SABA JAZZ, CABARET &
MUSICAL THEATRE CLASSES
We currently follow the NZAMD jazz syllabus for students aged 5+ and offer assessments and examinations classes as well as open jazz classes to encourage and inspire our jazz dancers.
The NZAMD American Jazz is an exciting syllabus choreographed by Keith Clifton of the USA and is suitable for students of all ages. The syllabus is designed with comprehensive warm-ups, stretches, floor work, progressions from corners with turns, kicks and jumps and fun combinations. Dance examples are provided for all levels, or teachers may choreograph their own.
Our open classes - junior jazz, senior jazz and cabaret jazz are designed to further extend our dancers repertoire and encourage creativity.
With fun popular music this is a great way to get dancing!

TEACHERS

Hannah Watts
Jazz/Tap
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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.

Harriet Dennison
Jazz
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Harriet Dennison
Jazz
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.

Holly Finch
Jazz and Lyrical
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Holly 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.

Hayz Pincheira Rowe
Musical Theatre , Jazz, Lyrical Competitions
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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
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