DEVONPORT
SCHOOL OF DANCE TEACHERS
Emily Summerville
Principal, Preschool and Silver Swans Teacher
BDance AUT University, RAD R.T.S, PBT Certified Teacher, Silver Swans Licensee
Emily is the Principal and owner of Devonport School of Dance and began her dance training in Timaru at The Timaru Dance Studio, sitting examinations in NZAMD jazz, hip hop, contemporary and RAD ballet. She then moved to Auckland, completed a Bachelor of Dance at AUT University and received the Top Academic Scholar award in 2013. Emily also gained her Royal Academy of Dance registered teaching status alongside this degree.
Emily spent a year in Melbourne dancing full time, completing The Edge Certificate of Commercial Dance and Performance at The Edge Performers School. Here and throughout her years of dancing, Emily trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, tap, lyrical, commercial jazz, musical theatre, drama and singing. She has also performed in musical theatre productions with the South Canterbury Drama League and the North Shore Music Theatre.
Emily has taught dance in Timaru, Melbourne and more recently, in various primary schools and dance studios around Auckland. She is experienced in teaching ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, lyrical, tap, musical theatre, pre-school dance, adult dance, competition solos, duos and troupes. Being able to do what she loves and share her passion for dance, Emily considers her job to be the best!
She absolutely loves teaching the Devonport School of Dance students and watching them develop their skills, confidence and love of dance.
Miss Emily is currently teaching reduced hours and managing the studio whilst she spends time with her little one.
Arini Going
Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Adult Barre Fitness & Competition Teacher
Diploma in Musical Theatre, Apollo Theatre School & ADJA Jazz Teaching Certificate
Arini has an extensive background in both performing and teaching in all forms of dancing. She has been teaching for over 15years and has been a freelance dancer performing with Diamond Dance, Candy Lane and Soul of Siren. Arini has a teaching certificate in ADJA jazz, Diploma in Musical Theatre from the Apollo Theatre School.
EMMA ROLFES
Contemporary and Jazz Teacher
Bachelor of Dance Studies, University of Auckland
Emma started dancing at the age of 5, commencing with Hip Hop. She attended many different classes and workshops.
As her passion for this grew, she participated in Hip Hop competitions and was offered many opportunities such as performing on television with well known troupes. As Emma’s passion for dance continued to grow, she became fond of different genres including lyrical and jazz. She performed in many different shows, and continued to expand her interest and commitment to various genres.
Emma completed all levels of NCEA Dance, partook in Stage Challenge from year 9-13, and co-choreographed for J Rock in her final year of High School.
Emma has recently completed a Bachelor of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland where she became very familiar with the genre contemporary. Technique and choreography were two papers that enabled her to gain technical and creative experience. Establishing the technical elements as well as challenging her ideas to think outside the box.
Emma’s dance degree has enabled her to travel throughout the North Island and teach students in High Schools and Primary Schools as well as leading workshops, perform in multiple shows, and learn from some astounding choreographers in Aotearoa.
Aside from this Emma also has experience as a Barre instructor, where she has worked with teenagers, through to adults to assist them with their needs in their personal fitness journey.
CLAIRE BARRETT
Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary Teacher
Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts Majoring in Contemporary Dance, UNITEC
Claire Barrett began dance at an early age, studying creative dance at the Van Zon school of dance, she then studied Jazz and Ballet at Auckland West Dance Academy.
In 2001 Claire graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of performing and screen arts, with a major in contemporary dance.
Since 2001 Claire has worked as a freelance dancer, dance teacher, children's entertainer and actor, both here in New Zealand and in Europe.
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GRACIE JOLLEY
Tap Teacher
IDTA Tap Teaching Exams
Gracie has been dancing since the age of four. Starting with IDTA Ballet, she moved through different genres of jazz, musical theatre and tap. She has completed the IDTA classical ballet, IDTA tap syllabus and the major NZAMD tap grades.
She began teaching in 2019, attaining distinction results in both her teaching exams.
She is currently studying at the University of Auckland studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in media film and television and māori studies.
Gracie is very excited to continue teaching and is looking forward to being part of the Devonport dance team.
TEHANA PIGGOTT
Acro, Ballet, & Preschool Teacher
Tehana started dancing at age 11, and instantly fell in love with contemporary dance. From there, she soon branched out to many other genres, including ballet, acro, musical theatre, jazz, and hip hop.
Some of her favourite dance memories include the 2 weeks she spent dancing at Millenium Dance Complex, Los Angeles, learning from famous choreographers, 2018. As well as taking part in the New Zealand School of Dance Contemporary Intensive Programme, 2018. And finally, performing in Joanna Cooke’s work, Expanding Flesh, live-streamed in Sydney, 2022.
During High School, she completed NCEA Dance Levels 1-3 with excellence endorsements, and in Year 13 was her school’s Dance Prefect. Over the years, she competed and placed in many different categories in Dance NZ Made, including Regional and National competitions. She was also the main choreographer for her school's Musical Theatre productions from 2017-2019.
Tehana has almost finished her Bachelor of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland. In her time studying, she has been awarded 7 First In Course Awards. She is also the Secretary of the Auckland University Acrobatics and Circus Club, where she has been practicing and teaching acrobatics for 2 years.
One of Tehana’s lifelong passions is teaching. Inspiring students and fostering a love for dance in her students brings her the most joy possible.
ALANA GRANT
Jazz, Tap & Adult Jazz Teacher
Diploma in Musical Theatre Apollo Theatre School, Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts Ed5 International, Bachelor of Dance Studies UOA, Diploma of Education UOA.
Alana has been involved in all forms of the performing arts since the age of 4. She is trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Tap, Musical theatre and Jazz.
Alana graduated Apollo Theatre School in 2010 and was then accepted into Ed5 International in Australia where she completed her advanced diploma of performing arts.
Having travelled to several parts of the world as a dancer, Alana came back to New Zealand and completed her bachelor of dance degree at the University of Auckland. She has since completed her Diploma of Education and has been working at Takapuna Grammar School for the past 5 years as Teacher in charge of Dance and Musical Theatre.
Alana has a real passion for teaching and is so excited to be back in the studio after a year of maternity leave.
JENEEN COLMER
Ballet Teacher
BDance, RAD R.T.S, Post Grad Dip Teaching (Sec)
Jeneen has been teaching for over 15 years and is passionate about passing her knowledge on to her students to bring out the best dancer they can be.
Her journey started with Ballet lessons at three years old, sitting exams all the way through to the vocational level. After gaining teaching experience at the local after school centre, she then studied Dance at Auckland University of Technology where she gained her RAD Ballet teaching qualifications along side her Bachelor of Dance. This was followed by another year of study to become a Secondary School Teacher of Dance.
Over a decade later she has a wide range of experience teaching all ages both in the private and public dance sector.
MONIQUE PORRIER
Jazz, Tap & Adult Jazz Teacher
Ballet Teacher