Profile Category: Dance Instructors

Kimberley has over 30 years of dancing experience and has trained in RAD ballet, and  jazz, and contemporary. As a young adult she discovered the world of musical theatre and loves the wide variety of dance styles that they encompass. From Charleston to Tap, Ballroom to Ballet, and Disco to Jazz. Kimberley has performed in many musicals and her favorites were Chicago, Chess and A Chorus Line. She also choreographs musicals around Auckland and her most recent shows were Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweet Charity.

Adriana grew up in the small town of Coromandel where her passion for ballet started at age 4. After gaining her ballet foundations in Thames, she was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance graduating with a Diploma in Dance.She was awarded the Todd Scholarship & a place in the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company as ADRIANA HARPER, where she danced for 11 years. Leading roles included Kitri in Don Quixote,Clara in The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides,Concerto, Verdi Variations. Adriana also choreographed “Evocations” for the RMZB 2012 season. Adriana will bring her wealth of stage experience to Open & Repertoire Classes to the AAAB summer classes!

Mari received her primary ballet training in her hometown of Tokyo, Japan.Moving to the USA, she then obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet teaching and performance at the University of Utah, Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. She has danced with companies, including the Festival Ballet Providence, and the Ajkun Ballet Theatre in the US, as well as the Setagaya Classical Ballet Association and Dance Teatro 21 in Japan. Mari is excited to join the team of the AAAB for the summer courses.

Sophia is the newest member of the AAAB team and we are thrilled to have her on board! Sophia has been immersed in the dancing world for 22 years. She teaches a variety of classes from Classical Ballet, Lyrical/Jazz, Contemporary and Barre Stretch at our studio.

She has a strong educational background in Dance which lead her to leave home at the young age of 16 to start her professional Full-Time Dance training at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy in Sydney, Australia.

Kathleen is an internationally recognised dance school instructor and choreographer, teaching and choreagraphing dance performances since 1980. In 1976 she was a Cecchetti gold medal winner and in 1982 was awarded the coveted Enrico Cecchetti Diploma, achieving Licentiate status shortly thereafter. Her teaching career has taken her as far abroad as India and, prior to her establishment of Christchurch Dance Academy and now, Auckland Academy of Adult Ballet, Kathleen has served as the principal of the School of Ballet at Indus International School, Bangalore, India.

"Tharina is a multi-skilled Actor, Singer and Dancer and also AAAB’s most talented teacher! T predominantly teaches the complete beginners Ballet Initiation Course at which encouragement,fun and sound technique training are all crucial to every class.T completed her RAD Ballet training prior to moving to Auckland and has since continued her fitness training in other areas,currently completing her Pilates training.