Meet the Cygnets team
Miss
Jenny
Miss
Carolien
Miss
Meg
Miss
Holly
Miss
Ella
Miss
Maya
FOUNDER - DIRECTOR
Miss Jenny
Ballet and education have been a part of Miss Jenny’s world since a very young age. She has been fortunate to have ballet throughout her life; first as a student, then a dancer and now a teacher and director of Cygnets Dance. Jenny’s 17 years of experience and studies within the field of education give her a holistic approach towards dance and its role in childhood development.
Before starting Cygnets Dance, Miss Jenny enjoyed a career in ballet and contemporary dance both in the United Kingdom and Australia. On returning to Australia she became a successful primary school teacher working both in Sydney and Perth. Her passion and love for dance; however, brought her back into the studio where she enjoyed many years of guiding and teaching both boys and girls the joys and technique of classical ballet.
Now as the founder and teacher for Cygnets Dance, Miss Jenny brings a wealth of experience and expertise from her training and career. Her aim is to create a love of ballet within every child she meets, we could be teaching the next principal dancer, soloist, performer, teacher or dance enthusiast!
Miss Jenny holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary), Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (RAD) and Associate status within the RAD (ARAD) and Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD). Miss Jenny is also the current Chairperson of the WA RAD Regional Advisory Panel.
Miss Carolien
Carolien is a passionate and patient teacher whose ballet journey began when her family moved to Australia at the age of seven. As a disciplined and dedicated student, Carolien danced her way up to her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced Foundation examination. She is a enthusiastic educator, recently completing a Certificate in Education (Assistant) and offering her time volunteering at a local primary school. In 2019, Miss Carolien will be completing her RAD Teacher qualifications.
Miss Carolien recalls her ballet journey....
I would wait in anticipation for my afternoon ballet classes and slipping on those ballet shoes would be the best part of my day. As I grew older and wanted more, I was inspired to help teach ballet to the younger grades because I have always loved little kids. I assisted my teacher with ballet teaching for four years and always loved seeing the progression in the student’s technique, but what I absolutely loved was seeing the smiles not only on their little faces but also in their eyes when learning something new and discovering how fun ballet can be.
At Cygnets Dance....
I love seeing the progression in each student and look forward to sharing the magical qualities of dance.
Miss Holly
Holly has always discovered a lot of joy and love through dance. From a young age she began her training through the RAD syllabus completing all of the examinations with distinction and then later moving to Leeds, England to train at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Three years later and having successfully graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Contemporary Dance, Holly now follows a career in teaching and education, aspiring for her students to learn that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’, feeling more empowered through their dance education. To help facilitate this, Holly began studying the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate (completed with Distinction 2019) which has given her a postgraduate teaching qualification and a certified RAD teacher status. Alongside teaching, she volunteers for several youth, arts and humanitarian organisations.
Miss Meg
For Meg, it was quite a natural progression from senior student to teachers' assistant and then teacher.
Meg has had a love for ballet from a young age. At every opportunity she would go to see performances, watch films and even TV shows related to ballet and dance. Meg has recently completed a Certificate in Education (Assistant) and is currently at Edith Cowan University studying a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education. As a dancer, Meg was a dedicated and talented student, achieving up to her Advanced Foundation examination through the Royal Academy of Dance.
Miss Meg recalls her ballet journey....
I have been dancing since I was two years old, where ballet was part of my weekly routine. It wasn’t just a routine for me
though, it was something I looked forward to. When I first began as a teacher’s assistant I was nervous and unsure of what to expect. However, as the weeks progressed I couldn’t wait for my student teaching classes. I formed special bonds with the students and valued watching them learn and discover their love for ballet. Those first few classes of nerves I experienced, soon turned into three years of love and enjoyment.
At Cygnets Dance....
I hope to not only support the children in developing their knowledge and understanding of Ballet, but to witness their love and appreciation for this style of dance.
