MEET THE TOEPAZ TEAM 2021
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MEET THE TOEPAZ TEAM 2021 STEPHANIE NELSON Director of Toepaz Dance Stephanie is a unique and versatile Principal and Teacher who is highly dedicated, organised and passionate Director of Toepaz Dance Studio. She specialises in all areas of dance such as SFD classical ballet, SFD Jazz contemporary, lyrical, stretch and technique, Pilates, body conditioning, competition troupes and Pre Primary. After dancing professionally within Australia and overseas, credits include; a selected dancer representing ATOD, Victoria at age 17 in Hong Kong, a dancer for Princess Cruises, Contemporary Company dancer for company ‘Vertical Shadows’ director Stephen Agisilaou and ‘Locreado’ director Loredo Malcolm, NBL Melbourne Tigers Cheerleader, dancer for Hannah Montana Tribute show which toured Australia and other exclusive Crown Events, she had always come back to her teaching and the dream of running her own dance school. Previously to being Principal of Toepaz Dance she had been teaching at many well-established schools all around Melbourne. Not only passionate about her teaching, Stephanie also teaches Pilates and body conditioning for both adults and dancers. Stephanie believes, alongside with its highly dedicated and qualified teachers and staff, Toepaz has what it takes to create the new generation of upcoming and well-rounded talented dancers and performers. In 2019 Toepaz Dance Studio was nominated for The Whitehorse Excellence Business awards. Stephanie was a guest speaker in which Toepaz Dance students performed as entertainment for this prestigious event. In 2020, Stephanie co-founded ‘ONE’ – A Bushfire Appeal. This event raised money and awareness for the Australian Bushfires raising over $13,000 which collaborated both the dance and performing arts held in Melbourne.
ALYSHA MCKNIGHT Alysha is one of our own and incredible Toepaz Teachers who has been with us for 7 years! Manager We see her take on the new role as Manager of Toepaz Dance in 2021! Competition Teacher, Stretch & Technique & Acrobatics She is a versatile teacher and creative team member that teaches all our elite teams, soloists and advanced acrobatic students. Alysha has an extensive background in Dance, Cheerleading, Circus and Musical Theatre Dancer/ Performer for AFL Footy Show 2014 Dancer/ Performer Channel 10’s City to Sea Trained at the National Institute of Circus arts in areas such as Rope, Tissue, Hoop Diving and Tumbling. Alysha has an enormous passion for the Dance and the Performing Arts and teaching. She is an extremely versatile dancer and choreographer with talented ideas that always impressed Toepaz Dance audience and pushes our Toepaz students. Alysha manages to get the best out of each dancer and has encouraged our students to achieve so much in their dance training. Alysha has a Certificate in Dance and Certificate in Acrobatic Arts. Our Toepaz students absolutely adore Alysha and she is well respected by both her students and team members. EMMA WOLFE Director of PPP, Musical Theatre, Singing and Head of Pre Primay Emma graduated from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy in 2012, where she completed a Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre). Emma is both and experienced performing arts teacher and children's entertainer. Emma has been apart of the Toepaz dance family for over 6 years teaching a range of styles including Musical Theatre and Street Tap. Emma has toured both locally and Internationally with many high profile kids brands. Credits include Peppa Pig Live, Ben and Holly Live- both Life Like Touring, Baby Shark, My Little Pony, Sesame Street and Spiderman- The Entertainment Store, just to name a few. Emma has also been performing around Melbourne in various corporate events and calendar musts. Highlights include Host/MC for the Ballpark, Kids zone at The Australian Open (5 years) and Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Ball for 5 years running as apart of the kids entertainment. Emma also proudly works for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, helping to bring smiles to sick kids around Australia. Most recently Emma has produced her own kids YouTube Channel show called Ems World.
ELISE Senior Ballet Teacher Elise’s love of dance began at the age of 3 when she attended the Sharon Lawrence School of Dance. Although being trained in jazz, tap and ballet, by the age of 9 Elise felt her calling was a classical ballet and she auditioned to attend the Australian Ballet School where she remained training in the Russian Vaganova method until she graduated at 18 years of age with a Bachelor of Classical Ballet. During her time at the Australian Ballet School she was awarded two scholarships of Excellency and toured Australia with The Australian Ballet Regional Tour. Some of the highlights of her dancing career were performing in The Australian Ballet’s Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake and Sir Peter Wright’s Nutcracker. At 18 she travelled around Europe and upon her return she joined the Victorian State Ballet and was promoted to Leading Soloist at the conclusion of 2019. Highlights have been performing ‘Gulnare’ in the Australian premiere of ‘Le Corsaire’ and performing the lead role of ‘Belle’ nationally and internationally in Victorian State Ballet’s ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Elise also teaches Pilates and Pilates Barre to both adults and dancers. ABBEY Abbey started dancing at Toepaz Dance in 2004 aged 4 in its first year of business and has since developed a love SFD Teacher, Open Teacher, and passion for dance and the performing arts. She is trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics Competition Teacher and Admin and commercial jazz. Abbey is a big part of the Toepaz Dance Community and is well respected by all her peers and is looked up to by all students. She was an assistant teacher for 4 years, alongside principal Stephanie & a Rising Star Team member since 2014. She has represented and competed in Dance Competitions for Toepaz Dance since 2009 and was the Team Captain in Rising Stars 1st year in 2014. She was the Overall solo winner for 2016 ‘So You Think You Can Choreo’ which meant she got to perform her winning piece at the Toepaz Annual end of year concert. Other credits include Abbey being with MP Talent Agency for 2 years and since joining Abbey has received feature and extra roles, modelling shots and television shows including ‘Ja’ime Private School Girl’, ‘Hunters an American TV Series’, ‘Upper Middle Bogan’ and ‘Nowhere Boys’. Abbey successfully auditioned and was chosen to be a backup dancer for the David Jaanz Singing Showcase and in 2016 and was a Team Member of the Haileybury Girls College National Championship Team. Abbeys proudest dancing moment was being chosen to dance as ‘Dorothy’ for Toepaz in the 2016 End of Year Ballet. In 2018 Abbey completed her SFD Jazz Teaching Certificate and 2019 was Abbey’s 15th Year dancing at Toepaz!
ROSEMARY Progression Ballet Technique & Senior Ballet Teacher Rosemary is passionate about teaching ballet, and about sharing what she has learnt in her over 40 years of teaching experience. Rosemary began teaching when training with BBO examiner Pamela Shield in Sydney after leaving school. In 1970, she joined Qld Ballet Company for a state wide schools' tour of Coppélia Act 2, which is where she met her husband, NZ Ballet dancer Waynne Robenn. She has operated her own ballet schools in NSW and Tasmania, choreographing and producing several full- length ballets. In 1986 she gained her RAD teaching certificate during the several years she taught for RAD examiner, Prudence Bowen in Sydney. In 2003, Rosemary was invited to teach at Kondo Ballet Studio in Japan for 6 months, which was an amazing experience for her. She has been back several times since to guest teach. After returning from Japan, Rosemary held the position of Senior Teacher at Elancé Adult Ballet School in Melbourne for 12 years, which included the development of a 12 month program for beginners as well as teacher training. As part of her philosophy that the joy of ballet should be available to everyone, she is developing an innovative program for blind students and has found working with them an inspiration. She is also a registered teacher of the Progressing Ballet Technique program and finds it an invaluable complement to students’ ballet training. JEM Hip Hop and Competition Teacher Having lived in the countryside for over 10 years, Jem moved to the city to purse her dancing dreams. Jem haver been dancing her whole life starting at the age of 4 but specifically started hip hop when she was 11 years old. Jen studies a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance at Deakin University. She is currently dancing in Arna Singletons dance company ‘The Legacy & Co’ for her second year. Jem competed with A2D Dance Studios for 3 years in the Open Crew placing high nationally and in Victoria on a number of occasions. Jem has been involved with a variety of gigs such as performing at the Redkin hair show and dancing at Ego Expo as well as dancing in Masters of Choreography Productions. In 2019 Jem was involved with the new Urban Dance Company called ‘Legacy Co’ and performed in their seasons shows. We are so excited to have Jem on board who is always bringing a fresh new, trendy vibe to the studio
MADISON Acrobatic, Stretch & Technique & Competition Teacher Madison has been dancing and performing for over 20 years around Melbourne. Madison has been teaching classes at Toepaz for a year including her sub senior rising star students and acro. Her professional career started as an entertainer for large corporate events around Melbourne, where she choreographed and danced as a back up dancer for Stan walker. Madison continued her dance training at a tertiary level when training in contemporary dance at Deakin University(bachelor of creative arts(dance)) for 3 years, before becoming a national talent recruitment coordinator where she also wrote school holiday programs for children. Madison most recently has been teaching school holiday drama/dance and singing camps for children in Melbourne and also won a honourable mention for best female actor in a short play at arkfest. Madison’s love for dance and performance has continued to explode over the years which led her to follow her passion for teaching and sharing dance with students around Melbourne. She has been teaching dance for the past 10 years and doesn’t ever see herself stopping. She has enjoyed learning about the unique students at Toepaz and continues to share her knowledge with her students. Madison describes her self as a dedicated dance teacher a creative choreographer who lives to share the art of dance with her students. KATHERINE SFD Teacher & Open Classes Katherine has completed her 2 Years of Full Time Dance at Spectrum Dance, During that time her credits include being a main Dancer in Australia’s Got Talent Live Decider Show 2012 Ensemble Dancer in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2012-2014 Performed in multiple charity events including Violet Diamond Gala, Dance Aid and more.. She has completed her VCE Dance and in 2015 was the main featured dancer “Alice” in Toepaz Dances Ballet of “Alice Goes to Wonderland. She received 100% in her SFD Jazz 8 Exam - Honours with Distinction and is now completing her SFD Jazz Teaching Certificate in 2018. Performed at many corporate events in 2016 including The Footy Show and Red Ball Gala. Katherine discovered her love for teaching and helping younger dancers while assistant teaching and hopes to inspire and share her love and passion for dance with her students. She is an extremely motivated, driven and organised teacher. In 2021 she will be getting married which we are so excited for her!
SOPHIE SFD Teacher & Open Classes Sophie was born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula, where she quickly realised her dreams of being a member of Hi-5 weren’t going to come true unless she got into a dance class! She was trained at Peninsula School of Dance in Cecchetti Ballet from the age of 3 under Sandra Allan, OAM, and in Modern Jazz, Tap, and Contemporary under Melanie Gard. As soon as she could, she was assisting her teachers in junior classes, and for the last 5 years she has continued to develop and nurture her skills and passion for teaching students of all ages and abilities.On completing her year 12, she successfully auditioned for the BFA (Dance) at the Victorian College of the Arts, and graduated from the course in 2019. During her time at the VCA, she worked with a range of renowned independent contemporary artists, and was given the opportunity to study and train in France.Sophie describes herself as a life-long learner, and her passion for sharing and learning translates into her classes. She runs all her classes with laughter, joy, and a focus on students’ experiences in their own bodies. She plans to return to study in 2022 to become a qualified physiotherapist. IVY Stretch & Technique & Competition Teacher Ivy's passion for performing arts began at the age of 8 and it has continued to grow ever since. Her training began at Center stage Performing Arts School, then she advanced onto full-time studies at Patrick School of the Arts where she completed a Certificate IV in Dance and a Diploma of Musical Theatre, under the direction of Andrew Hallsworth. Ivy has performed in many stage productions throughout her time at these schools including Chicago, Heathers and Guys and Dolls, whilst also having experience with corporate gigs, singing and cabaret performances. Her choreography skills include teaching and creating choreography pieces for PSA Full Timers under the guidance of Andrew Hallsworth and Todd Patrick. Ivy is a triple threat but her real strengths are jazz and musical theatre. She wishes to provide the students with the knowledge and tools to grow in the industry and aims to spread the same love for dance she had growing up to the youth of today.
ELOISE Singing Teacher & PPP Co Director Originally from Tasmania, training at Jenina’s Dance Workshop and ExitLeft, Eloise is a graduate of the 2012 SHOWFIT Musical Theatre course at Centrestage Performing Arts School. Eloise has toured extensively with LifeLike Touring and The Entertainment Store (TEG) to Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle East & Australia in Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom, Peppa Pig Live Big Splash, Peppa Pig Live Treasure Hunt and Bob the Builder, and Songs of Frozen and Princess Anthems for the Australian Open. Corporate work includes performing at AON Platinum Club, Festival of Broadway, Pride of Australia Awards, David Jones ‘Santa’s Grand Arrival’ and Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight. Eloise was a Top-30 Semi-Finalist in the 2013 & 2015 Rob Guest Endowment Award, and has performed in her self-devised cabaret shows: Confessions of A Golden Child directed by Sara Grenfell and This Is 23 directed by Melissa Langton & Mark Jones. Most recently, Eloise was part of SONDER - A Charity Concert (Sonder Theatre Co.) at The Alex Theatre, The Songs of Drew Gasparini (EJ Productions) at Chapel Off Chapel, and Les Miserables directed by Chris Parker (ExitLeft Productions). Eloise has been a private singing teacher for the past 10 years and has taught musical theatre at various dance and theatre schools across both Tasmania and Victoria, with students reaching great success across the board; gaining admission to tertiary courses, successfully auditioning for professional musicals, and achieving amazing results in AMEB examinations. Eloise is so excited to be apart of the new Performance Pathway Program working along side Emma and the Team at Toepaz Dance!
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