Principal: Shona Bennett
L.C.B.A-C.I.C.B
Holder of CUA40313 Certificate IV
in Dance Teaching & Management
Registered Teacher of Cecchetti Ballet Australia and Jazz Dance New Zealand
Member of NZADT
With an Licentiate in teaching, Shona is fully qualified and registered to teach ballet. She is also a registered teacher of Jazz Dance NZ. In 2011 Shona passed her Licentiate Teaching Exam and is holder of Certicate IV in Dance Teaching and Management.
Shona began her training in Dunedin at the age of six with Helen Bray and went on to study at the NZ School of Dance as a teacher trainee, withdrawing from the course due to serious injury. Once recovered and still with the passion to teach, she trained under Helen Bray to sit her first teaching exam. Since opening in 1994 with one class, the school has steadily grown, instilled with the philosophy that all children and adults should enjoy the world of dance and how it can benefit their lives.
Shona's future goals are to sit further teaching exams, continue to learn about dance physiology, anatomy and injury prevention, and to continue building on the high standards of achievement at the school, above all sharing a love and enjoyment of dance with all her pupils.
Our Teachers
Emma Donaldson
Advanced 2 BBO Ballet, Advanced 1 Cecchetti Ballet, Advanced BBO Jazz, Advanced UK Tap, Advanced BBO Character
I am a Sydney born dancer, trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Character, Contemporary and Hip Hop. I started working as a dancer at the age of 17 and completed numerous overseas contracts in India and Taiwan as well as performing in Sydney and around NSW. I began teaching in Sydney, taking Jazz and Hip Hop classes. I started attending classes at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz in 2008 when I moved to Dunedin and began teaching classes for Mrs Bennett in 2011. In 2013, I started taking Jazz syllabus classes, preparing students for their exams and I now take classes in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, Stretch and Conditioning, Adults classes and prepare students for competitions with solos and troupes dances.
I have kept performing since moving to Dunedin, was in the Big Night In at the Stadium in 2011. I was also part of the Otago Dancers for 4 years, dancing at various corporate and sporting events and flew to Los Angeles to perform at Disneyland in 2015. I have been involved in the Musical Theatre scene in Dunedin for a since 2014, choreographing the likes of Mamma Mia, Grease - The Arena Spectacular, Mary Poppins, Wicked and Chicago to name a few.
I’m really looking forward to the year ahead at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz, I can’t wait to see the returning students, meet the new students and get started on teaching the new grade work.
Ana Finnie
Jazz Dance NZ Advanced 1
Born and raised in Dunedin, I started my first ballet class at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz in 2008 at the age of 4 and my passion for dance started to grow. I have taken classes in different styles including ballet, jazz and tap. In 2017 I started as a teacher helper in Tiny Tots classes to share my love of dance with the younger Ballet students. I got the opportunity to teach my own Jazz classes in 2020. Since then, I have enjoyed seeing all the kids learn and grow throughout the years in my classes and with the other teachers. My passion is teaching new and challenging dance steps in preparation for exams and getting to use them to make an amazing concert dance that highlights the amazing work the kids have done throughout the year.
I am looking forward to seeing returning and new students show their creativity and have fun while learning in the year ahead.
Kate Ward
Advanced 2 Cecchetti Ballet, Advanced 2 Jazz, Advanced Bronze Tap
I started ballet lessons at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz in 2010, where my love and passion for dance began to grow. In 2020 I started as a Tiny Tots helper to expand my passion for teaching and to watch the younger students find their own love for dance. As well as teaching, I have explored various styles of dance at BSBJ including ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre! I finished at Otago Girls’ High School in 2023, and after taking a gap year to focus on teaching dance, I am starting my first year of studying Psychology and Human Nutrition at Otago Uni.
I am so excited for another amazing year of dancing, and cannot wait to see many smiles grow through the love and enjoyment of dance!
Matilda Andersen
Intermediate Cecchetti Ballet, Major Jazz, Senior Silver Tap
I have always loved dancing, acting, and performing arts. And so I started Ballet classes at Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz in 2021 which I really enjoyed, so I quickly added on many other classes to my week. I started Tiny Tots helping in 2022 which was an absolute joy, I really loved having fun and sharing laughs with the students, and just getting to dance together.
This year I am going into year 12 at Trinity Catholic College, and I am so lucky to have been given the opportunity to teach my own tiny tots class, I can’t wait to meet everyone!
Kilda Northcott
I grew up studying RAD Classical Ballet, passing the Intermediate level and performing in the end of year shows with the Ruby Conway School of Dance in Kawerau, in the Bay of Plenty.
I studied Classical and Contemporary dance full time in Auckland, at the New Zealand Dance Centre directed by Russel Kerr (Classical and Repertoire) and Basil Pattison (Contemporary).
In the early 1970s I went to Sydney, Australia to further my studies in Contemporary Dance at The Bodenwieser Dance Centre in Sydney Australia and then onto America to study Modern Dance at The Merce Cunningham School in New York and performing and collaborating in both those cities.
I returned to Auckland in the late 1970s and was a founding member of Movement Theatre in Education and then The Limbs Dance Company. I returned to Sydney in 1983 to join Darc Swan directed by Chris Jannides who also founded Limbs and collaborated with other choreographers and companies in Australia.
In 1989 I returned to NZ to become a founding member of The Douglas Wright Dance Company.
I then freelanced as a performer/teacher of dance in and around NZ which I continue to do as of 2024.
On returning Aotearoa in 1989 I based myself in Wellington, where I taught Contemporary Dance at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre.
I was also co-director and co-choreographed works with Lynne Pringle as part of Bipeds.
I then moved to Dunedin where I have been based since 2006. Initially, I taught Contemporary Dance at Dance Theatre Arts, director Caroline Claver.
I am now based at the Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz.
In 2021 I collaborated with Auckland based Alyx Duncan on a film/movement work ‘Fear Becomes Her’ which was completed in June 2021 and will be out in film festivals in the near future, as well as being accepted to be shown/exhibited at Pa Homestead/Gallery in Auckland this year, 2024.
Over the last couple of years I have been involved with outside and inside ‘site specific works’ co-ordinated by Ali East and Miriam Marler and with the Ake Ake Theatre Company in two productions – a Matariki inspired collaboration ‘The Guest House’ written and directed by Jessica Latton, Ake Ake Theatre Company and Macbeth in Summer Shakespear in the Park.
I am also looking forward to being involved in the restaging of the Douglas Wright work ‘Forever’ reinhabiting my role as ‘The Nurse’ which is to be part of the Auckland International Arts Festival in 2026.
During November 2024, I had the privilege of workshopping with Jeremy Beck, a former student of Bennett School of Ballet and Jazz & his company of dancers for his work ' Commentary of Dreaming " for the 2025 Dunedin Arts Festival " to be performed for the opening of the festival here in Dunedin.
I have a son, Iharaira and I am grandmother to Aurora, Hunter and Otis.
Once again, I am looking forward to returning to mentor the 5pm Contemporary class where we can have fun as well as inspiring our movement potential.
Student Helpers 2023
Back left to right: Zoe, Lily, Ruby, Eleanor
Front left to right: Larisa, Matilda, Cameron
Absent: Jasmine
Student Achievements
A number of our students have excelled in their training and continue to pursue careers in dance
COREY MUIR
Presently working as Cruise Director for Coral Princess after career as dancer/dance captain/assistant cruise director on cruise ships around the world.
GRACE MCKAY
Graduate of the National Theatre Ballet School in Melbourne, has been working in the field of Pilates/Yoga training.
NINA WRIGHT
Winner of the 2005 Cecchetti Scholarship to attend Summer School in Melbourne
VIVA FOSTER
Graduate of Contemporary from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London and National Theatre Ballet School, Melbourne. Currently on contract with Laban Dance Company (London). Winner of the 2006 Cecchetti Scholarship to attend Summer School in Melbourne, also winning a part scholarship while at Summer School in 2006. Third place in the Junior Section and Audience Choice Award at the National Ballet Awards held in Christchurch, September 2008.
JEREMY BECK
Winner of the 2007 Cecchetti Scholarship to attend Summer School in Melbourne. Graduate of NZ School of Dance (contemporary). Danced with Footnote Dance Company as freelance dancer. Currently freelance dancer in New Zealand.
GLENDENE ROUT
Graduate of WA Conservatoire of Classical Ballet (Perth). Graduate of Lee Academy of Dance in Sydney. Worked with The Wiggles, dancing and promotional work in India. Contract starting in April 2017 with Moulin Rouge, Paris.
DANNIELLE HAYDE
Graduate of Whitireia New Zealand with a Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance). Danced in Les Folies de l'Amour and Silhouette Pro dance ensembles. Performed in a commercial for Huawei, with Scarlett Johansson. Dannielle has also studied circus skills in Wellington.
LISA CRAIG
Graduate of Australian Ballet School, Melbourne. Chosen for an exchange programme with Canada's National Ballet School and the School of American Ballet. Currently has contract with Australian Ballet Company and was the 2015 Bloch Ambassador. Third place in the Senior section at the National Ballet Awards held in Christchurch, September 2008. Received a two week scholarship to attend Summer School at Ballet Victoria, Melbourne. Winner of the 2008 Cecchetti Scholarship to attend Summer School in Melbourne.
FIONA LEE
Passed her Associate Teachers Exam in the Cecchetti Method.
KYMBERLEY WILLIAMS
Passed her Associate Teachers exam and Associate Diploma Part 1 & Part 2 in the Cecchetti Method.
CLAUDIA SOLE
2017 started full time dance training at Transit Dance in Melbourne.
KATE WATERMAN
2017 started full time Circus training at The Circus Hub in Wellington.
JAMES BURCHELL
2018 started full time Classical Ballet training at NZ School of Dance in Wellington.
HAHNA NICHOLS
2018 started full time Contemporary training at NZ School of Dance in Wellington.
LUCY-KATE WOODHOUSE
2021 started full time Classical training at Conlan College in Sydney Australia.
ABBY KNOWLES
2023 started at Unitec Auckland to study Contemporary Dance.
EMMASON KARL
2024 started full time Classical training at NSW International Ballet Academy (formerly Conlan College) in Sydney Australia.
Productions
Each year the Dance School holds a production
2023 Cinderella
2022 12 Dancing Princess
2021 Snow Queen
2020 Wild Wild West
2019 Christmas Carol
2018 Snow White
2017 Hansel and Gretel
2016 Aladdin
2015 Cinderella
2014 Peter Pan
2013 The Snow Queen
2012 The Christmas Carol
2011 Wild Wild West
2010 Aladdin
2009 Cinderella
2008 Peter Pan
2007 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
2006 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2005 Wild Wild West
2004 Christmas Carol
2003 Snow Queen
