ICDFANZ Leadership

Belinda trained as a Radiographer in Christchurch before pioneering Oxford Music and Movement in 2006. In 2012 Belinda established Agape Dance Academy for her graduating preschool students. As principal of a Christian dance school she taught Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary & Tap dance. She has an Associate Dance Teachers Registration with Generation Edinburgh and Living Dance International Christian dance curriculums. She has mentored students through dance exams, auditioned them as child extras for the Royal NZ Ballet and has created, choreographed and directed dance recitals. In 2016 Belinda re-launched ICDFANZ and became its National Coordinator. Belinda has represented New Zealand at ICDF global dance conferences in Ghana (2016), India (2019) and Sweden (2022). Since 2005 she has worship danced in her local church. Belinda is married to Brent Andrews and has 2 adult children and 1 teen.

Dance teacher, performer, choreographer, writer and perpetual dance class attendee, Debbie often dances, teaches and prays with Christian dancers nationally and internationally. National Coordinator of ICDFANZ (1996-2000), ICDF Steering Committee (2000-2006), Coordinator of ICDF AWARe (Academics, Writers and Researchers) Network, Coordinator of academic/seminar days at ICDF conferences in Ghana (2016) and India (2019), Sweden (2022) and director, course writer and tutor for ICDF Diploma in Dance Ministry. Living in Hamilton, wife of Rev. Stephen Bright, mother of 3 and grandmother of 6 (so far!).

Robyn found that being released to worship the Lord in dance brought healing and freedom in her life. Robyn connected with the former CDFNZ in Christchurch in 1998. Her passion is for spontaneous worship dance and as prompted by the Holy Spirit, she dances in her local church. She attends a Worship Improvisation dance class and coordinates the dance/flags area when her church holds creative worship evenings. Robyn also enjoys creating visual installations and floral designs as an act of creative worship. At the relaunch of ICDFANZ in 2016, Robyn offered her support to our National Coordinator, Belinda Andrews. Since 2019 Robyn has been holding the office of ICDFANZ National Treasurer. Robyn was part of a team representing New Zealand at the most recent ICDF global conference in Sweden in 2022. She currently lives in Christchurch with her husband Robert.

Abigail was encouraged to dance in the Spirit as a young child; she studied jazz dance and as a teen was involved in sacred dance in her Anglican church. In her early 20s she danced on Queen Street, Auckland in an abstract evangelism dance and pursued a career in Television. In her 30s she studied Contemporary Dance at the University of Auckland, this led her to pursue movement-based work in stunt acting. In 2015 unhealed trauma had caused debilitating health issues so she studied wellness, but it was Jesus who healed her in 2019. Abigail is now pursuing the mysteries of Christ and embodied worship movement. In 2022 she taught creative ‘joy’ dance to children, co-ran prophetic dance workshops and a Ruach creative worship festival. Abigail lives in Owairaka-Mt Albert, Auckland and has 2 sons.

Nicola Simpson is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and writer living in Balclutha. She is the founder of Southern Dance Academy, a faith-based dance school with a desire to provide a safe place for students of all ages and abilities to explore and express their creativity. Nicola has a deep love for the Lord and for worship. Her heart is to see people connect with the Lord creatively through worship, via dance or any other art form. She loves working with church communities to communicate the message of Christ through dance; and has choreographed for a variety of Christian events and conferences. She is a registered Living Dance International teacher and holds an associate registration with Generation Edinburgh. She has a Bachelor of Communication in Expressive Arts and Marketing. Nicola is married to Matthew she has one daughter and two adult step children.

Rev. Stephen Bright is a self-supporting Anglican priest based in Hamilton who also works as an E-learning designer at the University of Waikato. Stephen has had a long association with Christian dance, including attending numerous national ICDFANZ conferences within New Zealand and an international conference ICDF in India (2019). His 'alter ego' is Bubbles the Clown who blows giant bubbles at a range of church and community events in the Waikato area. He is married to Debbie, with 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.