Dein Perry has been at the forefront of the Australian entertainment industry for over three decades. Dein revolutionised tap dancing around the world when he created the genuine show business phenomenon TAP DOGS, a contemporary show built around the themes of Dein’s industrial experience growing up in Newcastle.
For 10 years Dein worked in musical theatre that eventually led to Dein’s big break where he was cast in a principal role in 42nd STREET. In 1991 Dein was awarded an Australia Council Development Grant and formed the Tap Brothers, a very early incarnation of TAP DOGS. Following on from this Dein was offered the chance to co-choreograph and star in the West End musical, HOT SHOE SHUFFLE. The Tap Brothers became the stars of HOT SHOE SHUFFLE. This production earned Dein his first Olivier Award in 1995 and won the Australian Green Room Award for Best Choreography in 1995. During this time Dein was invited to produce a seminal film clip for the ABC arts programme PERFORMANCE SPACE. This clip was called TAP DOGS and introduced the world to Dein’s dynamic innovative style of industrial tap. The clip went on to win the International Video Dance Competition Prize in the City of Strasbourg in 1994. The TAP DOGS journey had commenced.
Later in 1994 Dein conceived and choreographed the full stage show TAP DOGS, which was the hit of the 1995 Sydney Festival and caused an equal sensation at the Edinburgh Festival later that year, winning the Glasgow Herald Angel Award. Dein Perry was awarded his second Olivier Award back-to-back – the youngest person ever to do so. TAP DOGS has received over 11 international awards, including a 1997 New York Obie Award for Best New production Off Broadway, and the Pegasus Award from the Spoleto Festival.
Dein’s Australian Performance Awards include the 1996, 1997 and 1998 Mo Award for Dance Performer of the Year. In 1998 the Mo Awards presented Dein with the distinguished honour of Show Business Ambassador of the Year. In 1997 Dein was the winner of the Variety Award, Entertainer of the Year. In 1995 the Australian Green Room Awards presented TAP DOGS with Best Performance by an Ensemble Cast and in 1996 Dein won the Green Room Award for Best Choreography. This accolade was repeated in 2014 when TAP DOGS returned to Australia to tour nationally. In 1998 Dein received an Australian Dance Award for Best Choreography and in 2005 was awarded Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer. In 2013 Dein was awarded the Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Dance or Musical Theatre.
January 1998 saw the world premiere of DEIN PERRY’S STEEL CITY, at Star City, Sydney Casino. STEEL CITY was conceived, directed, choreographed and performed by Dein, with music by Tim Finn, a cast of thirteen and four musicians. The show toured Australia during 1998 before playing a special season at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Dein Directed, Choreographed and Executive Produced the feature film, BOOTMEN, financed by the Australian Film Finance Corporation and Fox Searchlight and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox. BOOTMEN had its worldwide release in October 2000 and received 5 AFI awards.
Dein was employed as a segment producer for the celebrated SYDNEY 2000 OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY. Dein devised, choreographed and co-directed the tap sequence ETERNITY, consisting of 1300 dancers.
In 2006 Dein directed DAVID CAMPBELL – WILD WITH STYLE, produced by New Theatricals. WILD WITH STYLE enjoyed a sell out season at the Sydney Opera House. In the same year, Dein produced the Darling Harbour WINTER CONCERT Series for the Sydney Harbour Foreshore.
Dein Perry was invited to join forces with HUMAN NATURE as the group’s Director for their 2007 National Motown Arena Spectacular Tour. In the same year, Dein was a Creative Producer for the AUSTRALIA DAY Darling Harbour Spectacular.
In 2007 Dein Perry segued his career into Sports Presentation. Dein was appointed the Game Day/Special Events Producer and Show Caller for the National Rugby League team, the SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS. In 2015 Dein was invited to undertake the same role with the MANLY SEA EAGLES. Dein continues to work with both NRL clubs today. Dein has been engaged as the Show Caller with various NRL teams including the Newcastle Knights, Parramatta Eels, St George Illawarra Dragons, West Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters. Dein has show called the prestigious NRL State of Origin, the Australia v New Zealand Test, Pacific Tests and the NRL Finals Series.
In 2011 Dein Perry was appointed Game Day Producer and Show Caller for the inaugural Big Bash League T20 Competition by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW. Dein worked with the Sydney Thunder BBL (2011-2020), Hobart Hurricanes BBL (2013-2022), Sydney Sixers BBL (2017-2018), Melbourne Renegades (2016-2020) and was Event Producer on the NSW Cricket Awards.
In Dein’s role as Game Day Producer and Show caller he has worked with the Sydney FC (2022), FIM Speedway Grand Prix (2015-2018); the Wild Geese Trophy (2018) and the Australian Supercross Championship (2022). Dein was show caller for the prestigious Asian Football Confederation Asia Cup Group Finals and Finals matches. (World Cup Soccer 2015)
In conjunction with Cambridge Events, Dein was Creative Director for the 2008 NRL GRAND FINAL entertainment and the 2010 NRL DALLY M AWARDS. Dein Produced, Directed and Choreographed the entertainment at the opening match of the 2008 NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE CENTENARY at ANZ Stadium with 1000 performers.
Dein was Creative Director for the Darling Harbour AUSTRALIA DAY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR in 2009 and worked on the 2018 WORLD CUP SOCCER BID CAMPAIGN. Dein directed and choreographed dance routines involving hundreds of dancers for the 2009 WORLD MASTERS GAMES OPENING and was Choreographer and Creator of the pre-grid entertainment for the V8 SUPERCAR Event. Dein Directed the dance show, THE NEXT STEP which involved a fusion of different dance styles.
In 2010 and 2011 Dein Perry worked fulltime as Choreographer on the Warner Bros animated motion picture, HAPPY FEET 2, Directed by George Miller.
Imagination Australia engaged Dein Perry as Performance Director of the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 SYDNEY NEW YEAR’S EVE celebrations. Dein was responsible for providing creative direction for the performance aspects at the LORD MAYOR’S PARTY on the Sydney Opera House Northern Forecourt and the entertainment area at Dawes Point. Imagination Asia appointed Dein to be the Creative Director for the Ford Sync Launch at the 2012 Auto China event in Beijing followed by the launch of the Jaguar Land Rover at Crown Casino Melbourne in 2013 and choreographer of the Lincoln Continental launch in Beijing in 2015.
In 2013 Dein Perry was engaged to choreograph the opening credit sequence of the Indian Cinema Feature Film DHOOM 3 starring Aamir Khan. Dein’s work combines the use of his revolutionary rhythms and the magic of Bollywood to create a powerful and unforgettable opening sequence.
2013 marked HOT SHOE SHUFFLE’s 21st birthday. To celebrate this milestone, David Atkins and Dein Perry teamed up once again in the rehearsal room to recreate a new version of the award-winning musical. David Atkins Enterprises toured the production through Capital Cities of Australia. Dein Perry again wins the Green Room Betty Pounder Award for Excellence in Choreography for HOT SHOE SHUFFLE (with David Atkins) in 2014.
CHELSEA SOCIAL CLUB opened at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas Nevada in 2014. Produced by Spiegelworld CSC LLC. Dein choreographed 3 chapters of the VEGAS NOCTURNE sequence featuring the internationally renowned identical twin tappers, Sean and John Scott.
Dein choreographed the 2014 television commercial for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia campaign, promoting the new mobile phone application “TAP & PAY”.
The original cast of TAP DOGS starring Dein Perry were invited to reunite and perform on the final episode of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE AUSTRALIA in 2014. Later in the same year, three generations of TAP DOGS performed on the Sydney Opera House forecourt at the prestigious Sydney Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Party with the acclaimed Sydney Harbour fireworks as their backdrop.
Spiegelworld CSC LLC invited Dein back to Nevada in 2019 to choreograph a piece for their new show OPIUM at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Dein established his own Dance School to ensure his inimitable style of tap dancing endures. Dein and wife Lisa administer tap schools for children in Sydney and Newcastle. The new breed of young students are known as TAP PUPS. There are over 200 TAP PUPS enrolled and many have performed alongside TAP DOGS at national events and various television appearances. In 2011 Dein choreographed a dance routine for the ABC television show DANCE ACADEMY which featured many of the TAP PUPS. The TAP PUP schools will continue to inspire and will provide a lasting legacy for the world of dance.
Dein Perry’s TAP DOGS enjoyed uninterrupted touring between 1995 and 2015 with troupes simultaneously performing throughout the far-flung corners of Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australia. TAP DOGS returned home in 2005 and celebrated their 10th anniversary with Dein Perry returning to the stage, delivering a sell-out Australian national tour.
Most recently TAP DOGS launched a new tour at the Grand Arena in Cape Town South Africa. This production introduced LED screens and projections that enhanced the existing trademark industrial set, heightening the electrifying tap dance and live music. The new show toured from 2018 – 2020 with return seasons in the West End, China and over twenty cities in North America.
TAP DOGS have performed in over 500 cities, dazzling audiences in excess of 12 million; they have toured every year since 1995 only stopping when Covid decimated international touring. Dein Perry’s TAP DOGS remains one of Australia’s greatest stage exports. Plans are underway to resume touring in 2023.
Dein Perry’s TAP DOGS continue to perform at high end corporate and private events across Australia and the globe. Dein’s company DEIN PERRY PRODUCTIONS focuses on tailoring and producing corporate events to suit individual client brands and audiences.
