Academic
After completing the first Australian practice-led PhD in dance in 2000, Cheryl embarked on a second career transitioning from full time dance artist to academia. Her first academic role at Queensland University of Technology was professional dance training as Head of Dance followed by various positions as a researcher, writer and doctoral supervisor across the creative industries. For the last 20 years Cheryl has actively practised, written about and promoted the concept of praxis as the interdependence between theory and practice in professional and arts environments. This has resulted in examining 12 and supervising to completion 7 doctorates, predominately practice-led, across the fields of dance, theatre, film, visual and hybrid/interactive arts.
Cheryl has presented keynote addresses and guest presentations throughout Australia and internationally on the arts and creative industries including in Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, China, United Kingdom, United States, France and Germany. Her presentations, as well as her fifty plus publications, encompass interdisciplinary, interactive, and site specific performance and collaboration, contemporary Australian and Asian dance/theatre, practice-led research and cultural leadership.
Selected keynote addresses / presentations
| 2015-2019 | INXO Arts and Culture International Forum, Kuala Lumpur 2019; E-lead 21st century Leadership Summit, Sydney 2018; Exhibition opening address for Sue Healey’s ‘On view: Thinking Bodies Dancing Minds’ VCA, Melbourne 2018; keynote, Dance Now and Then: 2015 International Dance Conference, Taichung |
| 2015-2019 | Adjunct Professor, Creative Industries Faculty, QUT |
| 2005-2014 | International keynotes include: Taiwan Dance Research Society Taipei 2013, China Arts Management Conference Beijing 2010, Performing Arts in Creative Industries Conference 2008 and International Dance Conference University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Korean Society of Dance Seoul 2008, National Dance Education Conference Hanoi Vietnam 2007, Oceania Dance Festival Suva Fiji 2006, Connections Conference Brisbane 2005 |
| 2005-2016 | Presented research papers in Angers 2014, Taiwan 2013, Hong Kong 2011, United States (New York 2010 & Madison 2009), Paris 2007, Singapore 2007, Taipei 2004, and throughout Australia |
| 2010-2016 | Guest seminars: Middlesex University, London; National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) Sydney 2012-2016, 2012 University Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Kuala Lumpur, Beijing Dance Academy 2010 |
| 2005-2016 | Australian Research Council (ERA) assessor, 9 doctoral examinations throughout Australia and in UK, facilitator National Dance Forum Melbourne 2011 & 2013, National Dance Research Forum Melbourne 2012, 2015 |
| 2007-2018 | Consultant and on reference groups for various grants around practice-led research in the creative arts and doctoral education |
Academic research / lecturing
| 2012-2019 | Practice-led and creative arts research, cultural leadership, contemporary Australian and Asian dance, interdisciplinary collaboration, intercultural, interactive and site-specific performance, creative industries policy |
| 2001-2018 | Supervised to completion 7 research doctorates and examined 12 research doctorates |
| 2009-2011 | Coordinator of Creative Industries Faculty Research Methods, QUT and faculty wide Project Design unit. Research areas: intercultural performance, Asian arts, interdisciplinary performance, practice-led research, contemporary dance and performance, site-specific performance installation, live & interactive |
| 2006-2008 | Research grant, Australian Learning and Teaching Council on developing national guidelines for research higher degrees in dance and the creative arts |
| 2000-2006 | Post-graduate Coordinator (Dance). Lecturer in the areas of Asian arts, contemporary dance, choreography, intercultural performance, interdisciplinary arts practice |
| 1972-1997 | Guest teacher and lecturer in contemporary, ballet and composition techniques throughout Australia and Asia for professional companies, tertiary institutions, community groups and conferences |
| 1978-1979 | Contemporary dance lecturer at the Australian Ballet School and the Victorian College of the Arts |
University and Faculty committees
| 2003-2018 | NIDA Directors group reporting to Executive (2017-2018) Academic Board (2016-2018) Research and Scholarship Committee (2016-2018) Learning and Teaching Committee (2016-2018) Equity and Diversity Committee (2017-2018) QUT Research Degrees Committee (university) (2012) Faculty Academic Board (2012) Faculty International Advisory Committee (2012-13, 2006-2009) Faculty Research and Innovation Committee (2012) Higher Degrees Scholarship Committee (2012, 2008-2010) North Asia Reference Group university committee (until 2008) |