Qualifications: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Education; Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management; ATOD Associate Classical Teaching Diploma.

My Super Power is: adapting my teaching to different ages and levels, refining technique and and helping students develop a positive mindset.

Years I have been teaching dance: 22 years.

Full Time Dance Training: 1 year at Dance World Studios.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Reading, doing professional development short courses and spending time with my family.

What I love about my job: Being able to help grow our students into confident, committed and resilient adults.

Greatest achievement as a performer: Being awarded the Myee Huddy District Solo Aggregate (for the most points awarded to a soloist) at the LV Eisteddfod for 5 years in a row; being awarded Runner-Up in the ATOD Australasian Senior Classical Scholarship and performing in the Closing Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I worked as a school teacher for 6 years while running DSV.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Commercial Finance Management, OH&S Legal Compliance Requirements for Managers, Initial Occupational Health and Safety Representatives, Managers and Supervisors & Essential Leadership.

My Super Power is: fixing stuff.

Years I have trained in dance: 10 years – I danced from age 7 to 17, competing in troupes, solos and duos.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Anything other than sitting!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: In my day job as an engineer, I build major water infrastructure projects across Melbourne.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Applied Science – Human Movement; Bachelor of Applied Science – Exercise & Movement (Honours); Masters of Research; International Society of Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) – Level 1 & 2.

My Super Power is: having fun with the pre-schoolers, being a big kid and interacting with them!

Years working at DSV: 4 Years

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Exercise and water-ski with my family.

What I love about my job: Being able to share in the joy and excitement that our littlest students express as they achieve skills and progress through their READY SET DANCE and READY SET BALLET classes.

Greatest achievement as a teacher: Seeing the most nervous pre-schoolers who don’t want to separate from mum, develop confidence to come into class on their own and have the best time! It is so rewarding.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I love AFL! Go Saints!

Qualifications: Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management, Certified Gold Teacher in Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Ballet, Intermediate KinderGym Coach, Acrobatic Arts Module 1, Certificate IV in Pilates.

Years I have Trained in Dance: 14 Years.

Years I have been teaching Dance: 9 Years.

Full Time Dance Training (Place of Study & Number of Years): 1.5 years at Box Hill Institute (Dance Teaching)

My Super Power is: Patience!

Years working at DSV: 1 Year.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Spend time with my friends and family and be outdoors!

What I love about my job: I love the opportunity to share my passion for dance with the students and be surrounded by other people who love dancing.

Greatest achievement as a teacher: Seeing the pre-schoolers come out of their shells, laugh, smile and have a great time learning to dance.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I love to do circus aerial classes in my free time. I do aerial hoop and trapeze.

Person in the Dance Industry that I look up to & why: I look up to all of my dance teachers from over the years. I feel very grateful to all of my teachers for sharing their passion, expertise and love for dance with me. 

Qualifications: Certified Silver Teacher in READY SET DANCE & READY SET BALLET.

My Super Power is: Applying my leadership skills to encourage and help others.

Years working at DSV: This is my first year teaching at DSV but in previous years I volunteered as Student Teacher.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Going to beach or going out for a Coffee with friends and family.

What I love about my job: I love sharing my passion for dance with the students I teach. I love that I get to take the knowledge and technique I learnt from my teachers  and pass it on to the next generation of dancers, as well as showing them just how much fun dance is!

Greatest achievement as a performer: Being awarded 1st place in the Intermediate Classical Championship at the Morwell Festival of Dance and being cast as ‘Dorothy’ in my school production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ during my last year of school.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: As well as dancing, I love to sing! Recently, I began singing lessons to help me improve my singing technique and to learn to perform songs on stage. It was through taking singing lessons that I discovered my love for musical theatre! Now, I am beginning a full time course in Musical Theatre!

Qualifications: Certificate IV in Business Administration.

My Super Power is: being calm and patient.

Years working at DSV: 10 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Watch my favourite TV shows and relax!

What I love about my job: DSV is a friendly, happy place to work!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I am a Kiwi!

My Super Power is: Making all my classes fun and engaging for the students!

Years I have trained in Dance: 15 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Making funny memories on facetime with my friends and and watching Netflix with my family.

What I love about my job: I enjoy seeing my students improve and achieve their goals throughout the year and seeing their big smiles every week!

Greatest Achievement as a Performer:  Being awarded 2nd Place in the ATOD Australasian finals for the Senior Classical Ballet category and also winning the Intermediate Jazz Championship at the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: My grandpa on my mum’s side is actually a famous Australian rose grower!

Qualifications:  Certificate IV in Sport & Recreation.

My Super Power is: musicality and applying this to my choreography.

Years working at DSV: 4 Years

Years I have trained in dance: 20 years.

Full Time Dance Training: 3 years full time at Transit Dance.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: I love to draw in my spare time; whenever I’m not dancing of course!

Person in the dance industry that I look up to and admire: Kim Adam (who taught me in my Full Time Dance course) – she inspires me to be the best person and dancer I can be! I admire her commitment to her teaching.

Greatest achievement as a performer: Being awarded the DSV Senior Scholarship in 2016.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I was born cross-eyed! (You’ll notice my eyes are not like this anymore!)

Qualifications: Certified Silver Teacher in READY SET DANCE & READY SET BALLET

My Super Power is: brightening up the day for others with my big smile and positive energy!

Years working at DSV: 2 Years.

Years I have trained in dance: 11 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Hangout with my friends!

What I love most about my job: Seeing all my students’ smiling faces and enthusiasm!

Greatest achievement as a performer: Winning the DSV Performance Award twice and also the DSV Senior Scholarship!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I used to do Calisthenics before I came to DSV!

Qualifications: Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management; Certificate IV in Training and Assessment; Progressing Ballet Technique Certification.

My Super Power is: knowing lots of random fun facts!

Years I have trained in dance: 20+ years.

Years working at DSV: 2 Years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Road trips to beautiful places.

What I love about my job: I am constantly surrounded by people who share the same passion as me.

Greatest achievement as a teacher: Managing to get my Junior Tappers (4-5 yrs) to successfully perform – slowly but beautifully – an ‘Around the world’ also known as a ‘Shirley Temple’.

Greatest achievement as a performer: Having the opportunity to perform Sir Frederick Ashton’s choreography in the hilarious role of ‘Bottom’ for a production of ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: Alongside my dance teaching qualifications, I also hold diplomas in Beauty Therapy and Specialist Makeup Services.

Qualifications: Advanced Silver Coaching Certification for Acrobatic Gymnastics (Gymnastics Australia).

My Super Power is: helping kids feel confident to try new tricks!

Years working as a gymnastics/acrobatics coach: 27 years.

Years working at DSV: 12 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Travel!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I have performed live on TV twice as an Irish Dancer with the Australian Irish Dance Company (Rove Live & The Footy Show) and also performed at the Sydney Opera House with the Australian Pops Orchestra.

Person in the dance industry that I look up to and admire: Travis Wall – I absolutely love his choreography!

Greatest achievement as a performer: Placing in the Top 3 at the Acrobatic Gymnastics National Championships in 3 different years.

Qualifications: Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management.

My Super Power is: being organised!

Years I have trained in dance: 15 years.

Years working at DSV: 4 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: Going shopping!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: On the weekend I love to go to the beach and try new restaurants around whichever town I am visiting!

Person in the dance industry that I look up to and admire: I really admire Misty Copeland as a dancer. Despite her hardships in life she has never stopped working hard to achieve her dreams!

Greatest achievement as a performer: Receiving the DSV Senior PT Award in 2019.

Qualifications: Bachelor in Computer Science Engineering & Masters in Business Administration.

My Super Power is: my focus, data and my never say die attitude.

Years working at DSV: 8 years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: I love listening to music and singing.

What I love about my job: I love trying new things and generating new insights into the business every day.

Qualifications: Bachelor of Health Science & Masters in Speech Pathology; Progressing Ballet Technique Certification.

My Super Power is: embedding individualised learning goals within each activity.

Years I have been teaching dance: 17 years.

Years working at DSV: I have taught in varying capacities at DSV since it opened in 2011 and have been full-time since 2018.

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I have always enjoyed music and writing. I wrote my first full length song at age 10 and performed it for my school. I will not be performing it again so don’t ask, haha! I would like to write a book one day.

Person in the dance industry that I look up to and admire: There are honestly too many to list! I am currently inspired by the work of Sarah Reich, Chloe & Maud Arnold, Michelle Dorrance and Melinda Sullivan. I admire their musicality and artistry, as well as their willingness to advocate for positive change and equality in our industry. My dance teacher, Judy Fildes, is also a source of inspiration for me. I often draw on her visuals and stories as I teach my own students now and I hope that they see the same spark of excitement, passion and magic in me when I talk about dance that I always saw in her!

Greatest achievements as a teacher: Having a student in the finals of the Ballet Teachers Workshop; being selected as a finalist for the READY SET DANCE “TEACHER OF THE YEAR” award in 2019; winning the READY SET DANCE “GOLDEN TWIRL” award in 2021; being asked to be a training assistant at the Victorian READY SET DANCE Teacher Training Day & helping grow our Little Streamers Preschool from 40 students to over 100 students in the space of 2 years.

My Super Power is: making people feel welcome and giving new things a go.

Years I have been teaching dance: 15 years.

Years working at DSV: 12 Years.

Favourite thing to do outside of the studio: I’ve been lucky enough to have a very diversely talented family when it comes to art and crafts so naturally, I LOVE to make things. In my spare time I love to do macramé and make gifts – so much so that I even created an Instagram account so I could share my photos with family and friends!

Interesting fact you may not know about me: I can play golf!

Person in the dance industry that I look up to and admire: I admire Misty Copeland – ABT Ballerina – I love that she challenges the expectation of the traditional ballerina build by being herself while working hard for what she wants. She pays it forward by spreading the word on body positivity and I think that is so important within this industry especially for our young dancers.

I also look up to Galen Hooks – Choreographer/creator/dancer/everything! – I fell in love with Galen before I even knew who she was. What drew me in was her energy, intensity and detail as she danced but what locked me in was discovering her diversity. This woman can do it all! I also love The Nicholas Brothers – Tap duo – These guys are just so fun to watch! They also remind me of the fun classes and duos I used to do with my dancing friends when I was younger.

Greatest achievements as a teacher: Helping Ryan build Studio 3; being responsible for growing the DSV Social platforms; taking Acrobatics classes with Miss Sam and learning to successfully do an Aerial Cartwheel (As an adult student!) and seeing students that I taught in their very first year of dancing still enjoy, thrive and excel in their dancing and being able to see them grow up within the DSV family.