Mixit is all about people. Meet our Alumni, our Youth Leaders and the support team that have made Mixit what it is today.
Youth leaders
Mixit has a dynamic Youth Leadership programme. This programme offers motivated individuals an opportunity to step up into roles where they face new challenges and opportunities to grow their skills.
Youth Leaders take on organisational and planning responsibilities, gain experience of creative facilitation skills, manage the digital media aspects of the project, have the opportunity and support to initiate events and projects that inspire them. The youth leaders are an integral and dynamic team within Mixit and work hard together to make a difference.
Faizan Loun
Youth leader
Faizan started coming to Mixit in 2019, and was appointed as a Youth Leader in 2020. He is excited about learning new things, working with the Mixit team and to having fun with his fellow Youth Leaders. He says " When i come here, whatever is intense or unhappy, I let it all out. Everyone enjoys what they are doing and we are all friends at Mixit. ...
Oumaima Ahmat Abdallah
Youth Leader
Oumaima has been coming to Mixit for 5 years, and is the third in her family to become a Mixit Youth Leader. She is in year 12 at Mangere College and loves learning new languages, fashion design and watching Kdramas. After school Oumaima wants to become a fashion designer and actress because she really enjoys exploring her creative side, and wants ...
Sajal Taneja
Youth Leader
Sajal started coming to Mixit in 2019, and was appointed as a junior Youth Leader in early 2020. He loves coming to Mixit to socialise and build his creative skills. “I come here for enjoyment, at the end of every Saturday I feel like I should come next week, it’s the best place for anyone to enjoy, do, create and increase creativity.”
Team
Tahi-Mapp Borren
Programme Leader
Tahi has a BA in Anthropology and Theatre from Victoria University and went on to graduate from Toi Whakaari (NZ Drama School) in 2003. Since then Tahi has devised and performed her own solo works and collaborated professionally in a range of new NZ Theatre. Her work includes directing and dramaturgy, for theatre and multi-disciplinary performance....
Munashe Tapfuya
Outreach Activator
Munashe joined Mixit as a participant, then was invited to the Youth Leadership programme, followed by becoming a member of the inaugural Alumni Squad. She has a degree in Performing Arts and continues to pick up performance opportunities – predominantly on screen. She’s also currently undertaking part-time Post-grad studies in Social and Community...
Wendy Preston MNZM
Creative Producer/Director
Wendy has over 30 years of professional involvement as a choreographer, director, tutor, performer and artistic producer/manager. She has worked extensively with young people on performance projects throughout her career, focusing on cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary creative interaction. Wendy has collaborated with leading practitioners across...
Board members
Susan Davis
Trustee
Susan has a background teaching and engaging with visual arts and poetry initiatives. As a trustee she brings a set of skills that connects the space between Board and Management and flows through to direct mentoring of the Mixit participants. Susan hosts our annual Youth Leaders retreats on her rural property in Northland and is a deeply committed...
Mike Becroft
Trustee
Michael is an Art Director in film and been part of the NZ film industry since the early 1980s. Closely associated with Mixit since it was established in 2006, he was the inaugural Chair of the Board. He retains a seat at the board table providing a steady voice of reason, a wise overview and ensures the project remains true to its core purpose, al...
Fardowsa Mohamed
Trustee
As a teenager Fardowsa was a Mixit participant, then Youth Leader before she left Auckland to take on medical studies. She’s now a medical doctor working for Auckland Hospital with an interest in surgery. Around her busy professional life she is a respected poet, and continues to train in martial arts, she currently has a red belt in Kung Fu. Fardo...
Alumni squad
Mixit Youth Leaders graduate into our Alumni team. The team actively engage on many levels – as Ambassadors, on the Board, mentoring youth, performing for external events, creating music (check out our videos) and participating in continued training to creatively lead and manage outreach opportunities.
Oscar Arnold
Alumni squad
Oscar comes from a performing arts family, who discovered Mixit at one of our outdoor site-specific performance events. Oscar immediately jumped in with his irrepressible brand of enthusiastic energy and willingness. He’s always ready to leap into any creative direction – be it dance, acting or music. It’s not if he will jump but simply how high an...
Munashe Tapfuya
Alumni squad
Munashe was brought along to Mixit when she was mid-way through a Performing Arts Degree. She immediately felt at home and recognised this could be her new fam. A performer and singer who loves music and dance, Munashe has performed on both stage and screen. She has also branched out and developed some business skills and is interested in growing t...
Izadine Ahmed Abdallah
Alumni squad
Izadine joined Mixit as a teenager who was shy and un-confident but wanted to find positive ways to step up in his life. Mixit gave him the platform to find his voice and he quickly started to fly. He’s a great ambassador for Mixit, always encouraging other young people to come along and join the crew. Izadine loves Spoken Word Poetry and is always...
Selected guest artists
Tama Jarman:
Theatre Director & Performer
Felix Becroft:
Performer & Musician
Margaret-Mary Hollins:
Theatre Director & Performer
Yair Katz:
Musician
Ahi Kahrunahran:
Theatre Director
Muhammad Ali Kanwal:
Musician & Performer
Paulo Rotondo:
Director & Writer
Emily Carter & Natalie Keane:
Costume Stylists
Gaby Thomas:
Choreographer & Performer
Moss Patterson:
Choreographer
Sparrow Phillips:
Artist
Bianca Hyslop:
Choreographer & Performer
Andi Crowne:
Photographer
Daniel Ortiz Rodreiguez:
Composer & Musician
Eve Gordon & Dust Palace:
Performers & Aerial Acrobats
Elijah Kennar:
Choreographer & Performer
Sarah-Jane Blake:
Visual Installation & Designer
Ilai Amar:
Film maker
Tawanda Manyimo:
Theatre Director & Performer
Don McGlashan:
Composer & Musician
Ebon Grayman:
Performer & Aerial Acrobat
Katy Burton:
Choreographer & Performer
Mel Bailey aka Kloos:
Performer & Musician
Megan Bardsley:
Graphic Designer
Jahra Wasasala:
Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Malia Johnston:
Choreographer & Director
Katy Parker:
Visual Theatre Artist
Justin Haiu:
Choreographer & Performer
Chris O’Connor:
Composer & Musician
Chris Graham:
Theatre Director & Performer
Helen Todd:
Lighting Designer
Bert Van Dijk:
Theatre Director & Performer
Alexander Holloway:
Stage Combat
Ella Becroft:
Photographer & Graphic Designer
Ben Crowder:
Actor
Eddie Elliott:
Choreographer & Performer
Mike & Bronwyn Baker:
Ariel Acrobats & Circus Tutors
Chris Jannides:
Choreographer & Director
Global connections
Mixit has a growing network of similar inspiring creative organisations that work with young people and marginalized communities. We are interested in making new connections, partnerships and opportunities with like-minded groups. If you have a project and want to link up with Mixit reach out, start talking and join our global connections map.
CAN – Community Arts Northwest, Manchester
can.uk.comProject Phakama, London
projectphakama.orgContact Theatre, Manchester
contactmcr.comRichard Mille Replica
.richardmille.toOvalhouse Theatre, London
ovalhouse.comCounterpoints Arts and Platforma, London
counterpointsarts.org.ukCoHealth Arts Generator, Melbourne
cohealthartsgenerator.comMulticultural Arts Victoria, Melbourne
.multiculturalarts.com.auThe Open University for Refugees, Singapore
initiativeour.orgHelp us continue mixing. Donate now.
We are a charitable trust. The best way to support Mixit is with a regular donation to help fund our work. Donations to Mixit are tax deductible.
Make a regular donation, a one off donation, or get in touch to talk about taking a more personalised approach such as contributing to a specific project, donating your time, or making a large one-off donation.
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