction of legend Gelsey Kirkland. 

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In his early career as a performer and choreographer, Stephen worked for national televised shows, music videos, commercials, and served as a choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance. He would then go on to spend 3 years as a principal dancer for MOVE: The Company in Canada, working alongside acclaimed choreographers Joshua Beamish and Amy Gardner.

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Merging his routes as a commercial dancer with his later contemporary ballet training, Stephen was one of the first choreographers in Australia to merge genres under his award winning contemporary company Vertical Shadows Dance Co. Breaking the mold held by so many traditional dance companies, under Vertical Shadows, Stephen directed ten years of exemplary dance theater including The White Prince, which brought former principal dancer of The Australian Ballet, Damien Welch, and former Senior Artist, Marc Cassidy, out of retirement. Vertical Shadows has continually created to five-star reviews, and was the driving force that granted Stephen with the opportunity to choreograph world wide. 

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His choreography has been commissioned by some of the world's biggest main stream organizations, such as Samsung, Red Bull, LoL Surprise Dolls, The Australian Open, P&O International, TXU Electricity, The Venetian/Sands Hotel Macau, Stereosonic Music Festival, and Dance2XS. 

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As a creator of movement, Stephen has been employed extensively in the realm of musical theater, opera and plays. He choreographed the Melbourne premiere of the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening, Blood Brothers and the revival of the Green Room Award-winning musical, Prodigal. His choreography has been seen internationally in productions of Good Morning Hong Kong, Black Diva Power, and The Pajama Game. Stephen was employed by Opera Australia to assist them in casting the Broadway revival of South Pacific. Additionally, Stephen was brought on as Co-Director and Choreographer of artist Anthony Breslin's immersive experience, TRYBE: An Opera In Paint. And most recently as choreographer of Don Pasquale for the Berkshire Opera Festival. 

 

Throughout his career, Stephen has been bestowed with incredible honors and awards from The Institute of Classical Dance, Short & Sweet Dance Festival, and WIND International Film Festival. Stephen’s film, "New York City”, has been celebrated at over 12 international film festivals. He has been reviewed with accolades from such publications as the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Dance Australia Magazine, The Australian Stage, and the ABC National Radio Arts Program. 

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Stephen is currently working for countless companies and organizations as a dance creator. He is working with The Berkshire Opera Festival as resident choreographer. His new feature film The Anniversary just premiered at The Palm Springs Art Museum  to incredible reviews. And he is the Artistic Director and curator for The Palm Springs Dance Project in California.