Jon Burtt

Jon Burtt teaches across dance, theatre and circus studies at Macquarie University. In 2016, Jon received a Vice Chancellor's Citation for his 'outstanding contribution to facilitating student engagement and learning through innovative approaches to dance and performance practice that influence, motivate and inspire students.' Jon's research interests include the development of circus studies as an academic discipline, pedagogy in the performing arts, and social intervention through arts practice.
His current research projects include authoring a book for Routledge on contemporary circus practice; researching the application of Integrated Training, a teaching model he has developed combining cognitive and behaviourist approaches to teaching physical arts; and investigating the cultural implications of diverse forms of social arts practice.
Jon has an extensive background in the performing arts as a performer, teacher and director having worked with many major performance companies. He co-founded and directed the multi-artform performance company Skadada which toured internationally to critical and public acclaim. Jon has been Artist-in-Residence at numerous arts institutions including the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai, India; the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University, Western Australia; The Powerhouse, Brisbane, Australia; and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Western Australia. He has received numerous awards, grants and fellowships from arts bodies including the Australia Council, Arts Western Australia, AsiaLink, and the Australia-India Council for research and development, and for production and touring of his performance works which have toured to Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, England, Canada and China.

Jon was Researcher-in-Residence at the National Circus School in Montreal, Canada for a year (2011-2012) where he conducted research into the application of decision training into the teaching of elite level circus training. He has taught numerous masterclasses and workshops in performance including for En Piste, the National Peak Body for Circus in Canada; and at the Royal Holloway, University of London, England.