Dale Keys

Meet Dale Keys: An International Theatre Educator and Creative Visionary

 

I’m a passionate and versatile educator with a love for theatre, digital design, and creative collaboration. With a strong academic background, including a Bachelor of Theatre Arts (2007), a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English Literature (2009), a Diploma of Education (2011), and a Master’s in Education (2020), I’ve built a broad range of experience that I bring to every project I take on.

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My international teaching journey began at the American International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where I had the opportunity to help expand the drama program from just four students to over 400. I also immersed myself in the local theatre scene, performing with Saigon Players Theatre and Saigon Soul. After Vietnam, I spent two and a half years in Jakarta, Indonesia, working as Artistic Director for a major school production and contributing to the development of a new performing arts venue at the Jakarta Intercultural School.

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Now living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I’ve continued my creative journey at the Australian International School Malaysia (AISM). As Artistic Director, I’ve had the privilege of leading productions like Mamma Mia and The Addams Family, the latter breaking box office records and making Malaysia’s top 10 list on CloudJoi.

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Outside of the theatre, I’m also passionate about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), mindfulness, and yoga. These practices not only keep me grounded but have also influenced the way I teach physical theatre. I integrate elements of movement, balance, and body awareness from BJJ and yoga into my drama lessons, helping students develop a deeper connection to their physicality and the characters they portray on stage. Mindfulness plays a key role too, encouraging students to stay present and focused during both rehearsals and performances.

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As a lifelong learner, I’m always looking for ways to improve. I’ve taught myself programs like SketchUp for stage design and I’m proficient in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, skills I use for marketing and enhancing visual storytelling in my productions.

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I see myself not just as a teacher, but as a mentor, creator, and collaborator, committed to inspiring a love for the arts and bringing stories to life on stages around the world.