NZSD Staff

The New Zealand School of Dance boasts an outstanding faculty of staff.

Regular guest tutors from around the world and specialists in yoga, dance history, anatomy and nutrition round out the holistic NZSD training.

Garry Trinder
MA AdvDipEd

Director

Born in England, Garry Trinder trained at the Royal Ballet School, Rambert School of Ballet and Maurice Bejart's MUDRA. As a dancer he worked with the Scottish Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens and London City Ballet. Garry's extensive career includes six years as Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Ballet and two years as Director of Dance at South Africa's NAPAC Dance Company. He regularly serves on the jury of international ballet competitions in New York and Tokyo, is a member of the Artistic Committee of the Prix de Lausanne and an artistic adviser to West Australian Ballet. Garry has been director of the New Zealand School of Dance since January 1998.

CLASSICAL BALLET FACULTY

Christine Gunn
Dip RBS.TTC. ARAD RTS Presidents Award

Classical Tutor/RAD Syllabus
Head of Junior Associate Programme

Christine Gunn was born in South Africa to English parents. She attended Elmhurst Ballet School from the age of 13, then went on to the Royal Ballet School Teacher Training Course under the directorship of Valerie Adams. Christine spent six years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, travelling extensively conducting workshops and refresher courses on the Art of Teaching. Christine performed with the Associacao do Ballet do Rio de Janeiro, becoming a soloist and later Ballet Mistress. Christine started as a full-time tutor at the New Zealand School of Dance in January 1980 and became head of the Junior Associates Programme in 2001. Christine is also a Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and was honoured with the RAD President's Award in 2004.

Edmund Stripe
Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma

Classical Tutor

Edmund Stripe joined the faculty of New Zealand School of Dance in 2011 from Alberta Ballet, Canada, where he spent nine seasons as Ballet Master. Born in Enfield, North London and trained at the Royal Ballet School, he was a soloist with Ballet Gulbenkian (Portugal) and principal dancer with London City Ballet. From 1987-1997, Edmund was principal dancer and choreographer with West Australian Ballet and was appointed ballet master there in 1998. In 2000, he was appointed ballet master of Singapore Dance Theatre, moving to Alberta Ballet in 2002. Edmund has assisted in the mounting and re-creation of works by such noted choreographers as Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Christopher Wheeldon,  Jean Grand Maitre, Ted Brandsen, Agnes de Mille, Kirk Peterson and Natalie Weir among many others. An award-winning choreographer, he has created over 30 major works for international ballet companies including Alberta Ballet's $1.5 million dollar production of The Nutcracker. His most recent work includes the dance scenes for Calgary Opera's 2011 production of Aida.

Janet Tait

Classical Tutor

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Janet Tait danced with Ballet Victoria, touring extensively and performing alongside many notable individuals including Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov. In 1983 she joined London City Ballet, dancing principal roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and other major works. Janet later started a long and rewarding association with West Australian Ballet. She danced and created many principal roles as well as assuming a teaching role. In 2000, Janet was appointed Resident Guest Teacher with the Singapore Dance Theatre and also taught at LaSalle University SIA as teacher and assessor. She moved to Canada in 2002 to teach, coach and perform with Alberta Ballet and its associated school. Ms Tait joined the faculty of New Zealand School of Dance in June 2011.

Sarah Roe

Classical Tutor

Sarah originally studied dance in Sydney with Lois Strike, Christine Keith and Kim Traynor before going to the Royal Ballet School in London. She was then invited to join the Royal Ballet Company with whom she toured throughout the UK and United States. Her performing career continued back in Australia with Darc Swan Dance Company, Opera Australia and the Australian touring cast of Phantom of the Opera for which she was also Assistant Choreographer in South Africa. A passion for teaching led her to complete the Australian Ballet School's Advanced Diploma of Teaching and receive RAD teacher registration. Sarah taught in Sydney at the McDonald College and Brent Street Studios before becoming a full time classical tutor at the New Zealand School of Dance in 2001. To complement her teaching, Sarah trained as a Pilates instructor with the PhysicalMind Institute of New York and has recently become a licensed GYROTONIC® Trainer. She currently combines teaching at the New Zealand School of Dance with running her own Pilates/GYROTONIC® studio.

Sue Nicholls

Head of Regional Associate Programme

CONTEMPORARY DANCE FACULTY

Paula Steeds-Huston

Head of Contemporary

Paula Steeds-Huston has spent 17 years as a freelance dancer, teacher and choreographer in Australia and New Zealand. She was a principal dancer with Missevich Youth Ballet in Christchurch, then joined Wellington-based contemporary company Footnote Dance for four years. Paula worked with acclaimed New Zealand choreographers including Michael Parmenter, Shona McCullagh and Douglas Wright. Since passing her Royal Academy of Dance Teachers Certificate with Distinction, Paula has taught contemporary technique, ballet and hip hop at workshops around New Zealand. She has directed and choreographed for Original Scripts Theatre Company, renowned for producing quality children’s theatre. Paula has also worked in film and television as a choreographer and performer, including Lord of the Rings, The Lost World, a promotional DVD for Cook Islands Tourism and several music videos.

Victoria Colombus

Contemporary Tutor

Victoria Colombus graduated from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2002. Since completing her training she has worked as a dancer, rehearsal director, teacher and artistic coordinator throughout Australasia and Europe. She has performed and toured with Black Grace dance company, Australian Dance Theatre, Michael Parmenter's Commotion Company and The World of Wearable Arts. In 2009 she worked as rehearsal director for Dance North on the creation of Nowhere Fast choreographed by Ross McCormack. She began teaching full time at the New Zealand School of Dance in 2010 and was the artistic coordinator for One Way and Sketch, the students' annual choreographic seasons. She has created works for Tempo Festival in Auckland and Footnote Dance company, and is currently working as an assistant for Malia Johnson on the World of Wearable Arts.

Helen Winchester

Contemporary Tutor

Helen Winchester has been involved with the professional dance industry for nearly 20 years. After graduating from the New Zealand School of Dance in 1987, she embarked on a career in dance, performing with companies such as Michael Parmenter's Commotion Company, Douglas Wright and Dancers, Eric Languet and Dancers, Mary-Jane O'Reilly and Dancers and Paul Jenden’s Macleary Theatre Productions. Helen has also held tutoring positions with numerous dance companies and in educational institutions including Footnote Dance Company, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, TasDance, Whitireia and Unitec.

Sarah Foster

Contemporary Tutor

Elizabeth Walker

Contemporary Tutor

GUEST TEACHERS

The New Zealand School of Dance is visited by several Guest Teachers per year. Recent guest teachers include:

Richard Chen See, Paul Taylor Dance Company

Patricia Ruanne and Ric Werner, Rudolf Nureyev Foundation

Arlette van Boven and Ken Ossola, Nederlands Dans Theater

Donald Mahler, Antony Tudor Ballet Trust

Ross McCormack, Les Ballets C de la B

Frank Andersen, former Artistic Director Royal Danish Ballet

Craig Bary

Victoria Simon and Diana White, Balanchine Trust

Carol Wellman, Australian Dance Theatre

Anna-Marie Holmes, Ballet Adriatico, Jacob's Pillow, Atlantic Ballet Theater

Leigh Warren, Leigh Warren and Dancers

Noriko Ohara, former Principal Scottish Ballet

Ann Dewey, Spinning Sun

Jane Pirani, Former Director Dance North

Shona McCullagh MNZOM, Human Garden Productions

Malia Johnston, World of WearableArt

Michael Parmenter, Commotion

Betsy Erickson, Ballet Mistress San Francisco Ballet

Elyse Borne, Robbins Rights Trust

Gary Harris and Matz Skoog, Royal New Zealand Ballet

Christopher Hampson, freelance classical choreographer

Michael Vernon, STEPS on Broadway

Garry Stewart, Artistic Director Australian Dance Theatre

Mark Annear, Australian Ballet School

Brenton Surgenor

Daniel Belton, Good Company

ALLIED SUBJECTS

Anatomy/Fitness Foundation - Haidee Clark (Weltec)

Dance Studies - Jo Thorpe, BA Dip. Teaching MA

Music - Karen Beggs BA BMus

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Sports Medicine - Dr. Kevin Bell, Dr. Steve Targett MBChB, FACSP, Dip. Sports Med, DRCOG.DCH

Osteopath - Matthew Cooper ND, DO (UK)

Dietician - Kath Fouhy (NZRD) BSc PG Dip. Diet

Yoga Instructor - Scott Milham, Dip. Dance Perf.

Personal Trainer - Sarah Prosser

Physiotherapists - Jane Woolley, Nicola Lynch, Susan Simpson DipPhys, NZRPT

Pilates - Alison Townsend, Catherine Eddy, Alayna Ng

ACCOMPANISTS - Fulltime

Phillip O'Malley

Craig Newsome

ACCOMPANISTS - Part time

Andreas Lepper

Irina Bitossi

Irina Kouzminova

Sue Alexander

Carey McDonald

ADMINISTRATION

Business Manager – Jenny Ang

Marketing Manager – Celia Jenkins

Development Officer - Katie Martin

Pastoral Care Manager – Sue Tuck

Dance Administrator – Sally Mok

Accounts Administrator - Moira Broughton

Venue Manager – Priscilla Gough

Librarians – Kris Wehipeihana, Virginia Earle

Photography by Stephen A'Court

New Zealand School of Dance Board of Trustees

John Avery

John Avery is a fulltime director having being a commercial lawyer for 35 years. He has held directorships across a wide spectrum from listed entities to start ups and not for profits in a range of industries including retailing, contracting and the leisure sectors. Current directorships include The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Ltd, Fund Managers Auckland Ltd, Signify Ltd, Regional Facilities Auckland Ltd, Spider Tracks Ltd and The New Zealand School of Dance. Former directorships include The Warehouse Group Limited, Independent Timber Merchants Ltd, Snowplanet Ltd and The Royal New Zealand Ballet. John is a former longstanding partner in law firm Hesketh Henry including tenures as both Managing Partner and Chairman. He also served as Chairman of umbrella organisation The Lawlink Group Ltd.

Les Holborow

Les Holborow was Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University from 1985-98. During this time he twice served as the Chair of the NZ Vice-Chancellors' Committee and representative on the Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. He chaired the Board of the NZ Universities Academic Audit Unit from 2004-9. He is currently a Senior Fellow in the Centre for Strategic Studies at Victoria University. He is a past National President of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, and also served as Queensland State President of the Australian Institute. He studied at the Universities of Auckland and Oxford and taught philosophy at Auckland, Dundee and Queensland. He was an Assistant Editor of The Philosophical Quarterly, and is currently a member of the Standing Committee of the New Zealand Institute and of the New Zealand Committee for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific. Involvements in arts organizations have included membership of the National Board of Musica Viva Australia, the Boards of Chamber Music New Zealand and of the New Zealand String Quartet, Chair of the Lilburn Residence Trust and chair of the Wellington Branch of the Wagner Society of New Zealand.

Sue Paterson

Sue Paterson joined the New Zealand International Arts Festival as Executive Director, in February 2009 having previously been General Manager, Marketing and Communications for the Department of Conservation. Sue's career in the arts has included time as General Manager of the Royal New Zealand Ballet (1999 to 2006), General Manager of Limbs Dance Company (1979–1986), Dance Programme Manager for the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council (1990–1994), and Marketing Director for the 1996 and 1998 New Zealand Festivals. In 2004, Sue received an Order of New Zealand Merit for services to ballet.

John Ryan (Chair)

John Ryan has been chair of the NZSD Board of Trustees since 2006. Prior to this John served for six years on the board of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. He is Deputy Chief Executive for Justice and has been involved in a number of not for profit governance roles. He lives on the Kapiti Coast.

Penelope Ryder-Lewis

Penelope Ryder-Lewis is the principal of Bartlett Law, in Wellington. She has worked as a lawyer for 20 years. Born in Lower Hutt, like all little girls forced into ballet at 6, she initially hated it. However she found her love for dance at the age of 19 and she still attends ballet classes several times a week. A Board member since 2004, she has a special interest in the continued development of the School as one offering qualifications to degree level and international standards. She is married to Hugh, a former chair of the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

"The New Zealand School of Dance provides a caring environment for the education and training of young professional dancers. I was particularly impressed with the School's strong artistic vision. The rich and varied training ensures the students are given a sound knowledge of diverse dance genres and styles.

The ability to bring in guests who specialise in different dance techniques and repertoire reinforces and expands upon the high standards of work being undertaken daily by the teachers and staff of the School.

Noriko Ohara O.B.E

Ballet Mistress

New National Theatre Ballet, Tokyo