TEACHERS
Zoey Sweeney
Principal
RAD RTS
Cert IV Dance (Teaching)
Zoey was trained here in Dubbo and started dancing at the age of 6 learning Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and National Character. She completed advanced examinations in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and National Character.
At 14 Zoey was accepted into the British Ballet Organisation scholar program for Ballet and Jazz which involved training at McDonald College and Urban Dance Centre in Sydney. At 15 Zoey began teaching Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Modern in Dubbo and produced award winning solos and troupes for students of all ages.
At 21 Zoey moved to Toowoomba QLD, where she taught Ballet and Contemporary. She was also part of 2 performance crews of selected dancers who performed at sporting games, functions and other events in southeast QLD.
In 2019 Zoey became the Owner and Principal of Orana Dance Centre. The school has continued to produce solos and troupes at a very high standard with Zoey at the reins. Zoey prides herself by running her dance school in an organised and family friendly way. This ensures families feel welcome, well informed and relaxed knowing their children are learning the art of dance in a safe, nurturing and fun environment while building their skill and becoming well trained, technically strong dancers. Zoey has been teaching children and adults of all ages for over 18 Years and continues to learn and stay up to date with the ever-changing world of dance.
Zoey is a Royal Academy of Dance Registered Teacher and holds her Cert IV Dance (Teaching).
Sharlene Roberts
Cert III Dance
Cert IV Dance
Diploma Elite Dance Performance
Sharlene started dancing when she was 3 years old at Fiona's Studio of Dance in Morisset. At 9, she continued her training at the Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy in Lambton and went fulltime when she was 13. Sharlene graduated with a Certificate III, IV and Diploma in Elite Dance Performance from the National College of Dance, before moving to France to train at l'Ecole Superieure de Danse, Rosella Hightower. She has performed with European companies such as Cannes Jeune Ballet in France, Northern Ballet in the UK, and project companies in London. Since returning to Australia, Sharlene has worked music videos and dance films and has been teaching for ballet schools in Newcastle, the Hunter and Central Coast.
Rhiannon Griffith
Cert IV Dance (Teaching)
AcroDance Pre-school Certified
Acrobatic Arts Certified
Cert IV Dance Teaching and Management (In Progress)
RAD CBTS (In Progress)
Bachelor of Educational Studies Pathway to Primary Teaching (In Progress)
Rhiannon began her dance teaching career in 2017 by assisting ODC senior teachers in their weekly technique and performance classes. Rhiannon is trained in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Ballet Syllabus and has a strong understanding of the technique and skills required for teaching many genres of dance to all ages.
In 2019 Rhiannon started teaching solos and groups to students of all ages. Rhiannon is a gifted choreographer and continues to produce performance routines at an extremely high standard.
Rhiannon has her Certificate IV in dance (teaching), is a certified AcroDance Pre-School Teacher, a certified Acrobatic Arts teacher, and is currently studying her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the RAD to become a registered RAD ballet teacher.
Lauren Hustler RAD RTS
RAD CBTS
Lauren commenced dancing at the age of four learning the Cecchetti method of classical. She later moved to North Shore Dance Academy where she studied RAD Classical Ballet, Contemporary, National Character and Jazz. During this time, Lauren undertook her RAD examinations at both graded and vocational levels receiving Distinction. Lauren was an eight time winner of the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod across classical and championship sections, including winning The Robert and Elizabeth Albert Junior Ballet Scholarship.
Lauren holds Registered Teaching Status with The Royal Academy of Dance, having completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies in 2010. Lauren is a Mentor, Tutor and Practical Teaching Supervisor for those aspiring trainee teachers currently enrolled in the Certificate and Diploma programmes with the RAD. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Neuroscience; a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours; a Masters of Health Laws, all received from The University of Sydney along with having a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Lauren is a recognised teacher of the Ballet Conservatoire syllabus (Vaganova) through The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet having completed teacher seminars in 2017 and 2021. Lauren has gained her Licentiate Diploma through the Australian Institute of Classical Dance (Borovansky syllabus) granting her teaching membership. Lauren is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dance Education with the Royal Academy of Dance/University of Bath for which she received the Iris Truscott Memorial Scholarship for academic achievement. In 2021, Lauren was the recipient of the inaugural RAD Teachers’ Scholarship Fund for proactive contribution to the wider dance community.
Lauren’s students have gone on to receive notable success on the international platform, having won at competitions such as YAGP, Prix de Lausanne and Alana Haines. Her passion is instructing RAD classical ballet at all levels from Pre Primary through to Advanced 2 for both male and female students and her results are consistently in the top percentiles. Lauren’s students have been successful in securing placements at top finishing schools such as The Australian Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School and Queensland Ballet Academy, to name a few. Lauren currently has many students who are currently involved in the Interstate Training Program of The Australian Ballet School. Lauren employs a holistic approach to her teaching practice, inspiring her students to reach their technical and artistic potential.
Gabriella Judd
Cert IV Dance (Teaching)
Diploma in Beauty Therapy
Gabriella started dance at the age of 3 in Parkes, with Cathy Acret at the Acret school of dance (now known as the Parkes school of dance).
Gabriella has trained in Modern, Jazz, Hiphop, Tap and Ballet. Gabriella has trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Syllabus, ISTD Syllabus, and has completed examinations in Modern, Jazz, Tap ( FATD The Federal association of teachers of dancing Australia ) and Ballet (RAD).
Gabriella has also had training in Ballroom and Latin Dancing, and has been a competitor in Ballroom Dance competitions around NSW.
Gabriella was a Member of the Orange Theatre Company (OTC), for numerous productions including, Hello Dolly, Guys and Dolls, Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat and Grease.
Kylie Peacock
RAD RTS
Cert IV Dance (Teaching)
Kylie is a life long lover of classical ballet. As a child Kylie learnt the Cecchetti method at the Coffs Harbour Ballet Studio, and as an adult has completed major exams in Cecchetti, BBO and RAD.
Kylie is passionate about nurturing and encouraging the next generation of ballet dancers with an understanding of correct technique and a love of the art form.
Outside of her classical ballet interests Kylie has a successful professional working life, is a wife and a mum. She is also an active member and competitor in BJP Physical Culture, in which she has been a national finalist, national semi-finalist and western zone place getter in her relevant level and age sections.