About Us

Our small and enthusiastic team of experienced teachers are well qualified in their chosen fields to impart their collective knowledge in a caring and friendly manner to ALL students, to help build self-esteem and enjoyment of dance in everyone, as well as recognising, nurturing and developing the gifted students.

Our dance school is open 6 days a week, offering nearly 70 different classes in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Jazz/Hip Hop, Contemporary,  & Stretch/Strength to students of all ages (from 2.5yr olds to adults)

We have a piano for use for classical ballet examinations, and the professional audio equipment with pitch and tempo control.

Our 2 purpose built studios have fixed barres and mirrors and a brand new fully sprung non-slip Tarkett floor. We have air-conditioning and overhead fans, together with 3 large viewing windows for parents, as well as a fully stocked dance-wear shop on site.

We have been in business for over 40 years, and many thousands of happy students have passed through our doors, many of whom have gone on to forge successful careers as dancers, teachers, and choreographers in the wider dance community.

Our students have won the prestigious Cecchetti Silver and Gold Medal for many years.
We have a former student Samantha Vottari now dancing in the Leipzig Ballet. Amy Gallery (a student for 16 years) is about to commence training at the Sydney Dance Company. Students currently training at WAAPA in Classical Ballet, as well as ED5 International for Commercial Dance.

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Director and Principal….Miss Jackie Thompson

After a lifetime in Dance, having toured the world first as a ballet dancer, then as a professional Flamenco dancer for many years, she passed all teaching exams of Cecchetti Ballet Australia (Licentiate with Distinction) to  become a Fellow of Cecchetti Ballet Australia,  a Cecchetti International member, and holder of  both the Royal Academy of Dancing and Cecchetti Society’s Advanced Certificates. As well as running this Dance Centre for over 40 years, and still teaching Adults Ballet classes, and specialist coaching for elite students, Miss Thompson was also the Classical Dance teacher for performing arts students in years 9, 10 & 11 at Charles Campbell Secondary School for 3 years.

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Miss Tara Patfull

Now a qualified Teacher holding Associate Diploma of Cecchetti Ballet Australia, Tara has passed all Cecchetti Ballet exams from Pre-Primary to Advanced 1 and with over 25 years teaching experience,  she teaches all classical classes from Baby Ballet to Adult, as well as  Jazz/Funk/Hip Hop classes from Prep to Senior level and  Adult Ballet. She has studied ballet and jazz for over 30 years, and Flamenco dance for 5 years. She is a specialist Hip Hop teacher as well, having attended many interstate and overseas Global Dance Conventions. Her firm but gentle manner is appreciated by both parents and students alike.

 

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Miss Lauren Stevens

Now holds an Associate Diploma of Cecchetti Ballet Australia, Lauren has been dancing ever since she could walk. She teaches all  levels of Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Broadway & Hip Hop. After  completing her Year 12 studies and gaining her S.A.C.E, she began working full time in the ballet school. She excels at Hip Hop and Street Tap, having danced in every L.A.Danceforce, GlobalDance and Hip Hop Allstars workshop over the past 15 years, as well as 2 trips to the Edge Studios in Los Angeles for Advanced Hip Hop classes. After 2 years studying Sound Engineering at Adelaide Uni, she also cuts and edits all music used at Norwood Ballet Centre.

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Miss Hannah Saxon

Miss Hannah has been teaching the Junior classes alongside Miss Tara and Miss Lauren for the last four years and has completed her Cecchetti Advanced 1 Exam as a student teacher. She is also trained as a mat Pilates instructor.