MEGAN FRENCH - DIRECTOR/OWNER
Qualifications
Diploma in Performing Arts Certificate 3 in Performing Arts Cert 3 & 4 In Fitness Acrobatics Arts- Module 1 Certified Acrobatics Arts- Module 2 Certified Acrobatic Arts -Aerial & Back hand springs Alixa Flexibility - Module 1 Certified Alixa Flexibility - Module 2 Certified Certificate in "Dance" Jason Coleman's Ministry of Dance READY SET DANCE CERTIFIED READY SET BALLET CERTIFIED RADAR TRAINING CERTIFIED First Aid WWCC |
Principal & OWNER of Dance Fit Dance Academy, Megan teaches our acrobatics & ready set dance classes at Dance Fit Dance Academy and has experience in all genres of dance.
Megan started gymnastics at the age of 3 and continued gymnastics until she was 14 years old. She then went on to represent Australia in cheerleading with the ‘Perth Angels’. Megan started dancing during high school and it was then she realised she had a real passion, and talent for dance and performing. Whilst in high school Megan choreographed and had the lead role in the rock eisteddfod, receiving 2nd and 1st place the following year. After high school, Megan went into a full time dancing course at ‘Principle Academy of Dance’ where she studied for 4 years full time and received her Diploma in Performing Arts specialising in dance. From there, she moved to Melbourne where she continued to study full time at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of dance, graduating in 2011. Megan participated in many professional shows whilst living in Melbourne and received the lead role in a children’s musical; ‘Numbat and Friends’. Returning home in 2012, Megan taught at many different high schools whilst completing her Cert 3 and 4 in Fitness . Megan is a certified Acrobatics Arts teacher, the syllabus we use for acrobatics at DFDA, she is certified to teach our newest pre-school programme “Ready Set Dance” and is trained in RADAR technique. |
HAYLEY PARKER-CLOSE
"HEAD OF BALLET"
RAD, RTS (ballet), BA (performing arts), Dip (contemporary), Grad, Dip (dance education)
Qualifications BA Degree in Performing Arts Graduate Diploma Dance Education Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies - Royal Academy of Dance Vaganova Ballet Teacher Training Certificate Diploma in Contemporary Dance Acrobatic Arts - Module One Graduate Diploma Theology |
Hayley Parker has a performance and training background that has seen her journey from her birthplace South Africa, to New York, London, China and Australia. She is a wife and a mother with a big passion for ballet and the performing arts.
Starting her training at the age of 3 in classical ballet, Hayley is now a Registered Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Teacher and Practical Teacher Training Supervisor and Mentor for the RAD Ballet teacher training program (CBTS). Hayley also served on the Royal Academy of Dance West Australian Regional Advisory Panel for 4 years and has won the RAD photographic competition. An accomplished teacher and professional performer, she has appeared in the singing reality show Idol, many stage musicals, TV commercials and short films and has worked in Australia as a performer for a traveling children's theatre show. She has also been a professional adjudicator/judge for dance competitions around Australia while also having trained in South Africa, London and completed a course in the Vaganova Russian Ballet Principles in New York, USA. More recently she travelled to Shenyang, China to teach at a Ballet Academy and share her knowledge in the RAD syllabus. Hayley is a passionate educator who wants to inspire future generations of ballet dancers and share with them the same joy ballet has brought her over many years. |
ELVIRA FRANICH
Qualifications
Acrobatic Arts - Module One Certified Acrobatic Arts -Module Two Certified Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Business Management Bachelor of Psychology Master of Business Psychology (currently in completion) WWCC First Aid |
Elvira started dancing at the age of three, where she attended local dance schools. This allowed her to participate in a number of exams and competitions. There she trained extensively in classical ballet, jazz, tap, acrobatics, lyrical, and contemporary. Since then, she has completed dance examinations in the syllabi of; The Royal Academy of Dance, Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance, Glenn Wood Tap, and many others. Over the past few years, she has travelled around Australia to perform, compete in competitions, and continue her teacher training. She is a qualified Acrobatic Arts teacher (Module 1 and 2) and has also completed her Dance Teaching and Business Management qualifications through the Australian Dance Institute. Elvira loves to teach as it allows her to pass on her knowledge and passion for dance to the next generation. She loves to support and inspire her students in an environment where they can thrive. Elvira would like for her students to be able to take away something new from each class that will benefit them as a dancer. Welcome to DFDA Elvira we are excited to have you on board!! |
CARIS HOLROYD
Qualifications
Certificate 3 in Dance Certificate 4 in dance Teaching and management READY SET BALLET CERTIFIED READY SET DANCE CERTIFIED Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts Progressing Ballet Technique CERTIFIED WWCC First Aid |
Caris began dancing at the age of 5, at David Birrell’s Ballroom Studio. She trained in all styles of ballroom from the age of 5 to 13. At the age of 9 she started dancing at Majestique School of Dance. It was here Caris trained in RAD Ballet, Jazz and Tap.
In September 2014 Caris moved to Dance Fit, and starting training in other styles such as Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Acrobatics. Caris have successfully completed RAD Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate exams, and AICD Borovansky Intermediate exam, as well as many Ballroom exams. Caris was a assistant teacher at Majestique School of Dance with the Ballet, Jazz and Tap classes from 2010-2014.Caris now teaches at Dance Fit and has a passion for dance and teaching. Caris wants to share her passion for dance with her students , and making her classes a fun way of learning how to dance .Caris want to share my knowledge of dance with her students and see their passion for dance grow. |
JENAYAH MALASITS
"HEAD OF READY SET DANCE & BALLET"
Qualifications READY SET DANCE CERTIFIED READY SET BALLET CERTIFIED Certificate 2 in Dance Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management Certificate 4 Education Support Acrobatic Arts - Module One Certified Acrobatic Arts -Module Two Certified Acrobatic Arts Aerials & Back hand springs INTERNATIONAL DANCE TECHNIQUE CERTIFIED WWCC First Aid |
Jenayah is a young and passionate teacher, she started her training in dance at the very young age of 2. Jenayah is experienced in all styles of dance including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop and acrobatics. From examinations and competitions, she has developed her skills and found a passion for choreographing..
Jenayah began her dance exams at age 5 in RAD Ballet and has continued on this path, her passion for dance and performing has continued to blossom. When she started at Dance Fit Dance Academy in 2013 she was immediately seen as a role model for young dancers and was offered a position as an assistant teacher. Jenayah then went on and received the Senior Scholarship for DFDA in 2015. Jenayah was the 2018 the Dance Captain at Lumen Christi College and has completed her Certificate II in Dance and Certificate IV in Education Support. Jenayah is a certified Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Ballet teacher and also currently holds her current WWCC and Senior First Aide Certificate. Jenayah continues to dance, compete and complete her exams, whilst also excelling in the role as a respected and admired Teacher at Dance Fit Dance Academy. Jenayah continually exhibits knowledge beyond her years and is an asset to DFDA. Jenayah is currently studying her certificate IV in dance teaching and management and will enrol to do her RAD teachers coarse in 2021 Jenayah is committed and looking forward to sharing her skills and love for dance with students of all ages. |
AIMEE BASSETT
Qualifications Certificate 3 & 4 in education support READY SET BALLET CERTIFIED READY SET DANCE CERTIFIED RADAR TRAINING CERTIFIED WWCC First aid |
Aimee first started dancing at the age of 3 at Dance Vision. She then later moved to Celina Chung's dance company where she started competing at the age of 6. It was at her first competition where she realised she had a passion for performing. Aimee received many medallions as a child that yet again sparked the dancer in her.
Aimee then moved to Instep Performance Academy which was closer to home. She danced for 2 years still competing in many competitions. She then took a break from dancing to focus on her studies at school. In 2015 Aimee joined Dance Fit Dance Academy and has grown as a dancer and a teacher, Aimee has become part of our DFDA family. Aimee has studied RAD ballet syllabus, acrobatics syllabus and CSTD jazz for the last 4 years at Dance Fit Dance Academy. Aimee wishes to spread the happiness that dancing brings out of her and share that happiness with her students during classes. Aimee believes as a teacher that her students should be able to come to class knowing that they are in an environment where they can learn and be safe whilst having fun. |
Brendan Burns
|
Brendan has been dancing and teaching all around the world for almost 20 years. He is an active member of the Western Australian based breakdance crew ZOU ROCK CREW who regularly compete and win major international competitions.
BREAKIN TRADITIONS PROGRAM. In 2012 Brendan developed the idea of combining his martial arts background and discipline to breakin. The BREAKIN TRADITIONS curriculum has been developed to help track and assist apsiring breakdance students safe progression. Each student is taught to self motivate and practice moves to attain higher level skills in the curriculum, each level corresponds to a colour in the curriculum booklet a crew t shirt. The curriculum is taught within the class room and consists of the fundamentals of BREAKIN. ( bboy/bgirl culture) BREAKIN core values are Peace,Love,Unity, and Having fun which come from it's hip hop background, the benefits of BREAKIN are self-confidence and self respect of the student, increased focus, creativity and improved physical health and bboy awareness. You can find out more about breakin traditions crew at www.breakintraditions.com ! |
Hannah Neal
|
Hannah is a dedicated performer who has been training at an elite level for 18 years.
Hannah spent her younger years competing both locally and at an international level before starting her professional career at the age of 12 where she featured in the Gordan Frost production “Annie” and a year later “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”. Hannah continued to be a part of local Perth productions including “Fame The Musical”, “High School Musical” and “Grease The Musical”. Hannah’s passion only grew from these amazing experiences and after training in Perth till the age of 18 she followed her passion and moved to Sydney where she trained professionally at The Next Step Performing Arts, receiving her Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance). During her time in Sydney, Hannah performed on “Australia’s Got Talent” as a backup dancer for a grand finalist, then again for Kylie Minogue as a part of the Sydney Mardi Gras, and performed in the professional production “Chimera”. Throughout her years of training Hannah has always had an outstanding passion for teaching and sharing her own love for performing with the younger generation. Hannah is super excited to join DFDA and looks forward to inspiring all of her students. |
BETHANY LONGDEN
QUALIFICATIONS
Acrobatics Arts- Module 1 Certified Certificate 2 in Photography Certificate 2 in Hospitality Currently Studying - Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management WWCC FIRST AID & CPR |
Bethany has been dancing since the age of 3, and been competing in competitions of all styles since the age of 6. She specialises in all genres across the board, including hip-hop, contemporary, lyrical, jazz and tap. During this time, she won numerous awards, including National Jazz Champion in 2016 at Follow Your Dreams Dance Competition. She has also explored the RAD syllabus for ballet. She has been assistant teaching since she was 12, and started teaching my own classes at age 15.
She has choreographed all genres of dance, including solos, duos, and group work. Her choreography has received awards at competitions. She has been successful in dance competitions across the board, and she continues to further her dance career. She was accepted into the NXTGEN project which took place at the end of January 2020, which involved work with Lauren Seymour, Stephen Tannos and BJ Rorke. She has also received experience in the past from Marko Panzic, Zoe Marsh, and other well known choreographers. Bethany is currently about to start a 12 week course to get into university, where she will be studying a Bachelor of Primary Education. She has also completed a Certificate II in Hospitality, and a Certificate II in Photography. She also has her Working With Children’s Check. Bethany is super excited to work with the students of DFDA and looks forward sharing her passion for dance with them. |
Administration 2020
JULIE-ANNE
"ADMIN MANAGER"
Julie-Anne is our administration superstar at Dance Fit Dance Academy. She will be your go-to person at DFDA and will always be happy to answer any of your questions, queries or concerns. She has many years of experience in administration and is an asset to our DFDA team.
Julie-Anne has been heavily involved in the Dance Industry for over 15 years with both of her daughters. She has a great insight and understanding of the dance world and more importantly Dance Fit Dance Academy, to which she calls a second home. She has a passion for all things Dance and truly loves to watch all our DFDA students shine. Most of all she understands the importance of fun and friendships along with our dancing at Dance Fit Dance Academy.
KIRSTY HUGHES
Kirsty has trained in dance and gymnastics recurrently since age 2 and has a great insight into the dance world. Since joining the DFDA family in 2015, Kirsty has experienced various styles of dance, some of which include acrobatics, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop and contemporary; and she has become quite familiar with Dance Fit Dance Academy’s welcoming environment and expectations. Not only has Kirsty complete a Certificate II in Dance and is Ready Set Dance Certified; but she has also done a small business management course providing her with the skills required for administration work and is currently in the process of gaining a bachelor’s degree in nursing.