People

Deborah Di Centa

Debora Di Centa (DDS SDCS DIDA) is a Canberra-based independent dance artist, teacher and choreologist. Debora grew up in Italy and started dancing at a young age. She has extensive training in ballet, jazz, modern and contemporary dance, creative dance, improvisation and contact improvisation. She started teaching dance in 2004 and developed her research in dance practice and performance becoming an expert in Choreological Studies, the contemporary development of Rudolf Laban principles and practices, Laban Movement Analysis (2013). Debora graduated and specialized in dance studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London after getting a Diploma in Academic Ballet Teaching at A.I.D.A. (in collaboration with Scuola Di Ballo La Scala, Milan).
Since then she has collaborated in various dance works, research and performances with many artists and dance specialists around Europe Asia and the U.S. She had the privilege of attending last January Workshop with Contact Improvisation founder Nancy Stark-Smith (Massachusetts 2020). Between 2017 and 2019 she presented her Scaffolding Process Workshop* at the Australian Contact Improvisation National Gathering ACIC, NZCR New Zealand Contact Retreat 2018, WAPA Western Academy of Performing Arts 2017 Perth and at the International Dance Event East Point West 2019, KL Malaysia.
Debora currently teaches, performs, choreographs, and directs dance events working for professionals and in community settings. Since 2016 Debora has led the Canberra Contact Improvisation community and is a team member of the independent program ZEST Dance for Wellbeing, for which she is a co-founder. Since 2016 Debora teaches for Dance Development Centre, in Canberra.
After directing Ausdance ACT’s Program Escalate 2020, YDF 2020 – Teachers in Schools and other collaborations, Debora has become Program Officer for Ausdance ACT, managing Open Class 2021, YDF21/Youth Dance Fest21 Dystopia/Utopia, Dancers in Schools Project in Collaboration with Osh-Club and other projects.
Debora is currently Program Officer at Ausdance ACT, managing Ausdance ACT Workshop Series 2023, Dance Artists in Schools 2023, and Youth Dance Festival 2023.