Artistic Staff
Mark Stamper, creative director
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Ata Bridge-Comer, dance instructor
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Mark is from America and began his piano study at the age of three. He eventually expanded his musical interests to include choral music. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Winthrop University in 1986 where he studied with Dr. Eugene Barban. In 1989,
Mr. Stamper was awarded a Master of Music degree with a concentration in Choral Conducting from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas where he was the Assistant Conductor of the Oratorio Chorus.
He has been awarded the Silver Medal at the Concours International de la Musique and the Best Performance of a Modern Work during the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Boston.
Among some of the Broadway productions Mr. Stamper has served as Musical Director and Accompanist are The Music Man, Bye, Bye Birdie, The Fantastiks, The Sound of Music, Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, The King and I, Chess, Kiss Me Kate, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Rent, Chicago, She Loves Me, 42nd Street, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Footloose, Oklahoma!, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2019, Mark made his acting debut as Jerry in The Full Monty at Gryphon Theatre.
With conducting experience widespread among many genres of music, Mr. Stamper's depth includes ballet, choral, opera, orchestral, and musicals. His love for music is exemplified through his working in various performance mediums, as well as various genres. His choirs have consistently received accolades from critics and judges, attained superior ratings at festivals, and have been featured as an honour choir at American Choral Directors Association conventions.
Mark moved to Wellington, New Zealand in 2015 and is now a permanent resident of New Zealand. He is the Founding Artistic Director of the semi-professional choir, Inspirare, directs three ensembles at Queen Margaret College, directs two community choirs: Wellington Young Voices and the Wellington Male Voice Choir, and is also the Music Coordinator for St. Andrews on the Terrace.
Atareta is a Wellington based studio director, dancer and choreographer who has been trained to an advanced level in jazz, musical theatre, contemporary, ballet and hip hop. She completed her Degree in Applied Arts majoring in commercial Dance in 2018.
Atareta has spent the last 15 years learning, creating, and growing her passion for performing arts. During this time, she performed in music videos, commercials, sporting events, public appearances, and children tv shows. She has performed and choreographed in Opium Entertainment's Meander and Meander On, Show Ponies Poetry events and in multiple Fringe Festival shows for Infinite Dance Crew.
Throughout her training years, Atareta also began to work as a choreographer and teacher at various dance academies and schools in the Wellington area. A love was born. From creating performance pieces and competition sets to tutoring young promising dancers in their respective styles, Atareta steps into the position of creator and mentor with an enthusiastic and driven mindset.
Now as the Co-Director of Step Out Dance Company in Kilbirnie, Atareta creates an atmosphere of excitement, passion, and fun for everyone who steps into her class no matter their age or experience.