About
BANG! Academy of Performing Arts is led by a creative team of performing arts facilitators and directors. We are passionate and dedicated to provide a rich and innovative learning experience within a wide range of genres. We are excited to help foster talent while creating a safe and explorative platform for performance. BANG! Academy is also a big part of Byron Casting, Byron’s very own casting office for local talent. The vision is for BANG! & Rhythm to foster a love and understanding of the performing arts, and then for Byron Casting to provide employment opportunities and local experience for on screen productions coming to our area. We hope to join the dots between our local talent and the productions.
OUR MISSION
To create a greater awareness of the Performing Arts within our local area
To allow for individuals to explore, problem solve and express within a safe learning environment
To gain insight through providing training through a wide range of specialised facilitators
To activate physical activity, life skills, safe risk taking, connectivity with one another & the environment and collaborative skills needed to succeed in life
To foster and harness confidence within each student
To build skills in technique within the genres of the performing arts
Anouska Gammon
DIRECTOR / FACILITATOR
Anouska has had extensive experience and involvement in the performing arts industry of Australia for over 30 years. After completing a Diploma at Brent Street Performing Arts and a double degree in Dance and Drama Education at UNSW, Anouska has continued to pursue her love for the performing arts through teaching and choreographing in various institutions throughout NSW. She is an active choreographer for both the State Dance Ensembles and Schools Spectacular in Sydney, along with her locally co-founded and directed theatre company in Bangalow, Bangalow Theatre Company (BTC). In 2020, Anouska joined up with Bobbie Field and created Byron Casting, Byron’s very own casting office for local talent. Anouska currently lectures at Southern Cross University in Performing Arts Education and hopes to share and inspire more creativity into the region. Working with children, teens and adults and sharing her knowledge and love for the arts is what keeps her going!
Bobbie Field
PRODUCER / ARTS ADMINISTRATOR
Bobbie grew up training as a Rhythmic gymnast, representing Australia from a young age. With a love for performing she stepped onto the stage with Sydney’s Glen Street Theatre Company and ultimately found her passion lay behind the scenes in Stage Management and Production. She has since worked on Shakespeare in Amsterdam, and original productions in Sydney and Byron Bay.
Travelling is Bobbie’s other passion and she has been fortunate to have spent years on the road exploring diverse cultures in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Meeting people from all walks of life and collaborating with local creatives on her travels. She made a short film in India and recorded an original song in Tanzania. Bobbie spent many years moving between Sydney and London, managing 5 star restaurants and Interior Design showrooms. When Bobbie moved to Byron Bay in 2014 she brought with her an eclectic background and joined Bangalow Theatre company’s Production Team, and became the Arts Administrator & Producer for BANG! Academy of Performing Arts.
Here she met Anouska and after working on many productions together they created Byron Casting. Alongside her love of Performing Arts, Bobbie brings professional business experience, exceptional client relationship skills, and the ability to calmly juggle many balls. This provides a perfect partnership with Anouska’s creative flair.
LuLu Miskin
MUSICAL THEATRE
Lulu is an accomplished vocalist and seasoned performer. She has studied at NIDA, ATYP, Screen Wise, Sydney Dance Company and Brent Street over the past 15 years. Lulu has a passion for Musical Theatre and is excited to nurture the skills and creativity of the next generation!
Rees Laird
HIP HOP / BREAK / ACRO
Rees has trained at multiple leading Sydney performing arts institutions such as Brent St, Next Step, ED5 International and has also trained under Chris ‘Kamikaze’ Merriman Beat the Streets, Olympic Breaking Coaching, Dauntless Movement Crew. He has been teaching for over 5 years.
Rees is passionate about acrobatics, breaking, gymnastics and dance. The system and structure he uses is an amalgamation of the various teachers he has trained with. As a result, he knows how to compliment the student’s current skill sets whilst pushing them to new heights in a safe, controlled and enjoyable atmosphere.