LEARN CONTEMPORARY DANCE FROM NEW ZEALAND'S BEST
We offer both NZAMD syllabus contemporary and Open Classes. Our Contemporary teachers are all professional contemporary dancers with fabulous training in the genre. We work to introduce students into the amazing and vast array of contemporary dance styles while ensuring the best technical training.
We follow the NZAMD syllabus and offer examinations from ages 9 upwards as well as offering Contemporary Open classes for those wishing to further their training.
CONTEMPORARY TEACHERS
Summer Bradley
Contemporary, Ballet, Lyrical and Troupe
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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.
Lizzie Clarke
Contemporary
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
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.
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.
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.
For details please email emma@saba.co.nz
My daughter started dancing with Saba as a Dancing Dot. 5 years later and she is loving every single minute of dancing with Saba. She is normally an anxious child but with the confidence ballet has given her, you wouldn’t know it to meet her today. The teachers and other pupils are all so supportive and encouraging. From lessons, to exams and stage shows - the limits are endless.
Tracey
My kids love SABA! Attending ballet is the highlight of their week - both my daughter and son love their teacher and always come out of class buzzing. As a parent, I love that the class sizes are at a level where they can provide guidance to each individual and the level of professional knowledge all the teachers have about developing not only a lifelong passion for dance but also providing a great programme that will set them up if they want to take dancing further in the future.
Katrina
Our two daughters have both been dancing with SABA since they were preschoolers. The SABA teachers have fostered such a strong love of dance in them. The girls have enjoyed the variety of classes on offer and they have always been encouraged to not only progress their skills but also try new things and do their best. This has given them a great confidence in all aspects of their lives. SABA sets high standards but also provides a friendly and welcoming environment.
Emma H
Great new location at 382/386 Manakau Rd. I especially like being able to drop off the kids safely. Designated parking is fantastic to stop in an view the girl's lessons through enormous studio windows. Amazing teachers who really enjoy their roles.
Rachel Smith