RICH HISTORY
SABA has been successfully teaching students since 1952 and has established itself as one of Auckland's top performing and most respected dance schools.
Founded by Valerie Murray, SABA quickly flourished from its base in South Auckland. With over six decades of tutelage the school has been privileged to take many students from aspiring young dancers through to competitive success and professional careers.
Upon Valerie's retirement in 2012, Emma McInnes took over the reigns at SABA.
From our purpose built Epsom studios SABA offers classes in a wide range of dance styles which include: RAD Ballet, NZAMD Jazz, Contemporary, Stretch Leap & Spin, Open Classes, Repertoire, Body Conditioning, Pilates, Tap & Hip Hop.
DANCE TEACHERS
Students at SABA enjoy tutelage from a team of passionate and experienced dancers. Learn more about each one of our teachers below.
Emma McInnes
Director - Ballet, Jazz, Troupes, Competitions
READ BIO
Emma McInne
Director - Ballet, Competition Work
Emma began her dance training in Waihi before moving to DEC in Tauranga to continue with her vocational exams in RAD and BBO ballet Modern Jazz and Tap. During this time she had the opportunity to teach the local dancers of Waihi competition work.
She continued her studies at the London Contemporary Dance School and graduated with a BA (hons) majoring in Contemporary performance and technique.
While living in London Emma began her teacher training mentored by the late Christina Hughes at the British Ballet Organisation where she taught both grades and majors for four years as well as running a small school in North London. She obtained her ABBO and a diploma of teaching specialising in ballet during this time.
In 2006 Emma had the opportunity to choreograph a short Contemporary piece for her small company with fellow dancer and current teacher Katie Quirke for the RESOLUTION 2006 festival.
Her long term friend Saori Ishimaru had moved to NZ and was teaching at SABA so Emma’s transition into the SABA family was easy. She successfully completed her RAD registered teachers status and took over SABA from the legend Valerie Murray in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since.
Katie Rudd
Contemporary
READ BIOKatie Rudd
Contemporary
Katie grew up in New Plymouth with her dance training beginning at the Lynn Gilbert-Smith Dance Studio. In 2009 and 2010 she was the winner of the National Young Performer of the Year Award becoming the only dancer to ever win this award in both disciplines. Katie was a Junior Associate of the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD), commencing her formal training at NZSD in 2011, graduating as a contemporary major in 2013.
Katie made her professional debut with The New Zealand Dance Company (NZDC) in 2014 in Rotunda at the Holland Dance Festival followed by a national tour of Language of Living. Katie also performed in New Caledonia at Festival du Mont Dore in a new creation by French choreographer Thierry Bain in collaboration with Compagnie MAADO. 2015 began with an Australasian tour of Rotunda and the creation of a new duet Company of Another for the Tempo Dance Festival. She performed in the 2015 Lumina premiere season and in 2016 performed Lumina on the Germany/Holland tour as well as across New Zealand’s North Island. 2016 also saw Katie as a part of The Absurdity of Humanity and Trolleys premieres as well as her appointment to full-time dancer. In 2017 she performed with NZDC in the premiere of Kiss The Sky in Auckland, at Splore Festival and WOMAD in Taranaki, as well as in The Absurdity of Humanity national tour. In 2018, Katie performed in the premiere of OrphEus–a dance opera by Michael Parmenter and toured nationally as well as internationally with the Company. 2018 saw Katie performing the premiere season of Matariki for Tamariki as well as national and international tours.
In 2020 Katie performed in the premiere of Strasbourg 1518 with Borderline Arts Ensemble at The New Zealand Festival of the Arts, as well as in All Good if Not; a film by Xin Ji commissioned by Beijing Young Artists Platform and played at Wellington City Gallery in February this year. 2021 has seen Katie perform as a guest dancer for Lucy Marinkovich's premiere of Strasbourg 1518 for Auckland Arts Festival, followed by NZDC's digital presentation of ArteFact: How to Behave in a Museum by Ross McCormack for 2022 Auckland Arts Festival.
York Popham
Ballet
READ BIOYork Popham
Ballet
York started dancing at age 3 right here at SABA. She completed all her Royal Academy of Dance exams with Distinction and enjoyed competing in competitions throughout New Zealand and Australia. At 16 she moved to Australia to study at The National College of Dance where she gained a Diploma in Dance Performance and had many more exciting performance opportunities. York then continued her professional training at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Upon returning to NZ she began teaching for SABA while completing the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies earning her teaching registration with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Lizzie Clarke
Contemporary, Ballet
READ BIOLizzie Clarke
Contemporary
Lizzie started her dance training at Whangarei Academy of Dance. At age 10, she began studying RAD syllabus at Northland School of Ballet and, later, Dance Inc. Northland. She was also privileged to train for a year with Anthony Pannell. At age 16, she left home to attend Canterbury Ballet’s full-time training programme in Christchurch. The following year, she was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) where she trained as a classical ballet major from 2009–2011. While at NZSD, Lizzie completed her RAD training, gaining distinction in her Advanced two ballet exam, and enjoyed performing pieces such as the Winter Variation from ‘Cinderella’, works by Jiří Kylián, and excerpts from ‘Napoli’, in her graduation performance.
After graduating with a Diploma in Dance Performance, she divided her time between travelling North America and Europe and teaching ballet for Dance Inc. Northland. She has also enjoyed collaborating with Krystal Williams-Tuhoro on lyrical pieces for students at Pulse Dance Studio.
Lizzie spent the last four years back at university and has now completed a Bachelor in Health Science (Physiotherapy). She is currently working full-time as a physiotherapist on the north shore as well as teaching part-time at SAB
Harriet Dennison
Jazz, Ballet
READ BIO
Harriet Dennison
Jazz, Ballet
Harriet is a Royal Academy of Dance qualified teacher who will be joining us in NZ from just outside of London in January 2020.
She trained at the RAD headquarters in London where she gained a first class honours degree in Ballet Education and became a licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance. During her training, she took on various performance opportunities including dancing for the Royal Family with Dame Darcey Bussell for the Queen’s 90th birthday. Miss Harriet also worked on the juniors programme at the English National Ballet School and taught the Cecchetti syllabus for Chelsea Ballet Schools whilst based in the UK.
Following her graduation, she moved to Sydney, Australia where she worked in a dance school and taught ballet classes for a small contemporary company. After falling in love with New Zealand whilst visiting on holiday, Miss Harriet decided to continue her adventure and learn about dance in NZ. She is very excited to be moving overseas again and working with all the students at SABA.
Stuart Cassidy
Ballet
READ BIOStuart Cassidy
Ballet
While still in the Corps de Ballet at the Royal, he made his debut as Romeo in MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet partnering Viviana Durante. Other MacMillan roles include the Salamander in Prince of the Pagodas, Lescaut in Manon, the lead Officer in Mayerling, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the cousin in The Invitation, the Drum Major in Different Drummer. Solyony and Vershinin in Winter Dreams, the Husband and Officer in Anastasia, the man in Las Hermanas, The Judas Tree, Gloria, Concerto, Song of the earth and Requiem. Ashton roles include Colas in La Fille Mal Gardee, the Prince in Cinderella, Daphnis in Daphnis and Chloe, Thaďs Pas de Deux, Les Rendezvous and Les Painters. Balanchine roles include Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Agon, Rubies and Symphony in C. Bintley roles include Christian in Cyrano, Galantries, the Planets.
Other leading roles include Prince Siegfried in Dowell’s production of Swan Lake in which he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House New York, Albrecht in Peter Wright’s production of Giselle, The Prince in DeValois and Dowell’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, Solor in Markarova’s La Bayadčre, Basilio and Espada in Baryshinkov’s Don Quixote, the Prince in Peter Wrights Nutcracker, Jean de Brienne in Nureyev’s Raymonda, Tsarevich in The Firebird, the Rake in DeValois Rakes Progress.
Among his created roles are Glen Tetley’s Amores, Twyla Tharp’s Mr Worldly Wise, Ashley Pages Fearful Symmetries, Two-Part Invention and Renard. In 1999 he left the Royal Ballet to become a founder member of K. Ballet Company, dancing in all of the companies’ performances including Tetsuya Kumakawa’s production of Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, La Bayadčre, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Cleopatra, Madame Butterfly, Ashton’s Thaďs, Rhapsody and Symphonic Variations, Petit’s Carmen, Bintley’s Flowers of the forest, Dolin’s Variation’s for Four, Christopher Wheeldon’s Pavane, Adam Cooper’s Six Faces
Holly Finch
Jazz and Lyrical
READ BIOHolly Finch
Jazz and Lyrical
Holly’s love of dance is centred around her passion for music and storytelling. She is trained in many styles including Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary and Street Dance; which all influence her unique style of movement and choreography.
Holly trained professionally at Ettingshausens Pro (Sydney), and in the Broadway Dance Centre ISVP programme (New York), as a scholarship recipient. Some of her further training includes NZX Next (Aotearoa), Deltebre Dansa (Spain) and Crystal Pite Master Workshop (Perth).
Some of her recent dancer credits include ‘Lorde’ music videos ‘Solar Power’ and ‘Mood Ring’, ‘Sachi’ music video ‘Down on Your Luck’, TV shows ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and ‘Shortland Street’, and Dance Theatre show ‘The Most Naked’ by ‘Hannah Tasker-Poland’. Earlier in her career Holly performed in 'Jillian Myers’ work ‘Questions and Answers’ (Tokyo, Japan).
Holly has worked extensively with ‘Momentum Productions NZ’, featuring in theatre shows ‘Duality’ ‘Soundscape’ and ‘Autonomy’. She has also worked with choreographers ‘Kiel Tutin’ and ‘Todd Williamson’ as a skeleton crew dancer for K-pop artists including ‘Lisa’ and ‘Twice’.
Some more of Holly’s choreography credits include being an artist-in-residence with Northern Dance Networks ‘Tūrama’, presenting work at Tempo dance festival, and guest choreographing at night club event ‘The Blank Kanvas’.
Holly believes in the ability art has to connect us to our humanity… above all, this is what drives her to dance and create.
Nicola Searchfield
Ballet
READ BIO
Nicola Searchfield
Ballet
Nicola trained with Val Murray at SABA until the age of sixteen. In 1984 she gained a Royal Academy of Dance scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. She won the professional prize at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland in 1986. She then joined the Royal Ballet Company after dancing the Principal role in Les Rendevous at her graduation performance at the Royal Opera House. She was promoted to First Artist in 1989 and performed in featured and soloist roles for the next twelve years.
Nicola retired from the Royal Ballet Company in 1998 after the birth of her first son.
The same year she retrained as a Pilates instructor and opened her own studio in London.
She graduated with distinction at the Royal Academy of Dance as a professional dance teacher (RAD PDT Dip) in 2005, after which, she was selected to teach at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in Battersea, London.
In 2006 Nicola returned home and opened Epsom Pilates. Since then, she has adjudicated for the AHA awards and NZ Group Dance Awards and taught at the New Zealand School of Dance. She has judged the RAD scholarship twice and also twice been a second examiner for Solo Seal.
Hayz Pincheira Rowe
Musical Theatre , Jazz, Lyrical Competitions
READ BIO
Hayz Pincheira Rowe
Musical Theatre , Jazz, Lyrical Competitions
Hayz is a free-lance Choreographer, Teacher and Creative Director. Her professional training took place in London at The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts where she graduated with joint qualification’s; a H.Dip in Theatre Arts and ISTD Dance Instruction.
Professionally she has performed both with seasonal and touring companies as well as shows with longstanding residence in London Theatres, including leading roles of Alice in ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, Penguin in The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre, Elsie in ‘The Wind and the Willow’s. She also performed alongside a variety of international pop artists on stage and in Music Videos such as Rachel Stevens, Outcast, Beyoncé and The Black Eyed Peas. She has had the pleasure of working with highly acclaimed stunt performers in a various blockbuster movies such as Blood Diamond and National Treasure.
Since moving to New Zealand she has had the joys of working with many of the larger scale productions being filmed here such as Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus both in front and behind the camera, as well as working closely with The Stage Co. and KISS Theatre. performing in and choreographing for productions on a regular basis. She has since taken more of a mentoring role, forming 'The Arts Factory' Youth Dance Company offering young and upcoming dancers a chance to work in the professional forum.
She has choreographed Music Videos for NZ artists Amara Duru, Julia Turner and Arma Del Amor and Redacy. NZ Body Arts 2018 Awards, (Q Theatre) Dance Captained for the NZ dancers for Salman Khans World Tour 2017 (Spark Arena), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pop Up Globe) 2019 - 2020, and Co-Director and Chorographer for Imaginerium with West City Band and the infamous Lesley Bandy for stage 2019. She continues to create works for both stage and screen around the country. In 2023 she will have the pleasure of Choreogrpahing for one of AMT's production of A Chorus
Summer Bradley
Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical and Troupe
READ BIO
Summer Bradley
Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical and Troupe
Summer has been teaching dance since 2018 and joined the SABA family at the start of 2021. Her formal dance qualifications include RAD Advanced Two Ballet and NZAMD Solo Seal Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap.
Summer was the winner of both the Ora Burnett (2017) and the Noel Burnett (2018) major awards at Auckland Caledonian Competition and was a Grounded Battle of the Arts Next Generation choreographer (2017). Summer has been a finalist at PACANZ (2016) and part of the winning MEBA troupe (2016, 2017). She competed at the USASF Dance Worlds in Florida with the MEBA Senior Team winning 3rd in 2015 and 2nd in 2017. In 2020, Summer trained full-time at Village Nation Performing Arts in Sydney, Australia.
She has worked on gigs with Dubai Expo, Kenzo, Harcourts, Human Agency, Momentum Productions, and she is a competition adjudicator. Summer is currently an international fitness presenter and choreographer for Les Mills. She has filmed masterclasses in New Zealand and Shanghai, China. Summer is passionate about being a creative and loves to see young New Zealanders develop their artistic abilities.
Hannah Watts
Jazz/Tap
READ BIO
Hannah Watts
Jazz/Tap
Hannah Watts has been dancing since the age of three, training in various genres such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip-Hop.
In 2018 Hannah moved to Sydney, Australia where she attended Brent Street Studios - to complete a full time training course achieving her Diploma in Elite Performance and Performing Arts. 2019 saw Hannah teaching dance at one of Sydney’s best Private Girls School (Ascham School) where she was able to further her experience in teaching and spread knowledge and love of dance.
In 2015 and 2017 Hannah was apart of the MEBA Senior Jazz Troupe that competed at the USASF Dance Worlds Competition held in Florida placing 3rd in the world (2015) as well as ranking 2nd place internationally. In 2017 her team placed 2nd in the Lyrical Jazz Open Division and ranked 2nd internationally. In 2016 Hannah won the Noel Burnett Tap Award and then went on to place in the top 12 at Tap Nationals and won the ‘Peoples Choice Award’ along with the ‘Most Promising Tap Dancer’ awarded by the judges.
Hannah has also accomplished Solo Seal in NZAMD Jazz, NZAMD Contemporary and both BAL and NZAMD Tap. She has also completed all RAD ballet exams as well as Advanced 2 with Distinction.
Dance has been Hannah’s passion since she was three and it has taught her many life skills such as dedication, discipline, and teamwork.
Grace Leong
Hip Hop
READ BIOGrace Leong
Hip Hop
Grace started her dance training at the age of 6 right here at SABA, going on to achieve both her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet and NZAMD Contemporary Solo Seal with Distinction.
Grace attended dance competitions for several years, and has performed in events such as Armageddon, White Nights, K-festival and much more. She’s directed and choreographed Onehunga High School’s first K-Pop stage for Polyfest’s Diversity stage in 2019, going on to choreograph and collaborate with students for assessment work. She graduated with her Bachelor of Dance Studies from the University of Auckland in 2021 and is now training and performing in the street styles House and Hip Hop Grooves at En Beat Dance Academy.
She continues to learn and grow through her continued training as a dancer and is excited to share her love of dance with students!
Madison Cronin
Ballet
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Madison Cronin
Ballet
Madison is an ex-ballet dancer. She trained pre-professionally in Sydney at Tanya Pearson Academy and upon graduation moved to complete her training at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands. Over the following two and a half years living in Holland she worked with the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company and Netherlands Dance Theatre. Madi had the opportunity to work with and perform works by world renown choreographers in both classical and modern repertoire including Hans van Manen, Jiri Kylian, and Crystal Pite. She also performed the leading role in ballets such as Giselle and Don Quixote. One of Madi’s other career highlights was premiering a new full length neo-classical ballet, Diamante by Katarina Wester, together with Julien Keulen (Swedish National Ballet) which was choreographed for them in 2017.
After a wonderful time overseas Madi returned home to New Zealand at the end of 2018. She is currently completing her Masters of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland, alongside which she works as a Producer for dance companies in Auckland, is a Group Fitness Instructor at the University of Auckland gym, and choreographs her own contemporary ballet works throughout New Zealand.
Rowan Lloyd
Acro
READ BIORowan Lloyd
Acro
Rowan was born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. From a young age, she trained in ballet and gymnastics, achieving RAD Ballet Advanced 2, and reaching Step 6 in Artistic Gymnastics. She has also studied jazz and contemporary, reaching IDES Jazz Advanced 1 and NZAMD Contemporary Level 6, as well as competing nationally as part of a troupe.
She is currently working as a recreational gymnastics coach, and has recently completed the Acrobatic Arts Module 1 teacher training course.
Nicole Parry
Ballet and Contemprorary
READ BIONicole Parry
Ballet and Contemprorary
Nicole began dancing later in life at the age of 15. From then on, it became a pillar in her life. During her University years, she joined the Otago Dancers, performing at various corporate and sporting events. She represented NZ at the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, coming away with 4 silver medals in dance.
She moved to Australia to continue her training and studied Performing Arts at ED5 International. After graduating, she worked as a dancer, performing for TV and corporate events such as The Voice Australia, Australian Health Aid Gala and the Arnotts Foundation Gala. She returned to NZ in 2021 and became a certified Barre, Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor.
Nicole is passionate about dance and fitness and is excited to share her knowledge with SABA.
Erica Kennedy
Dancesport
READ BIOErica Kennedy
Dancesport
Dancesport coach, choreographer, adjudicator, examiner and President of the New Zealand Federation of Dance Teachers.
Erica started her dance career in Ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance and started ballroom and Latin American Dance as a young teenager. Her passion for this style of dance grew and she won many New Zealand titles as a junior and youth Dancesport competitor.
As an Adult Erica has competed worldwide representing New Zealand in countries such as Japan, and throughout Europe in countries such as Finland, England and Norway at World Championship Events.
While in England she was a finalist in the United Kingdom 10 dance championships as both an Amateur and a Professional dancer. She has trained with the world’s leading experts in Dancesport and spent 10 years in London both competing and training for Professional exams. Erica has won the Adult Amateur and Professional Open New Zealand Dance championships in all styles of Ballroom, Latin and New Vogue dancing and has represented New Zealand overseas.
After turning professional Erica with her partner Peter Nicholas demonstrated and taught dance on both the Cunard and P &O cruise ships. Erica is qualified as a fellows in all 3 styles of ballroom dance and was invited to be an examiner by the New Zealand federation of Dance teachers which is the largest society in NZ. After joining the executive board as an examiner she is now the current President of the Association and heavily involved in the training and mentoring of new professionals along with running dance Competitions.
Over the years Erica has also taught Modern Jazz, hip Hop and freestyle and now specialises in training Dancesport competition dancers for ballroom, Latin, new vogue , showdance Events and mentoring Professionals for exams.
Thrilled to be part of the SABA studio.
Madison Fotti-Knowles
Ballet and Contemporary
READ BIOMadison Fotti-Knowles
Ballet and Contemporary
Originally from New Zealand, Madison is a Bolshoi Ballet Academy alumna and ex-national rhythmic gymnast trained under Olga Rudin. She is the first New Zealander to have ever studied at the Academy. She has since performed with New York Dance Project, Boston City Ballet, and most recently with Russian National ballet as a soloist on their 2019/2020 tour through Europe. Madison was featured in the gala “Russian Ballet Stars - Mariinsky and Beyond”, dancing principal roles alongside world-renowned dancers including Mariinsky Ballet soloist Alexandra Iosifidi. She has extensive experience in RAD Ballet, repertoire, Pilates and integrative flexibility/strength coaching for dancers. Madison has trained with master pedagogues including Elena Bobrova, Georgi Gusev, Svetlana Ivanova, Maria Sizova, and Tatiana Linnik. Madison is an experienced elite training coach with over 9 years of experience.
DANCE TEACHERS
Students at SABA enjoy tutelage from a team of passionate and experienced dancers. Learn more about each one of our teachers below.
Emma McInnes
Director - Ballet, Jazz, Troupes, Competitions
READ BIOEmma McInne
Director - Ballet, Competition Work
Emma began her dance training in Waihi before moving to DEC in Tauranga to continue with her vocational exams in RAD and BBO ballet Modern Jazz and Tap. During this time she had the opportunity to teach the local dancers of Waihi competition work.
She continued her studies at the London Contemporary Dance School and graduated with a BA (hons) majoring in Contemporary performance and technique.
While living in London Emma began her teacher training mentored by the late Christina Hughes at the British Ballet Organisation where she taught both grades and majors for four years as well as running a small school in North London. She obtained her ABBO and a diploma of teaching specialising in ballet during this time.
In 2006 Emma had the opportunity to choreograph a short Contemporary piece for her small company with fellow dancer and current teacher Katie Quirke for the RESOLUTION 2006 festival.
Her long term friend Saori Ishimaru had moved to NZ and was teaching at SABA so Emma’s transition into the SABA family was easy. She successfully completed her RAD registered teachers status and took over SABA from the legend Valerie Murray in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since.
York Popham
Ballet
READ BIOYork Popham
Ballet
York started dancing at age 3 right here at SABA. She completed all her Royal Academy of Dance exams with Distinction and enjoyed competing in competitions throughout New Zealand and Australia. At 16 she moved to Australia to study at The National College of Dance where she gained a Diploma in Dance Performance and had many more exciting performance opportunities. York then continued her professional training at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Upon returning to NZ she began teaching for SABA while completing the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies earning her teaching registration with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Lizzie Clarke
Contemporary, Ballet
READ BIOLizzie Clarke
Contemporary
Lizzie started her dance training at Whangarei Academy of Dance. At age 10, she began studying RAD syllabus at Northland School of Ballet and, later, Dance Inc. Northland. She was also privileged to train for a year with Anthony Pannell. At age 16, she left home to attend Canterbury Ballet’s full-time training programme in Christchurch. The following year, she was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance (NZSD) where she trained as a classical ballet major from 2009–2011. While at NZSD, Lizzie completed her RAD training, gaining distinction in her Advanced two ballet exam, and enjoyed performing pieces such as the Winter Variation from ‘Cinderella’, works by Jiří Kylián, and excerpts from ‘Napoli’, in her graduation performance.
After graduating with a Diploma in Dance Performance, she divided her time between travelling North America and Europe and teaching ballet for Dance Inc. Northland. She has also enjoyed collaborating with Krystal Williams-Tuhoro on lyrical pieces for students at Pulse Dance Studio.
Lizzie spent the last four years back at university and has now completed a Bachelor in Health Science (Physiotherapy). She is currently working full-time as a physiotherapist on the north shore as well as teaching part-time at SAB
Harriet Dennison
Jazz, Ballet
READ BIOHarriet Dennison
Jazz, ballet
Harriet is a Royal Academy of Dance qualified teacher who will be joining us in NZ from just outside of London in January 2020.
She trained at the RAD headquarters in London where she gained a first class honours degree in Ballet Education and became a licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance. During her training, she took on various performance opportunities including dancing for the Royal Family with Dame Darcey Bussell for the Queen’s 90th birthday. Miss Harriet also worked on the juniors programme at the English National Ballet School and taught the Cecchetti syllabus for Chelsea Ballet Schools whilst based in the UK.
Following her graduation, she moved to Sydney, Australia where she worked in a dance school and taught ballet classes for a small contemporary company. After falling in love with New Zealand whilst visiting on holiday, Miss Harriet decided to continue her adventure and learn about dance in NZ. She is very excited to be moving overseas again and working with all the students at SABA.
Stuart Cassidy
Ballet
READ BIO
Stuart Cassidy
Ballet
While still in the Corps de Ballet at the Royal, he made his debut as Romeo in MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet partnering Viviana Durante. Other MacMillan roles include the Salamander in Prince of the Pagodas, Lescaut in Manon, the lead Officer in Mayerling, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the cousin in The Invitation, the Drum Major in Different Drummer. Solyony and Vershinin in Winter Dreams, the Husband and Officer in Anastasia, the man in Las Hermanas, The Judas Tree, Gloria, Concerto, Song of the earth and Requiem. Ashton roles include Colas in La Fille Mal Gardee, the Prince in Cinderella, Daphnis in Daphnis and Chloe, Thaďs Pas de Deux, Les Rendezvous and Les Painters. Balanchine roles include Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Agon, Rubies and Symphony in C. Bintley roles include Christian in Cyrano, Galantries, the Planets.
Other leading roles include Prince Siegfried in Dowell’s production of Swan Lake in which he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House New York, Albrecht in Peter Wright’s production of Giselle, The Prince in DeValois and Dowell’s production of The Sleeping Beauty, Solor in Markarova’s La Bayadčre, Basilio and Espada in Baryshinkov’s Don Quixote, the Prince in Peter Wrights Nutcracker, Jean de Brienne in Nureyev’s Raymonda, Tsarevich in The Firebird, the Rake in DeValois Rakes Progress.
Among his created roles are Glen Tetley’s Amores, Twyla Tharp’s Mr Worldly Wise, Ashley Pages Fearful Symmetries, Two-Part Invention and Renard. In 1999 he left the Royal Ballet to become a founder member of K. Ballet Company, dancing in all of the companies’ performances including Tetsuya Kumakawa’s production of Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia, Don Quixote, La Bayadčre, Romeo & Juliet, The Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Cleopatra, Madame Butterfly, Ashton’s Thaďs, Rhapsody and Symphonic Variations, Petit’s Carmen, Bintley’s Flowers of the forest, Dolin’s Variation’s for Four, Christopher Wheeldon’s Pavane, Adam Cooper’s Six Faces
Nicola Searchfield
Ballet
READ BIONicola Searchfield
Ballet
Nicola trained with Val Murray at SABA until the age of sixteen. In 1984 she gained a Royal Academy of Dance scholarship to train at the Royal Ballet School in London. She won the professional prize at the Prix de Lausanne, Switzerland in 1986. She then joined the Royal Ballet Company after dancing the Principal role in Les Rendevous at her graduation performance at the Royal Opera House. She was promoted to First Artist in 1989 and performed in featured and soloist roles for the next twelve years.
Nicola retired from the Royal Ballet Company in 1998 after the birth of her first son.
The same year she retrained as a Pilates instructor and opened her own studio in London.
She graduated with distinction at the Royal Academy of Dance as a professional dance teacher (RAD PDT Dip) in 2005, after which, she was selected to teach at the Royal Academy of Dance headquarters in Battersea, London.
In 2006 Nicola returned home and opened Epsom Pilates. Since then, she has adjudicated for the AHA awards and NZ Group Dance Awards and taught at the New Zealand School of Dance. She has judged the RAD scholarship twice and also twice been a second examiner for Solo Seal.
Hayz Pincheira Rowe
Musical Theatre , Jazz, Lyrical Competitions
READ BIOHayz Pincheira Rowe
Musical Theatre , Jazz, Lyrical Competitions
Hayz is a free-lance Choreographer, Teacher and Creative Director. Her professional training took place in London at The Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts where she graduated with joint qualification’s; a H.Dipin Theatre Arts and ISTD Dance Instruction.
Professionally she has performed both with seasonal and touring companies as well as shows with longstanding residence in London Theatres, including leading roles of Alice in ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’, Penguin in The Snowman at the Peacock Theatre, Elsie in ‘The Wind and the Willow’s. She also performed alongside a variety of international pop artists on stage and in Music Videos such as Rachel Stevens, Outcast, Beyoncé and The Black Eyed Peas. She has had the pleasure of working with highly acclaimed stunt performers in a various blockbuster movies such as Blood Diamond and National Treasure.
Since moving to New Zealand she has had the joys of working with many of the larger scale productions being filmed here such as Legend of the Seeker and Spartacus both in front and behind the camera, as well as working closely with The Stage Co. And KISS Theatre. performing in and choreographing for productions on a regular basis. She has since taken more of a mentoring role, forming 'The Arts Factory' Youth Dance Company with AAD, offering young and upcoming dancers a chance to work in the professional forum.
Summer Bradley
Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical and Troupe
READ BIOSummer Bradley
Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical and Troupe
Summer has been teaching dance since 2018 and joined the SABA family at the start of 2021. Her formal dance qualifications include RAD Advanced Two Ballet and NZAMD Solo Seal Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap.
Summer was the winner of both the Ora Burnett (2017) and the Noel Burnett (2018) major awards at Auckland Caledonian Competition and was a Grounded Battle of the Arts Next Generation choreographer (2017). Summer has been a finalist at PACANZ (2016) and part of the winning MEBA troupe (2016, 2017). She competed at the USASF Dance Worlds in Florida with the MEBA Senior Team winning 3rd in 2015 and 2nd in 2017. In 2020, Summer trained full-time at Village Nation Performing Arts in Sydney, Australia.
She has worked on gigs with Dubai Expo, Kenzo, Harcourts, Human Agency, Momentum Productions, and she is a competition adjudicator. Summer is currently an international fitness presenter and choreographer for Les Mills. She has filmed masterclasses in New Zealand and Shanghai, China. Summer is passionate about being a creative and loves to see young New Zealanders develop their artistic abilities.
Hannah Watts
Jazz/Tap
READ BIOHannah Watts
Jazz/Tap
Hannah Watts has been dancing since the age of three, training in various genres such as Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip-Hop.
In 2018 Hannah moved to Sydney, Australia where she attended Brent Street Studios - to complete a full time training course achieving her Diploma in Elite Performance and Performing Arts. 2019 saw Hannah teaching dance at one of Sydney’s best Private Girls School (Ascham School) where she was able to further her experience in teaching and spread knowledge and love of dance.
In 2015 and 2017 Hannah was apart of the MEBA Senior Jazz Troupe that competed at the USASF Dance Worlds Competition held in Florida placing 3rd in the world (2015) as well as ranking 2nd place internationally. In 2017 her team placed 2nd in the Lyrical Jazz Open Division and ranked 2nd internationally. In 2016 Hannah won the Noel Burnett Tap Award and then went on to place in the top 12 at Tap Nationals and won the ‘Peoples Choice Award’ along with the ‘Most Promising Tap Dancer’ awarded by the judges.
Hannah has also accomplished Solo Seal in NZAMD Jazz, NZAMD Contemporary and both BAL and NZAMD Tap. She has also completed all RAD ballet exams as well as Advanced 2 with Distinction.
Dance has been Hannah’s passion since she was three and it has taught her many life skills such as dedication, discipline, and teamwork.
Madison Cronin
Ballet
READ BIOMadison Cronin
Ballet
Madison is an ex-ballet dancer. She trained pre-professionally in Sydney at Tanya Pearson Academy and upon graduation moved to complete her training at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands. Over the following two and a half years living in Holland she worked with the Dutch National Ballet Junior Company and Netherlands Dance Theatre. Madi had the opportunity to work with and perform works by world renown choreographers in both classical and modern repertoire including Hans van Manen, Jiri Kylian, and Crystal Pite. She also performed the leading role in ballets such as Giselle and Don Quixote. One of Madi’s other career highlights was premiering a new full length neo-classical ballet, Diamante by Katarina Wester, together with Julien Keulen (Swedish National Ballet) which was choreographed for them in 2017.
After a wonderful time overseas Madi returned home to New Zealand at the end of 2018. She is currently completing her Masters of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland, alongside which she works as a Producer for dance companies in Auckland, is a Group Fitness Instructor at the University of Auckland gym, and choreographs her own contemporary ballet works throughout New Zealand.
Madison Fotti-Knowles
Ballet and Contemporary
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Madison Fotti-Knowles
Ballet and Contemporary