Brighton Dance Academy (BDA) is one of the most prominent dance schools in Melbourne, catering for all ages. Students who learn dance at BDA receive training from professional teachers who encourage students from beginners to advanced level dancers. Recreational dancers also have the opportunity to enjoy dance in unique classes designed just for them. BDA students have gone on to train at the likes of the Australian Ballet School, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Laine Theatre Arts in the UK and the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet.
Studio Manager
Courtney began dancing at BDA in 2011 where she developed her love and passion for dance and performance. In 2013 she began as an assistant teacher for Natasha Abrahams and went on to assist Jess Daniel. She has studied ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop and acrobatics at BDA and has represented the school in many of these styles. Courtney has been a competition soloist and troupe member for many years and was the recipient of the Southern Federation Dance Olivia Steadman Scholarship in 2015 for her solo performances. She has completed the highest SFD jazz exams and RAD graded ballet exams with distinction while also completing vocational ballet exams. In 2016 Courtney attained her SFD jazz teaching certificate and also completed teacher training with The Acrobatic Dance Association. Courtney hopes to combine her university studies with her dance training to run a dance therapy program in the future. Courtney adores teaching a range of styles at BDA and aspires to pass on a love and appreciation of dance to all of her students.
Guest Teacher
Natasha was a student at Brighton Dance Academy from a young age, which fostered her love and passion for dance throughout her life. Natasha has been a member of staff since 2009 teaching Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Acrobatics and Conditioning, working in the Administrative team since 2010, becoming Studio Manger in 2017, until she stepped down after a big COVID-19 two years. With her Bachelor of Health Science and Masters of Occupational Therapy, Natasha works as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist alongside her position at BDA. Natasha gained her Jazz teaching certificate through Southern Federation of Dance, is a qualified Gymnastics coach and judge, and has also attended the Royal Academy of Dance training program for Pre-Primary - Grade 3 Ballet. Natasha brings her knowledge of dance, gymnastics and Occupational Therapy to her classes at BDA and teaches with high energy and enthusiasm. She loves watching her students grow and develop into young adults and beautiful dancers.
Brad has been training in dance art forms since he was a child, studying Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Ballet and Lyrical. Eventually moving to Melbourne where he continued his training at PSA, Hip Hop Crews (Beatphonik, Sole symphony) and Burn City Waack, For the last 7 years he has focused his training in more street and club styles such as Hip Hop, Waacking, Voguing & House. He has worked professionally overseas in Singapore, Malaysia, L.A and Japan and has been teaching children to adults for the last 10 years at many different schools around Australia. Brad believes dance is for everyone, you just have to unlock that passion inside that connects you to the music, and the rest is just training hard. Inspired by different dance cultures, his aim is to share his knowledge, educate and inspire others.
Jacqui started dancing at Brighton Dance Academy at 5 years old, studying Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Ballet. Jacqui was first an assistant teacher before transitioning into teaching her own classes in 2017. She is also part of BDA’s Administrative Team. Jacqui has completed SFD Examinations in Tap and all 10 levels in Jazz. Jacqui has also completed teacher training with the Acrobatic Dance Association. Jacqui holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from Monash University and is currently studying a Doctor of Physiotherapy at the University of Melbourne. She loves studying the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of the human body and brings this knowledge to her dance classes. Jacqui’s love of all aspects dance was fostered at BDA and she is excited to have the opportunity to give back to the BDA community.
Originally from New Zealand Laura studied at Deborah Hale Musical Theatre for many years doing the NZAMD syllabus in Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary as well as RAD Ballet and musical theatre. She moved to Melbourne in 2006, where she studied and graduated from Dance World Studio’s with a Diploma in Performing Arts. After graduating Laura worked for Princess Cruises, traveling the world and performing aboard the Crown Princess and Grand Princess ships. Now working as a teacher/choreographer takes her all over Melbourne and Australia. Working for various dance schools and companies including BDA, Australian Arts Alive, Girls from Oz, Kinder ballet and the Australian Girls Choir. Laura has always loved teaching and she is passionate about helping each student become the best dancer they can be no matter what the style of dance. She continues to take class, go to workshops and is constantly working to become a better teacher and choreographer so she can pass all the years of knowledge on to her students.
Guest Teacher
Eloise joined BDA in 2016 after moving to Australia from the UK in 2014. Eloise started dancing when she was 6 years old and went to vocational school at the age of 10. Eloise has trained professionally in a range of dance styles and toured the UK and Germany as part of a performance company. Eloise has taught in the UK and the UAE as well as completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Community Dance at the prestigious Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London. Eloise is currently studying a Masters in Education (Dance Teaching) with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Maggie began her formal music training at a young age; she began piano lessons at age 3 and continued these for 15 years. She was trained formally in the classical Suzuki music method, however, she is also competent in other genres such as jazz, contemporary and neo-classical. She has completed AMEB piano exams up to Grade 6 level. Maggie has also undertaken formal voice training, beginning in 2013 and continuing for 6 years. She has training in a range of vocal styles, specialising in jazz and contemporary voice. She has completed her AMEB Grade 6 voice exam. In 2017, Maggie undertook VCE Music Performance, specialising in contemporary voice, and the year after, was accepted to the Victorian College of the Arts. At the VCA, she completed a year of a Bachelor of Music, specialising in Jazz and Improvisation. Maggie has also completed her Grade 3 AMEB music theory exam and extended this knowledge at the university level. She began working as a private piano teacher in 2019, where she discovered her passion for teaching. Within her lessons, she aims to create a safe and comfortable environment, in which students are gently encouraged to explore their voice and expand upon their musicianship. Students will be exposed to a range of singing techniques and styles, as well as general music theory knowledge in which to ground these techniques. Maggie is currently studying for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne and hopes to pursue a Masters of Music Therapy in the future.
Guest Teacher
Justine began dancing at the age of 4, training at BDA in a variety of different styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. After graduating high school, Justine completed two years full time at Brent Street Performing Arts, where she received two diplomas, in both Classical Contemporary and Performing Arts, graduating with honours. Since then, Justine has continued her training whilst working as a dancer for various corporate events with companies such as Pulse Entertainment and this year has performed in ‘After Midnight’, a Sydney based Cabaret. Justine is just so excited to be returning to BDA and sharing her passion for dance with her students.
Guest Teacher
Tanaya developed her love for dance at Centrestage Performing Arts School where she studied all dance styles for 18 years. After finishing school, she completed full time dance at Showfit, before returning to Centrestage to start her dance teaching career. Alongside teaching, over the last few years, Tanaya has performed in the Australian Opera’s production of Aida. Tanaya is excited to pass on her love of dance to the students at BDA.
Guest Teacher
Originally from England, Rachael graduated from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Ballet Education degree program and the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance at the Academy’s headquarters in London, England. Whilst studying here, Rachael had the opportunity to work as an assistant alongside world-renowned Royal Academy of Dance Examiners and Teachers as part of the Dance School. Rachael has gone on to teach throughout the UK, Canada, America and now Australia, successfully preparing hundreds of students, both children and adults, for RAD examinations as well as training dancers for full time vocational schools, youth companies and associate programs. Rachael specialises in teaching the vocational levels and teaching adults. Choreography, especially for large events, makes up a significant part of Rachael’s work and she has had the privilege of working with a live orchestra for both the 2011 and 2012 Proms in the Meadow. Rachael has also choreographed for festivals and eisteddfods, charity events and more recently full length classical productions as Ballet Mistress for a Canadian youth company. Having sustained a serious injury, Rachael has since developed a passion for Dance Science and now also teaches practical based Anatomy and Physiology classes to her students. Rachael is a qualified Mat and Reformer Pilates instructor as well as a qualified teacher of the Progressing Ballet Technique program. Rachael regularly attends courses with Lisa Howell, The Australian Ballet and IADMS, strongly believing that as teachers, our responsibility is to prepare dancers not just for the current season but for a life time of dance. Rachael has been a member of the RAD Victorian Tasmanian panel since 2015. In June 2018 Rachael was appointed to the Panel of RAD Examiners, examining throughout Australia and internationally.
Guest Teacher
Kiria started her formal music training at a young age by learning piano for seven years. She completed up to Grade 5 AMEB piano exams as well as completing Grade 3 music theory exam. She has always been part of a choir, from Australian Girls Choir, to being in all available school and university choirs. She completed VCE Music Performance in 2016 specialising in contemporary voice. Kiria has been in amateur musical theatre productions every year for the past seven years and has enjoyed playing characters such as Cinderella’s mother in ‘Into the Woods’, and as one of the Boylan sisters in ‘Annie’. She loves being able to give back to the community through community theatre, which she has done for the past three years with starring roles. In 2019 she was the vocal director of an original musical performance with a community theatre company, working with both a children chorus and an adult ensemble. In her classes, students will learn different singing techniques, so they can use their voice comfortably and tunefully. She loves having the opportunity to help people of all ages learn about their unique voice and guiding them beyond what they initially thought they were capable of, by providing a safe space for students to have fun, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and ultimately find their voice. She has helped coach a number of students to achieve starring roles in their school musicals and into competitive musical casts such as the Young Australian Broadway Chorus. Kiria is currently studying an undergraduate degree of Arts at the University of Melbourne and hopes to further her music education alongside her degree.
Office Admin.
Diploma of Dance (Teaching and Management) – Box Hill Institute. Member of Southern Federation of Dance Board Examiners. Jodie began teaching at Brighton Dance Academy in 2000 and took on administration and management roles over the years, before leaving in 2012 when she had her first daughter. She returned to teach in 2015 and then took a break from dancing after having her second daughter and then suffering a knee injury. In the last few years, she has been very happy to return to the dance studios as a teacher and is so pleased to be back at BDA working in the office. Jodie continues to work as a Jazz and Tap examiner for the Southern Federation of Dance.
Gabi was trained in both RAD and Cecchetti Ballet at Mildura and District Ballet School. She is an accomplished performer, having won many awards at eisteddfods. In 2017-18 she trained full time at Allegria Studios in Sydney under Hilary Kaplan until injury forced her to change direction and focus on teaching. She has been teaching dance for 8 years and holds a Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with RAD. Although her training has been focussed in Ballet, Gabi is highly capable dancer in a range of styles. She enjoys teaching Contemporary and has developed a Conditioning program for students in remote areas which she teaches via Zoom. Gabi taught Jazz and Hip Hop at Trinity Lutheran College 2020-2022 before moving to Melbourne in 2023. We are thrilled to have Gabi teaching at BDA.
Hailing from country Queensland, Eve has spent the past decade teaching and studying both dance and musical theatre across several states. She is particularly passionate about fostering opportunities for young performers in country and regional areas. Eve is a graduate of the Bachelor of Musical Theatre course at the Elder Conservatorium, University of Adelaide (ECMT). Before moving to South Australia in 2020 to undertake her degree, she completed 2 years of full-time dance training at the Australian Dance Performance Institute (then ADPI, now Queensland College of Dance), gaining a Diploma of Musical Theatre (2018) and an Advanced Diploma of Music Theatre and Commercial Dance (2019). While studying, Eve also attained her RAD Associate Teacher Award under the mentorship of respected examiner, Barbara Everson. She has also completed her ComDance Modern Jazz Teacher’s Certificate.
Maddie’s love of dance was developed from the age of 3, competing at championship level with Jeaden Calisthenics (for 13 years) and learning numerous dance styles initially at Sefra Burstin Dance Studios, followed by Jane Moore Academy of Ballet. Alongside her love of dance, Maddie developed the passion for singing, partaking in many musicals growing up and upholding a 10 year long position in the Young Voices of Melbourne Choir touring AUS, the USA and NZ, singing at each location’s top concert halls. In 2018 Maddie trained at the VCA in the Music Theatre Foundation Course. Her training continued at Associated Studio’s AUS completing a British Advanced Diploma of Music Theatre, which included writing and performing her own cabaret ‘You Give Me Fever’ (2019). Alongside her training in music theatre, Maddie also began singing jazz, and acoustic contemporary covers at numerous venues around Melbourne. 2020 saw Maddie move to London UK to further her Music Theatre studies internationally under the direction of Leontine Hass. Upon premature return due to COVID-19, she was recognised as a Top 30 semi-finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment Awards. Maddie now teaches Music theatre, Kinder Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Contemporary dance styles at Brighton Dance Academy and experiences great joy when sharing her knowledge, connecting with students and fostering a love for dance, singing, theatre and other creative disciplines in whichever form that may come.
Brighton Dance Academy provides dance classes to all ages and abilities from beginner to pre-professional level. We believe in nurturing students and pride ourselves on the positive culture within our school.