Olivia Berrell

Olivia began dancing at the age of 4 with Joanne Grace School of Dance. She started training in classical ballet then moved to introduce Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, National Character and Demi Character. Olivia studied the RAD syllabus and received a Distinction for her Advanced 2 Exam.
During her final year of schooling, she was accepted into Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy and opting to complete her HSC attended 1 full time day a week. Olivia studied Dance as one of her HSC subjects, receiving a high mark of 96 in the top percentile of the state.!
At age 17, Olivia was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance majoring in Classical Ballet, and after 3 years of full-time study graduated with a Diploma in Dance Performance in 2013.! Olivia has taught dance classes to younger students since age 14 and whilst preparing to audition for professional dance companies around the world, is based in Wollongong teaching dance once again at local studios. Also a current company dancer with Austinmer Dance Theatre, Olivia has a
passion for ballet and contemporary dance and hopes to use her extensive knowledge of correct technique, postural placement, muscle use and activation to benefit clients and help them improve their physicality and wellbeing.!

Alia Gurtner

Alia has been trained in R.A.D Ballet since the age of three years and has developed a passion of dance since this young age. Her passion of dance has sparked an interest in a range of styles and the pursuit of teaching dance to young students from the age of 1 and a half years old. Alia was trained at a local studio Joanne Grace School of Dance until 2006, until moved studios for a focus of Cheerleading and jazz dance. She attended Wollongong High School of The Performing Arts and Bulli High School graduating 2008 ,where she had also been a participant in many extra curricular activities such as school musicals, Southern Stars and School Spectacular to name a few. At Bulli High School, she received the Allan Thommeny Award of Excellence in the Performing Arts. Throughout her dance career, Alia has danced in Disneyland California and has taken advanced level dance classes at the EDGE studio in Los Angeles. Alia was the coordinator of the NRE Hawks Cheerleaders for 2years and was the head cheerleader for 5years running.

Alia is now a current dance teacher at two local studios, N.R.G Studios Illawarra and Thirroul Dance Academy where she helps students develop their dance skills and passion for dance. She is currently studying a Bachelor Of Primary Education at University of Wollongong where she hopes to fulfill her passion in teaching children with Special Needs. Her previous involvement in numerous unique dance styles has helped to shape the great and hard working dancer she has become and has given her a high level of commitment, dedication and love for dance.
 

Chelsea Byrne (visiting teacher)

Chelsea began training in R.A.D. ballet at the age of 4. Her passion for dance has since led her to experiment with a range of styles, and pursuit of dance at a tertiary and professional level. She trained and taught locally at Joanne Grace School of Dance until 2007, the same year as completing a Bachelor of Arts (dance)/ Bachelor Education at UNSW. Chelsea has taught dance courses and companies at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and for the Arts Unit NSW. She performed with Austinmer Dance Theatre in 2011 before completing a Post Graduate Diploma of Performance Creation (Choreography) at the Victoria College of the Arts in 2012.

Chelsea was introduced to Pilates by Elizabeth Jarvis after suffering a chronic back injury in 2002. Her knowledge and interest in anatomy and physiology was supported through her tertiary dance studies. In 2006 Chelsea began Pilates instructor training and teaching at The Wellness Centre. She completed a STOTT Pilates Advanced Matwork Certification early in 2012.