Photo by David Cooper
Kathryn crawford
director, First Dance Wellinton
Kathryn is the woman behind First Dance Wellington. She is a dedicated and caring teacher and is passionate about using dance to connect people. Kathryn has experienced first hand the power that dance has to deepen relationships, improve communication and, most importantly, bring joy to any (and every) body.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Kathryn has been dancing most of her life. Kathryn trained in Vancouver, while attending various summer programs on scholarship. Upon graduating, Kathryn was a part of the Ballet British Columbia Mentor Program for 2 years, where she had the opportunity to perform featured roles in works by Emily Molnar, John Alleyne, Simone Orlando, and James Gnam among others. As a dancer, Kathryn has worked with Ballet British Columbia, the plastic orchid factory and Judith Marcuse Projects. She had the pleasure of working with Melanie Demers, Louise Bedard and Austin McCormick while participating in the Springboard Professional Project in Montreal. Her career has taken her across North America and to Asia, where she performed in the Bangkok International Festival with Move: the Company.
Kathryn’s choreography has been featured in Vancouver at events such as Dances for a Small Stage, as well as winning awards at competitions throughout the greater Vancouver area.
Kathryn also holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia, focusing on injury prevention, anatomy and physiology.
Kathryn has been bringing dance to diverse people and places for the past 12 years as a teacher and performer (including teaching hundreds of first dances over the last 7 years in Vancouver and New Zealand). Having relocated with her kiwi partner to Wellington, she is excited to bring her passion and knowledge to whatever her clients’ vision may be!
Photo by Aimee Sullivan
Björn Åslund
Teacher & Choreographer, First Dance Wellington
Björn Åslund is an prolific and award winning dancer, performer, and choreographer. A graduate from the New Zealand School of Dance they freelance as a classical and contemporary dancer, but have a broad experience across a number of different genres including circus, cabaret, musicals, music videos and performance art.
Björn teaches at En Pointe Dance Academy, and for Creative Workshops NZ. They have also traveled to teach workshops, adjudicate and coach around the country.
As a performer and collaborator they have an ongoing relationship with the Ballet Collective Aotearoa, Java Dance Theatre, Primarily Dance, and Lo|Co Arts. Most recently taking premiere Lo|Co arts work Half | Life choreographed by Loughlan Prior to the 2022 Tempo Dance Festival, and collaborating on Primarily Dance director Lesley Bandy’s autobiographical work “Pointe shoes and Showbiz” spanning her 50 year career in the performing arts.
Åslund's own work “Sublime Interludes” created and produced in collaboration with Tabitha Dombroski, received nominations and was awarded best choreography and movement at the Wellington Fringe Festival 2022, being brought back to Circa Theater for a Refringe season.
Björn also holds titles as Mister Burlesque Aotearoa 2021-22, and the ultimate champion of the Burlesque Rumble 2022.
Find them on Social media @theeverchangingboy
Amber Griffin Photography
Tabitha dombroski
teacher & Choreographer, first dance wellington
Tabitha Dombroski is a queer freelance dancer based in Pōneke, Wellington. They completed their full-time training in 2019 with The John Cranko School in Germany after receiving their certificate in dance at The New Zealand School of Dance. Whilst studying abroad they choreographed over 10 solos being performed in Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, USA and Ukraine. Also, the first student in 10 years to have 3 of their own works performed at the gala on the Stuttgart Opera House stage.
After graduating they worked in Switzerland with Swiss Offspring Ballet, until COVID-19 brought them home. Since then, they have had the greatest pleasure of freelancing. Performing, teaching, adjudicating and choreographing all over the country. Highlights include working with Ballet Collective Aotearoa, Primarily Dance, LO|CO arts, choreographing for The New Zealand School of Dance and teaching full time at En Pointe Dance Academy. Tabitha is also currently half way through studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.