Love thy Stranger
Sarah Cook - Movement Zone Dance Studio II XtremeInc Youth Projects
Sep 29, 2020
Season 1
Episode 8
Cory Mitchell II Gabbi Tesoriero
On this episode of LTS we talk with Sarah "Sas" Cook, the founder, Director of
Movement Zone and
XtremeInc Youth Projects who has utilised Dance as a conduit for creating spaces and communities of diversity and inclusion! Sass is, truly, a practitioner of hospitality, not just in and through her work as a Dance Teacher but in and through her entire life - Sass exudes hospitality - and it is brilliant!
Sas grew up in Castlemaine and at an early age shone as a gymnast and dancer and after studying full time dance in Melbourne and after a car accident, she decided to return to her hometown and established Movement Zone.
This passion for teaching was not only confined to the Dance Studio but has extended out into the community and evolved into producing different programs, choreographing works & events for youth, working with different organisations and thousands of young people in Schools all over Australia. In 2005 & 2006 Sarah headed to the Kimberly s, touring for a month at a time in remote Indigenous Communities training & choreographing for their annual Croc Festival.
It was through Movement Zone that Sarah took part in the first To The Xtreme festival, showcasing dance, skating and music which has become an annual event that now includes scooters, parkour, BMX, street art, music, djing, circus performance and more. It was from this first event that inspired her to set up the organisation XtremeInc Youth Projects, back in 2009.
Today as XtremeInc's and MZ Director, she continue's to work with young people in developing various programs and initiatives and, having built this in Castlemaine, her goal is to take this further around regional Victoria.
"I want to train others, to pass the torch, and ensure young people carry on this work. It s successful because it s happened organically. It hasn t come from government, but the community." Sas Cook.
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