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Arabesque

dance academy

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MEET THE TEACHERS

Dedicated Professionals
Photo Credit: Brayden Jones Media

KATHLEEN CURWEN-WALKER LCBA (Cecchetti) artistic director

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…

KIMBERLEY COUSINS (studio manager/teacher)

Kimberley has 40 years of dancing experience and has trained in ballet (RAD), jazz, and contemporary, and spent her pre-adult life performing in New Zealand dance competitions and performing arts shows and ballets. As an adult, Kimberley has performed and choreographed…

Rose Macgregor Dip RBS (TTC) ARAD (SENIOR TEACHER)

After graduating from the Royal Ballet School Teachers Training Course London in 1995.
Rose returned to NZ bringing along her passion, enthusiasm and knowledge of teaching
ballet and accepted her first position at a prominent Auckland ballet school…

Alysha Hilder B.DanceST

Alysha started dancing at the age of four. She studied Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary & began teaching at sixteen. After being awarded a dance scholarship, she went on to gain a Bachelors in Dance at the University of Auckland. In 2017 Alysha…

Mikaela Jacob

At the age of four Mikaela (nee Berney) came home from kindy and begged her mum to put her into ballet lessons. Gaining distinction in all RAD examinations to Advanced 2, Mikaela was also a member of the New Zealand […]

Rosalie Hornung A.(Dip) C.B.A. – C.I.C.B

Rosalie is from Melbourne, Australia. She started her ballet training as an adult at Dance for Life Academy in Auckland in 2016 and trained seriously in the Cecchetti method under Kathleen Curwen-Walker, progressing through all of the grades to Intermediate with […]

Chloe Devcich

Chloe started dancing at the age of three, starting with Ballet, then  Jazz and Contemporary and as an adult is working towards finishing her advanced exams. In 2016, she began teaching  both children and adults in many genres and community’s; including ballet, jazz, lyrical, […]

Vienna West BAppSC

Vienna has been involved in the dance world since the age of five and studied a variety of styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and musical theatre. Her training had a strong emphasis on ballet where she completed Advanced 2 in both the BBO and RAD…

DANIEL COOPER (SENIOR TEACHER)

Daniel trained at The New Zealand School of Dance and graduated in 2001. After graduating he understudied and danced in Douglas Wright’s 2002 season of ‘Inland’ then went on to dance with Black Grace Dance Company. During his time with […]

Lesley Bandy (Guest Teacher)

Lesley trained in Auckland New Zealand with Doreen O’Leary, the Scottish Ballet School, and the Royal Ballet School in London. Classes in New York with David Howard, American Ballet Theatre and School of American Ballet, and with Stanley Holden in […]

Amelia Chandulal-Mackay

Amelia was born and raised in Whanganui. She trained at the Whanganui Balletand Dance Academy and participated in the Junior Associates program at theNew Zealand School of Dance. During this time, she completed both her RADand ISTD Advanced Two Ballet […]

Libby Thomson (Cover Teacher)

Libby Thomson is a high school trained French and Dance teacher. After completing both her Bachelor of Arts and her NZAMD Advanced Ballet and Jazz examinations, Libby went on her OE and lived in France for four years teaching English to a variety of age groups. When she came back…

Rachel Kitchens

Rachel is originally from Atlanta, GA, USA where she trained in ballet with The Atlanta School of Ballet. She was invited to perform in The Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet and continued her dance training in contemporary and […]

Claudia Evans (Tap)

Claudia Evans is an NZAMD registered teacher with a deep passion for Tap Dancing. Under the guidance of Jackie Boyd, she excelled in Tap and achieved Distinction in all NZAMD Tap Levels, including the prestigious Solo Performance Diploma. Her dedication […]

David Weweru Kamau, Hip-Hop Dance Instructor

David Kamau is an accomplished dancer, performer, and educator with over a decade of experience inspiring students worldwide. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and brings a strong foundation in teaching alongside […]

Testimonials

Passionate and experienced teachers

DFLA has a friendly environment and fantastic, passionate and experienced teachers with serious approaches to dancing. They set the ‘barre’ very high and challenge us each time.

Yulia Vugman

Kind, positive

Welcoming, kind, positive - all my dealings prior to my first class and during, have been like this. I'm really looking forward to continuing my journey of ballet, after a 30+ year break from this style of dance.

Suzi McMaster Wallis

Good for the whole body and mind

I would highly recommend this adult ballet learning studio. I have never danced in my life and am slowly getting my head around the terminology and positions. The classes are nice and small with friendly likewise women. It helps with any balance issues and very good for the whole body and mind.

Jan Baxter

Super bunch of ladies

Just joined today and cant wait to go back for more. A super bunch of ladies, a most welcoming class and an excellent tutor.

Judy Cook

None compare to AAAB

I have taken ballet classes in London, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto and Auckland but none compare to the classes at Auckland Academy of Adult Ballet. The programme of initiation classes through progression to advanced level means that everyone in the class is at the same level. There is no intimidation or feeling like you are not good enough to be there, and Kathy's caring approach to correct technique is really amazing.

Ros JH

Lovely friendly small class

I've joined an adult ballet class after a 25 year break and loving it. This is a lovely friendly class in a spacious dance studio in Onehunga.

Rebecca Girvan

So accepting, caring

I love DFLA - so accepting, caring and yet with an expectation that we will push ourselves to bring out the dancer inside!

Niki Harre

Encouraging and experienced tutors

Come and try it ! Wonderful experience and special rates for the first two trial classes....beautiful, encouraging and experienced tutors. You will love it!

Hilary Weeks

learn REAL ballet technique

I really ❤️❤️ 😍 DFLA. This is a real ballet school where you learn REAL ballet technique. Every class is a REWARDING experience and the atmosphere is AWESOME. The teachers are FAB. They know how to teach adults properly and prevent injuries. The music is INSPIRATIONAL. I get to dance with FANTASTIC classmates. Everyone - all ages and shapes - are made to feel WELCOME. I returned to ballet after a 35+ year break and am doing better than when I was a kid!! HAVE A GO!

Steph Clout

Slightly nervous as a beginner

I love my dance classes! I never danced as a child and was slightly nervous as a beginner but I am improving and gaining confidence. Definitely noticed how toned my legs are since starting!! Thanks

Zoe Larner Smith