NICOLA PURCELL (Principal)
Nicola teaches various Combination classes, Monday Adult Jazz and Tap, and the Open Age Tap class alongside Gill.
GILLIAN BUTCHER
Gillian Butcher teaches the Contemporary classes, Open Age Tap class, and various Combination classes. This is Gills’ 25th year at the dancing school starting at the age of 3. Gill was a student teacher for many years and 8 years ago became a teacher at NICZ. Gill has studied dance at university and graduated with distinctions in a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance. She is a qualified classical ballet teacher and on a professional level Gill has worked with some of Melbourne’s leading contemporary choreographers producing original works.
KATRINA BURKE
Katrina Burke teaches the Adult Jazz classes on a Wednesday, and our Troupe class for advanced students. Katrina Eley (as she was then) started dancing with us at age 3 and has been a student teacher/teacher with us for 18 years, and 2018 will mark her 28th year at NICZ. Katrina has a very successful dance history she has taught at Haileybury, Peninsula Grammar and Mount Eliza Secondary College, and has received theatre guild nominations for her work on several occasions. Katrina has also been very involved in coaching and choreographing school aerobics. She has performed with PLOS and Panorama, and studied dance completing DFTA teaching exams and a Diploma of Dance and Performance.
BRIANNA SHAW
Brianna teaches the Jazz, Hip Hop, and Stretch/Technique classes. She has been teaching at NICZ for 4 years and has been dancing for 25 years studying jazz, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, latin, ballroom and tap. Bree has a long dance history with NICZ starting dancing with us at age 3. Professionally Bree has danced with multiple dance companies covering a range of different styles even Cheerleading. She now runs her own business Kinnect-2-Dance teaching and spreading her love of dance to primary and secondary school students across Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, teaching hip hop, latin and ballroom at over 350 primary and secondary schools.
JADE WAALDYK
Jade teaches all the Classical and Pointe classes. This is Jades third year teaching at NICZ. Prior to teaching at NICZ Jade has studied at Ministry of Dance, achieving an Elite Diploma in Dance, and a Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management. Prior to full time study Jade studied ballet full time at Jane Moore Academy of Ballet. Jade has had he opportunity to work with leading choreographers and dance professionally around Melbourne.
MATILDA DAVIS
Tilly teaches various Combination classes and the Industry class. Tilly joined the teaching staff in 2017 after 18 years of being a student at NICZ Dansation. Til commenced preschool classes at NICZ at age 3 and was a student with us until the end of 2016. Tilly has recently completed a year at Patricks Studios Australia, and is currently continuing further studies at PSA. She has performed in promos, fundraisers, and entertainment specials with Draculas Cabaret, Beyond Blue, and Australian Dancesport Championships. She is also about to commence a contract as a dancer with Crown Casino Melbourne.
MELISSA BELL
Melissa started at NICZ Dansation at 3 years old. She has always had a great passion for dance and a true commitment to the craft. She started as a Student Teacher in 2014 and loved working with other teachers and younger students. Melissa soon fell in love with Tap and joined the Advanced Tap Class as one of the youngest students. Having studied under both Nicola and Katrina’s guide she is taking on the Adult Tap class, and looks forward to beginning the year!
JESS POULTER
Jessica Poulter is a passionate dancer and teacher from Melbourne and will be teaching Junior and Senior Hip Hop classes this year at Nicz. She started dancing at age 4 with Mount Eliza and Peninsula Ballet Academy, where Jessica was awarded top score in her exams each year. In 2002, she was offered a RAD scholarship to its summer school programs and won The Special Dance Award from the Classical Dance Teachers Association. Jessica studied English and Journalism at University. She soon became a columnist in the Australian Dance Review (biggest ballroom magazine in the country) and worked as a media partner for the Victorian Dance Festival. She currently writes a dance blog ‘Dance Writer’ that acts as an aspirational arts guide for budding dancers. With a team of international contributors and an extensive pool of ambassadors, Dance Writer is Australia’s freshest dance publication. Jessica is now a dance studio owner herself running ‘Dancer’s Workshop’ in Parkdale, touring her classes as workshops too around Melbourne.