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
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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.
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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.
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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!
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She absolutely loves teaching the Devonport School of Dance students and watching them develop their skills, confidence and love of dance.
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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.
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.
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.
JESSICA OPACIC
Ballet Teacher
RAD R.T.S, Diploma in Dance (Performance), Certificate in 3 and 4 in Fitness.
Born in Auckland, Jessica Opacic ARAD studied RAD Ballet, JDNZ Jazz and BAL Tap until she moved to Melbourne to further her dance education as a full-time student. During these studies, Jessica was offered a contract with Black Grace Dance Company and joined them for their 2007 tour of their work 'Amata' before completing her qualification.
Jess’s qualifications include a Diploma in Dance (Performance), Certificate 3 and 4 in fitness and a Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies (Distinction) with the RAD.
Jess has worked extensively with The Australian School of Performing Arts, toured internationally through Europe, America and Hong Kong as choreographer for the Australian Girls’ Choir and worked with Aboriginal Youth in remote towns in Australia.
Jess is an approachable and committed dance teacher with a particular love for classical and contemporary ballet and believes the arts are a vital aspect of education. Her dedication to fostering young dancers had led her to join Meghan Rowe with a joint vision of providing performance opportunities for young dancers in a collaborative environment through their youth company The Classical Collab.
TEHANA PIGGOTT
Acro Teacher
Bachelor of Dance Studies - Auckland University
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 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.
ALY SNOWSILL
Acro, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz & Adult Teacher
Bachelor of Screen and Performing Arts Majoring in Contemporary Dance
Aly has been dancing since she was 3 years old in Wellington, and she has recently completed her Bachelor of Screen and Performing Arts, majoring in Contemporary Dance at Unitec.
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Aly has trained in all styles of dance including Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hiphop, Ballet and Lyrical and has successfully completed NZAMD solo diploma in Jazz, Contemporary and Hiphop. She has gained NZAMD national scholarship nominations in Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop multiple times. Aly has competed as a soloist around the country and in troupes since she was 7 years old.
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In 2019 Aly competed as a soloist at PACANZ and has competed in troupes at PACANZ since 2016.
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Aly has had opportunities through her dance training with Extreme Dance to go and dance in the Disneyland Christmas Parade in LA during December of 2019, and while she was there attended many classes at Brea Space, The Playground, The Edge, Millennium, and then at The Broadway Dance Centre in NYC.
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Aly has successfully choreographed her own solos for competitions including DanceNZMade Interschools where she was the 2019 Year 12 Manawatu Regional and National Champion and the 2020 Year 13 National Champion.
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In 2020 she performed with Society Entertainment in Wellington before moving to Auckland in 2021.
Aly was an elite junior competitive gymnast and has coached a range of ages in gymnastics for the last ten years since retiring. She holds qualifications as a foundation and elementary coach in gymnastics.