A CAT Award winning director, and graduate of the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Music and Master of Teaching, Helen M. Perris, since the age of two has sung, danced, acted, choreographed and directed her way through various schools, companies and productions. Her dance training began in her home town of Bundaberg under the tutelage of Dianne McLellan and Dianne Smith, both world renowned teachers. She then studied with and taught for Kathy Gilmour. In 2002, Helen passed her Full Teachers Diploma in Tapping and The Jazz Award with the C.S.T.D. After moving to Canberra, she taught for Legs Dance Studio for 18 months.

Vocally, Helen has studied both classical and contemporary styles under Robyn Edgar, Andrea Morris-Campbell and Lois Bogg, winning many championships. A major achievement was receiving the Silver Medal from the Trinity College of London for her 6th grade singing exam in 1996. She most recently recieved an A+ for her 8th grade AMEB singing exam. During 1999 she fronted the band Moot Point as well as writing much of the group's material. Helen has also performed as a member of The Australian Voices, working with composers Stephen Leek and Jacqueline Atherton.

Helen's love of performing has been rewarded with roles in some of the most loved musicals of all time, including Seussical the Musical as Gertrude McFuzz, A Chorus Line as Bobby, Les Miserables as the young Cosette and The Sound Of Music as Liesl von Trapp. A highlight of Helen's stage career was being personally praised for her performance as Liesl by Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrick von Trapp in the movie version of The Sound Of Music and has since had a prolific acting and writing career. Helen was most recently seen in Canberra Repertory's 31st Old Time Music Hall.

Helen has also appeared in front of the camera in the Bill Rogers Behaviour Management videos, which are used as a teaching aid in universities in many countries. She was recently on screen in a successful long-running advertising campaign which was broadcast throughout regional Queensland on channels Seven and Win.

Helen is also an accomplished musician, playing many instruments including piano, oboe, violin and viola, gaining her AMusA on piano in 2001. She is a past member of the Queensland Youth Orchestra and the Bundaberg Youth Orchestra as well as numerous other orchestras, chamber groups, choirs, string orchestras, concert bands and stage bands.

One of Helen's greatest achievements to date has been the successful production of a one-woman musical, which she wrote, composed, directed and performed entirely herself. Currently, Helen works as a music, drama and dance teacher in a Canberra high school, where she has directed six plays, including the acclaimed Children of the Black Skirt, winner of three CAT Awards.