WHO’S WHO
cymbals and bass drum, and many ethnic and
rhythmic instruments. Catarina studied orchestral
percussion at Universidade Livre de Música one
of São Paulo’s finest conservatorium of music,
she received a scholarship in percussion at São
Paulo State University (UNESP) and played
in concerts with the group PIAP and toured
internationally, visiting USA, Canada, Portugal
and China. She obtained her master’s degree in
musical performance at the Federal University
of Goiás where she debuted her repertoire of solo
percussion composed specifically for her. She
loves to work collaboratively with other artistic
languages, and has played in art galleries, with
dancers choreographed by Ulisses Cruz. In 2013
she toured with Tap Dogs at Jupiter’s Casino, Gold
Coast, Australia & South Africa. She has played
in numerous professional orchestras, including
the renowned Duo Labeque and performed with
conductors Frank Shipway, John Neshling and
Neil Thomson.
DEIN PERRY (Creator, Director & Choreographer)
has been at the forefront of the Australian
entertainment industry for over three decades.
Dein revolutionized tap around the world with
the phenomenon Tap Dogs, a contemporary
show built around the themes of his industrial
experience growing up in Newcastle, Australia.
After years of working as a performer in
Australian and West End musicals such as 42nd
Street and Hot Shoe Shuffle, Dein conceived and
choreographed the full stage show Tap Dogs,
which was the hit of the 1995 Sydney Festival
and the Edinburgh Festival, winning the Glasgow
Herald Angel Award. Tap Dogs has since
performed in 330 cities, 37 countries and dazzled
audiences in excess of 12 million. The show has
received over 11 international awards, including
a 1997 NY Obie Award, the Pegasus Award
from the Spoleto Festival and 1997 NY Drama
Desk Award for Best Choreography. A prolific
producer, choreographer and director, Dein’s
credits include feature film Bootmen (executive
producer, director, choreographer), Dein Perry’s
Steel City (producer, director, choreographer);
Warner Bros. motion picture Happy Feet, Las
Vegas Chelsea Social Club (choreographer),
David Campbell-Wild With Style (director),
feature film Dhoom 3 starring Aamir Khan
(choreographer), Opening Ceremonies Sydney
2000 Olympics (choreographer). For over the
past decade, Dein Perry Productions has been
producing game day sports presentation and
annual events for the National Rugby League,
Cricket Australia’s Big Bash League, SGP
Speedway Grand Prix of Australia, the AFC
Asian Cup and Cricket Australia’s Women’s
Big Bash League, among many others. Dein
has also created and administered Tap Schools
for children in Sydney and Newcastle to ensure
that his innovative style of tap continues to be
conveyed to a new generation. The new breed
of young dancers is known as the Tap Pups.
There are over 200 Tap Pups enrolled and many
have performed alongside Tap Dogs at national
events. www.tapdogs.com
NIGEL TRIFFITT (Original Director) is
acknowledged as a leader in the field of visual
theatre in Australia and internationally with shows
that have successfully toured to over 20 countries,
displaying a unique renegade talent. As a designer,
devisor and director of his own shows, Nigel has
an impressive track record over a career spanning
30 years. Arguably Nigel’s most successful
project is Tap Dogs, which he designed and
directed. Tap Dogs has become one of Australia’s
greatest exports - having toured to over 250 cities
worldwide. Nigel’s talent led him on to other art
territories from grand opera to rock’n’roll; from
film to huge outdoor spectacles; to puppetry
and dance, all of which combined to create his
unique fusion of art forms. Nigel directed and
designed the finale of the Opening Ceremony of
the Sydney 2000 Olympics, which screened to an
international television audience of an estimated
3.5 billion viewers. RIP 08.19.1949 - 7.20.2012
ANDREW WILKIE (Music Composer) obtained
a Bachelor of Music degree from Queensland
Conservatorium of Music, later studying jazz at
the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music.
His involvement with musical theatre began in
1992 when he was Principal Percussionist for the
Sydney productions of Hot Shoe Shuffle, Porgy
and Bess, Me and My Girl, Nine, HMS Pinafore
and I Do! I Do! His theatre credits also include
West Side Story, The Phantom of the Opera, A
Chorus Line, Les Misérables, 42nd Street and Into
the Woods. Andrew has also worked as Principal
Percussionist with the Queensland Youth
Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the
Australia Ensemble Sydney, the Australian Opera
and Ballet Orchestra and the Sydney International
Orchestra. He has regularly played with The
Midday Show’s Big Band, The Catholics, The
Umbrellas and, for the last two years, Andrew has
been Musical Director for Australian flautist Jane
Rutter. He has also worked with James Morrison,
Monica & the Moochers, Mike Bukovsky, the
Kays Jazz Orchestra, Martin Lass and was a band
member in the Posh & Judy Ballet Sextet.
GAVIN NORRIS (Lighting Design) Gavin’s
theatrical and TV lighting design highlights
include: Hot Shoe Shuffle (UK tour), Tap Dogs
(London West End & worldwide tours), Kat and
CHARLESTON GAILLARD CENTER: 2018-2019 SEASON PROGRAM: SPRING | 119
/www.tapdogs.com