Department: VIC

Hilary Hazledine received initial training with Lija Svalbe (Ballarat, Victoria), studying the Borovansky Syllabus, completing her Advanced examination and Teaching Diploma. Following completion of a Drama course at Melbourne University, she continued general dance studies in Melbourne (Lyn Golding), and later at Pineapple Studios, London. In 1989 she returned to Australia and completed a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Film/Media & Sociology).

In 1990 she opened her own dance school (with 4 branches) in central NSW, where she taught all disciplines of dance, and became a fully registered teacher of The Royal Academy of Dance (London).

Following an audition in 1997, Hilary was accepted into the full-time Australian Ballet School’s Advanced Teachers’  Diploma Course, under the direction of Miss Gailene Stock AM. Subjects covered were; Pas De Deux, Contemporary (Margaret Wilson), Character (Christine Howard), History (Colin Peasley), Tap, Anatomy, Child Psychology, The Australian Ballet School’s Training Program, Pilates (Andrew Baxter) and Composition/Choreography (Mark Annear).

Choreography is her passion and, she has worked on numerous musicals and pantomimes such as, ‘Paint Your Wagon’, two versions of ‘Pippin’, ‘Hot Mikado’, ‘Snow White’, ‘Hansel & Gretel’, ‘Barnum’, ‘HMS Pinafore’, along with several variety programs and VCE Dance.

Her teaching experience has also involved an appointment at Academy Arts, Ballarat University’s Performing Arts campus and VCE Dance.

In 2014 she performed in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ (Lyric Theatre, Ballarat).

In 2018, she taught classical class at The  State University of New York (Binghampton Campus) & took Luigi classes with Francis J. Roach at Luigi Jazz Centre (NYC).

Along with her dance qualifications (Royal Academy of Dancing, Australian Ballet School Teachers’ Diploma & Australian Institute of Classical Dance Associate/ Licentiate), Hilary is a qualified Primary School teacher with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (where she continues to teach full time at Ballarat Grammar School).

Jane has been a dance teacher specialising in Classical Ballet since 1997.   She studied at the Victorian College of Arts under Anne Woolliams and the Australian Ballet School (ABS) graduating with a Diploma of Dance (Distinction).

At the ABS, Jane had the incredible opportunity to work with and learn from Margaret Scott (Director), Gaileen Stock, Gary Norman, Terri Charleworth, Robert Ray, Leigh Warren and Christine Howard. During this time, she received a scholarship to study at the Princess Grace Ballet School in Monaco where she was coached by Marika Besobrasova.  She danced with the Australian Ballet Dancers Company then joined The Australian Ballet Company under Maina Gielgud. Jane performed soloist roles including ‘Peasant Pas’ from Giselle and ‘Cupid’ from Don Quixote as well as many other ballets.

After her dancing career, she obtained an Advanced Diploma of Dance Teaching (High Distinction) from the Australian Ballet School under the directorship of Gaileen Stock.  She is a qualified and registered teacher and Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance.  Jane has studied the Australian Ballet System Training (Vaganova), International Character Syllabus with Alida Segal, Contemporary dance with Margaret Wilson and Progressing Ballet Technique with Marie Walton-Mahon. She has completed Level 1 Physiotherapy Perfect Form with Lisa Howell and holds a Fitness Instructor Certificate IV and has a great interest in the importance of Pilates and body conditioning. Jane has a TAE Certificate IV Qualification in Training and Assessment.

Jane is often part of the Teaching Faculty for RAD Intensive Vocational Workshops and is a freelance Dance Educator at a number of dance schools in Melbourne and Geelong.  She has coached at the Australian Ballet School and has adjudicated for Eisteddfods and Awards for the Cecchetti Society and Royal Academy of Dance. Jane has been a member of the VIC/TAS RAD Panel and the Chairperson from 2011-14. Jane is a member of IADMS and the Australian Ballet Society. She loves to choreograph solos and coach dedicated young dancers and has a firm philosophy for her teaching which includes passing on her love and joy for dance and music, to foster each child’s potential and confidence and to encourage the pursuit of excellence.

Nichole started dancing professionally at the age of sixteen. Her experience spans musical theatre, theatre restaurants, television variety shows, television commercials and major sporting events. Some of her career highlights include performing with the Victorian State Opera at the State Theatre in Melbourne’s Art Centre. Cheerleading for both the Carlton Football Club and the Melbourne Tigers Basket Ball Club. She enjoyed working in the era of entertainment television with well-known celebrities such as Bert Newton, Daryl Somers, Ray Martin and Don Lane. She was employed as dance captain at every theatre restaurant that she performed at. Nichole has also travelled extensively on promotional tours both nationally and abroad launching products for companies as diverse as Ford, Adidas, Mary Kay, Toyota, Rip Curl and Sea Folly just to name a few.

Nichole expanded her experience to include choreography and dance direction for television. Fergus McPhail was for network ten and is still running intermittently on Nickelodeon. She was commissioned to choreograph a mini ballet for the television show Holly’s Heroes. She also coached the actors for the dance roles. Her students were employed to appear in both shows. Most recently she has worked on the popular Kmart TV commercials.

Nichole worked as a freelance teacher throughout most of her professional career and opened her own school 26 years ago. She holds Licentiate Cecchetti Qualifications and is working towards her Fellowship. She travels Australia guest teaching and adjudicating eisteddfods. She returned to the Victorian College of the Arts as a teacher and assessment panellist. She currently has students in ballet companies around the world and in Musical Theatre productions in Australia. Nichole works for Cecchetti ballet Victoria conducting audition classes for esteemed adjudicators including Colin Peasley and Amy Harris. Earlier this year she was honoured to have her junior students chosen to appear as the sample students in the new Cecchetti Syllabus DVD’s.

Karen Freeman began her dance training from 6 years of age, studying Classical Ballet, Tap and Jazz. She went on to successfully complete all examinations in the Cecchetti method for Classical Ballet from Grade 1 through to Advanced 2. Karen has been a fully qualified and registered Cecchetti Ballet teacher since 1991 and holds the Associate, Associate Diploma and the Licentiate teaching certificates.

In 2010, Karen also became a registered teacher with Ballet Conservatoire, formally known as the Australian Conservatoire of Classical Ballet devised by Christine Walsh based on the Vaganova method.

Karens’ teaching experience includes successful preparation for Cecchetti Ballet and Ballet Conservatoire examinations from Pre-Primary through to teaching qualifications; local and interstate dance eisteddfods in both troupe and solo performances in all styles of dance.

Student success includes acceptance into the Australian Ballet School and various fulltime dance institutions, Alaina Haines Australasian awards, Asian Grand Prix, Youth America Grand Prix and Prix de Lausanne. Students have accepted contracts with Queensland Ballet, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Tokyo Disney, La Novel Paris and various Musical Theatre Productions. Karen has also trained many highly respected teachers working in various schools throughout Australia.

A successful studio owner since 1991, Karen encourages all students from as young as 2 years of age to enjoy and love the opportunities that dance provides including confidence, resilience, commitment and passion.

Karen is looking forward to sharing her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with the wider dance community through adjudicating opportunities and encouraging the future generations of aspiring dancers.

Maria Koumis began her dance journey in the heart of Melbourne’s West at the young age of 3. Her Junior years consisted of dance training in Jazz, Classical and Tap, completing examinations under the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing from Tiny Tots right through to Full Diploma.

Over the years Maria developed a strong passion for Jazz and Contemporary and by completing further training in her intermediate years, this enhanced her strength and confidence as a performer and choreographer.

Maria’s dance journey continued to grow in her senior years, completing full Syllabi in Jazz, Tap, Classical (Intermediate) and Contemporary and has extensive knowledge in theory and practice of World Dance, Neo Classical, Demi Character, Character and Pointe Studies. Maria has competed in various dance eisteddfods around Melbourne and Victoria in all genres and has completed Public Performance Examinations and gained Student Teachers Diplomas. In 2000 Maria gained her Full Teaching Diploma in Theatrical Dance and holds a full CSTD teacher’s membership. Maria also has a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Certificate III in Business.

 From age 17, Maria freelanced as a choreographer across schools around Melbourne and in 2001 the decision to create her own school and continue to grow and share her passion became a successful reality. As a Studio Owner, Principal and Teacher of all genres for Examinations, Competitions, VET Dance, Concerts & Cabaret shows, Audition preparation & actioning Maria’s professionalism over the years has been result’s driven and inspiring.

Maria has effectively also arranged and managed her own events, and has worked on and off stage with many entertainers, sound and lighting, music arrangers, photographers and videographers, reception function centers, costuming, hair and makeup and pyrotechnitions. Maria has also scribed at dance eisteddfods in Melbourne.

Maria appreciates the opportunity of working in an industry that allows us to constantly grow, create and share our knowledge too so many.

“Dance has the ability to share your story and read and enjoy somebody else’s”

Susan Sargison commenced her performance career at an early age starring as Clara in the Tasmanian Ballet Company production of the Nutcracker. In 1979, Susan moved to Melbourne to attend the Australian Ballet School performing with the Dancers Company and the Australian Ballet under the direction of Dame Peggy Van Praggh. Her professional stage appearance’s included productions of Coppelia, Carmen, Giselle, and The Three Musketeer’s. Susan was also fortunate to be the choreographic muse for Robert Ray’s productions of Poems and City Dances. After graduation, Susan worked with the Heidelberg Ballet Ensemble and The Victorian State Opera.

Moving into Musical Theatre, Susan undertook overseas contracts to Singapore then Japan to dance as part of the Peter Stock Show Dancers.  Moving to the U.K., Susan proved herself a reliable Australian dancer and was engaged in regular work in the West End’s Commercial and Musical Theatre industry as one of Charles Augins Dancers at Pineapple Dance Centre. As a sought after dancer she undertook contracts that took her to Portugal and Vienna.

Returning to Australia in 1987, Susan performed as a Chorus member and Understudy to the lead in the original cast of ‘Seven Little Australians’. Other credits include a dancer on Countdown and the Melbourne commercial circuit as a Jillian Fitzgerald dancer.

Ms. Sargison operated her own dance school in metropolitan Melbourne in the capacity of Artistic Director for 24 years. During this time she also taught at Tertiary Dance Institutes teaching Certificate and Diploma students in Classical Ballet, Pas De Duex and Contempory. Since 1991 Susan has been an active Adjudicator at numerous Dance Competitions and Eisteddfod’s throughout Australia. She has a broad knowledge of many dance styles and has been complemented for her positive, constructive critiques and prompt adjudications. In 2012 Susan was appointed to the board of Examiners for The Royal Academy of Dance and also the Southern Federation of Dance.

Ms. Sargison continues to be a passionate freelance teacher, teaching all age ranges and feels very fortunate to be working in a profession that she loves.

Her current adjudication abilities: Classical Ballet, Repertoire, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Music Theatre, Song and Dance and Hip Hop and Acrobatics.

Lisa Capp has been dancing since the age of 6, studying all facets of dance including classical ballet, musical theatre, tap and jazz.

Lisa competed in many local eisteddfods, as well as interstate and also danced under the guidance of Kathleen Gorham O.B.E in Queensland.

Training

Lisa trained in classical ballet ( Cecchetti Syllabus) and is a fully qualified classical teacher in the A.T.O.D Syllabus, having gained both her Junior and Associate Teaching Diplomas in 1991. Lisa has recently studied the updated A.T.O.D syllabus and will continue to apply her excellent knowledge of this syllabus in 2017.

Lisa’s brilliant classical teaching consistently allows students to gain very high marks for their classical examinations each and every year. Lisa will celebrate 30 years of teaching in 2017 and has recently expanded her extensive teaching expertise through her completion of Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management.

PERSONALITY: Reliable, responsible, enthusiastic, a focused individual, with a friendly and understanding disposition. Exceptional aptitude regarding fair and equitable judgements, which are entirely based on performer’s abilities, skills and talent.