Background
David Wynen is an international music theatre and dance expert. He has worked as a “triple threat” in all aspects of theatre, television and film. Major theatrical credits include Hocus Pocus, 42ndSt, Carmen, Don Quixote and the original cast of Billy Elliot. He is constantly in demand as a director, choreographer and music theatre educator and has worked in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the US.
Currently, Wynen is the Head of Dance at Binghamton University. Prior to his arrival in the US, he was the Head of Music Theatre at Federation University, Australia. He has been instrumental in teaching and mentoring students and professionals, working in such diverse fields as film, TV, event management, choreography, direction, writing and performance. His students have appeared in international productions such as Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Jersey Boys, Matilda, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Cats, Strictly Ballroom, A Chorus Line, The Lion King, The Producers, Moulin Rouge, Come From Away and Six.
Wynen has been awarded the EJ Barker Fellowship, the Dean's Award and the Vice Chancellor's' Award for outstanding leadership in his field. He was also awarded the prestigious Australian Government Citation for Learning and Teaching for his groundbreaking international work on Tap Rhythm, the first online tap syllabus of its kind: taprhythm.com. Currently, Tap Rhythm is being developed into an app through the iStore. He is also an expert in Luigi and is the chief education officer for the teacher certification program.
He has lectured for VCA, Lehman College, Chapman University, University of Alabama, San Diego State, NYU, Ithaca College, University of Western Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University. He has a BA in Drama and English from LaTrobe University and an MA in directing and choreography from Ballarat University (Australia).
Research Interests
- Theatrical staging and dance choreography notation
- Jazz dance as a rehabilitive tool
Teaching Interests
- Tap Dance
- Broadway Jazz
- Acting into Song
- Rock the Audition
- Musical Theatre
- Luigi Jazz
