ZEST Team

 The ZEST Team are:
- Philip Piggin       - Jane Ingall       - Jacqui Simmonds       - Debora di Centa

Philip Piggin

Philip established Canberra’s first Dance for Parkinson’s class at Belco Arts Centre in 2013, from which the ZEST: Dance for Wellbeing program grew.  He is a Co-Director for Dance for Parkinson’s Australia, and a Co-Director for the GOLD company at Canberra Dance Theatre.  Philip has worked as a dance artist/educator in the UK and Australia, specialising in the community and education sectors, was Community Cultural Development Officer at Belconnen Arts Centre, Development Officer for Ausdance ACT and Manager of Canberra Dance Theatre.  He has received a Churchill Fellowship (2014) to research dance programs for people with Parkinson’s and Dementia, Life Membership from People Dancing, UK, for services to community dance (2016), and a Carpe Diem Award from his alma mater Corowa High School (2022). (Photo: Rob Kennedy)

Philip's qualifications include: BA UNSW; Grad Dip Education UNSW; Teacher’s Certificate NSW Dept of Education; Cert IV Workplace Assessment & Training Aus School of Com & Mmt; Dance for Parkinsons Advanced Training DforPD USA. 

Jane Ingall

With a love for connecting people with the dancer in themselves and the possibilities revealed in movement, Jane’s approach to dance encourages anyone, no matter their age, ability or dance experience. As an Occupational Therapist Jane’s understanding of human movement informs her dance work. She has been teaching and choreographing dance for people with Parkinson’s since 2014, including performance work such as I used to run marathons; and has been part of the Dance for Wellbeing program in the ACT since its inception. Jane is Artistic Director of Somebody's Aunt, an ensemble of older women creating dance in the Canberra region since 2005. With Canberra Dance Theatre Jane is Co-Director of GOLD, the over 55s company of dancers. (Photo: Leigh Campbell) 

Jane's qualifications include: Dip Occupational Therapy Sydney; BA Anthropology ANU;Grad Dip Movement and Dance UniMelbourne; Dance for Parkinsons Advanced Training DforPD Aus.

Jacqui Simmonds

Jacqui has been teaching dance for over three decades, primarily in the tertiary education sector, and more recently in the community. Her classes are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the body in movement and of the elements of dance. Jacqui taught in Belco Arts’ Dance for Wellbeing program from its inception in 2017, enjoying assisting participants to discover the pleasure they can have through dance as well as the benefits it offers. Jacqui works for Canberra Dance Theatre as Artistic Director and Co-Artistic Director of CDT’s GOLD Company. A qualified Iyengar yoga teacher, she teaches at Canberra Yoga Space. (Photo: Lorna Sim)

Jacqui's qualifications include: BA(Dance) SACAE; MFA UniIllinois; Cert IV Training & Assessment Plenty; Dance for Parkinsons Advanced Training DforPD Aus.

Debora Di Centa

Debora is a Canberra based independent dance artist. She has extensive dance training and is an expert in Chronological Studies (Laban Movement Analysis). Debora graduated at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London. Since then she has collaborated with many artists and institutions around Europe, US, Asia and Australia.

In 2016 Debora joined the Dance for Well Being Program at BelcoArts Centre now transformed into ZEST! She trains professional and emerging-professional dancers and collaborates in projects with Independent Artists and Institutions. Debora is currently working for Ausdance ACT as Project Officer. Her motto is “Dance for All!”.

Debora's qualifications include: Cert Academic Ballet Teaching Associazione Insegnanti Danza Accademica; Dip Dance Studies TrinityLaban; Dip Choreological Studies TrinityLaban; Dance for Parkinsons Advanced Training DforP Aus.

Kirsty Hilson (guest teacher)

Kirsty's career as a secondary school dance teacher took her to the UK, Papua New Guinea and East Timor in addition to over 20 years in Australia. Keen to share her love and knowledge of dance, during tht time she also taught a variety of community dance classes with participants ranging from preschoolers to retirees. Kirsty has performed with a number of groups including Ruth Galene's New Dance Theatre, Canberra Dance Theatre and with her own dance trio, the Creole Belles. Since 2023 Kirsty has returned to CDT as a teacher and performer with the GOLD Company. She is currently undertaking training in Dance for Parkinson's with DforPD Australia. (Photo: O&J Wikner Photography)

Kirsty's qualifications include: BA (Dance) University of Western Sydney; Grad Dip Education University of Canberra; Master of Educational Studies University of Newcastle.