Adele
Adele has been dancing since the age of 3 in the UK. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary dance; completing examinations up to and including Advance 2 with the British Theatre Dance Association and the Royal Academy of Dance. As a dancer, Adele spent a season with the UK National Youth Ballet working alongside Wayne Sleep, and has performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Sadlers’ Wells Theatre. Adele began teaching at 16 and has gained full qualification with the BTDA. As a teacher, Adele has had students earn places at Elmhurst Ballet School, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and the National Youth Dance Company, as well as The Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School Associate programmes.
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Allie
Allie is a passionate performer who began dancing ballet at age 4 in the UK. She has experience teaching and assisting classes in jazz, contemporary, hip hop and musical theatre and was a choreographer for Rangitoto College’s Showquest team, winning the best choreography award after performing at Spark Arena. She has been a member of competition dance crews at Studio 246 and has been fully involved in school theatre shows such as Junior Shakespeare. In addition to being an aspiring musician, Allie loves helping kids grow and develop and is excited to be a part of The Dance Shed team!
Shontel
Shontel has been dancing since the age of 3, training predominantly in jazz, ballet, lyrical and contemporary. After completing the JDNZ syllabus she turned her hand to APDA and received a top tier award in Jazz Addict in her first year. Outside of dancing, she graduated from the University of Auckland last year with a bachelor of urban planning and currently works in the industry. After six years of teaching, Shontel loves working with all ages and aims to create a nurturing environment where children feel comfortable to express themselves.
Rowan
Rowan was born and raised in New Zealand.
From a young age she trained in ballet and gymnastics, achieving RAD Ballet Advanced 2 and reaching Step 6 in Artistic Gymnastics.
She has also studied jazz and contemporary, IDES Jazz Advanced 1 and NZAMD Contemporary Level 6, as well as competing nationally as part of a troupe.
She is currently working as a recreational gymnastics coach and has recently completed and achieved the Acrobatic Arts Module 1 teacher training course.
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Valentina
Valentina has been dancing since she was four years old. She has trained in a range of styles such as ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary, for which she received an NZAMD scholarship nomination in 2017. As a student of Rangitoto College, she received excellence endorsements in Dance for NCEA Level’s 2 and 3, as well as being a choreographer at the school for Ballet Troupe, Showquest, and the MidBays Festival in 2019. After discovering her passion for teaching and choreography, Valentina has been assisting and teaching since 2016, and is delighted to continue her journey with The Dance Shed!
Sam
Sam has been dancing since the age of 6 years old, as well as taking examinations in contemporary and jazz, his passion is hip hop and he completed the Urban Ignite Dance Syllabus with the Asia Pacific Dance Association achieving honors at every level.
He completed NCEA level 1, 2 and 3 dance at Rangitoto College and was involved in Stage Challenge and various Shakespeare performances during his time there, taking lead character roles in senior productions. He was also runner up twice in the Rangitoto College’s Got talent competition with a duo and then a solo hip hop dance. Among his many talents Sam is also a music producer, a DJ and studying Law at University.
Sam has competed hip hop both nationally and internationally receiving outstanding results. He has been teaching hip hop for 5 years now at the Dance Shed on and off (also relief teaching at other studios) and is looking forward to teaching a lot more in the future!
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Anna
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Anna is very excited to be joining the dance shed family for 2022 !
Dance has been in her life for 16 years and she has done a range of styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre and competed in troupes! Anna loves travelling, Sushi, swimming and shopping!
She can’t wait to meet all you all in the studio and said to make sure you go and say hi!
She says she may be a giant but she's a friendly one!
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Nnenna
Nnenna is a super active girl! Dance has been apart of her life for 8 years. Starting out doing Jazz, HipHop, contemporary, lyrical and Acro to then deciding to focus her time into HipHop to take it further. She is a Bronze medalist at the world HipHop championships and has danced for some of New Zealand’s top Hip Hop crews. She was also selected to be the leader of Massey dance crew in 2020. Her dance journey has lead her to now be dancing with Freshmans dance crew.
Nnenna is also a qualified personal trainer and spends her days in the gym helping people be the best versions of themselves. She thrives off living her active lifestyle and can’t wait to share her energy and knowledge with us at the dance shed.
“I love working with kids and seeing them grow not only in their dancing but in their own confidence”
Hayz
Hayz is a free-lance Choreographer, Teacher and Creative Director. Her professional training took place in London at The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts where she graduated with joint qualification’s; a H.Dip in Theatre Arts and ISTD Dance Instruction. ​
Professionally she has performed both with seasonal and touring companies as well as shows with longstanding residence in London Theatres, including leading roles of Alice in ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, Penguin in The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre, Elsie in ‘The Wind and the Willow’s. She also performed alongside a variety of international pop artists on stage and in Music Videos such as Rachel Stevens, Outcast, Beyoncé and The Black Eyed Peas. She has had the pleasure of working with highly acclaimed stunt performers in a various blockbuster movies such as Blood Diamond and National Treasure. ​
Since moving to New Zealand she has had the joys of working with many of the larger scale productions being filmed here such as Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus both in front and behind the camera, as well as working closely with The Stage Co. And KISS Theatre. performing in and choreographing for productions on a regular basis. She has since taken more of a mentoring role, forming 'The Arts Factory' Youth Dance Company offering young and upcoming dancers a chance to work in the professional forum. She has choreographed Music Videos for NZ artists Amara Duru, Julia Turner and Arma Del Amor and Redacy. NZ Body Arts 2018 Awards, (Q Theatre) Dance Captained for the NZ dancers for Salman Khans World Tour 2017 (Spark Arena), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pop Up Globe) 2019 - 2020, and Co-Director and Chorographer for Imaginerium with West City Band and the infamous Lesley Bandy for stage 2019. She continues to create works for both stage and screen around the country. ​
Hayz guest tutors at a number of Auckland dance academys, is Managing Director of New Zealand Performing Arts, and is a key developer for the ‘Independent Dance Education Syllabus’. (IDES)
Nieve
William
William is a freelance dancer/choreographer. With his 15 years of experience, he has performed and competed locally and internationally, choreographed for groups and music videos, teaches weekly choreography classes and has appeared on TV and commercials. William has been apart of several dance crews/companies such as Prestige Dance Crew and Identity Dance Company. At the moment, William is a part of The Bradas Dance Crew. William has developed a unique style over the years, and is now sharing his knowledge at Enbeat Dance Academy and The Dance Shed Studio.
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PIP
Owner and Studio Manager
Pip has been involved with The Dance Shed since her children started dancing there in 2007. She became owner in term 3 of 2018 and is striving to continue to make the Dance Shed a warm and friendly place to dance, whilst still achieving top Australasian examination results. Her aim is to make dance accessible to all ages and abilities and is introducing new and exciting dance classes.