Amanda Bollinger
Director / Classical Ballet
Amanda graduated from the Berlin State Ballet School in Germany, where she studied the Vaganova method of classical ballet. She went on to dance with the Metropol Theatre Berlin, was principal artist with the Space Dream Musical Theatre, the Ballett-Compagnie Deutschland and Disney’s multi-million Euro production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Amanda performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and she was one of only four soloists chosen from around Germany to dance in the TV Gala “Sommernacht der Klassik” at the Semper Opera house Dresden. Renowned Belgian choreographer Marc Bogaerts created “Bolero”, a neo-classical piece, especially for Amanda, which was performed for the Prince of Belgium in Gent.
Amanda is an accredited teacher and international examiner of the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet.
Taylor Murphy
Classical Ballet
Taylor began dancing at age 4 with ABDA. She competed in numerous local and international competitions, including the Alana Haines Australasian Awards, gaining a scholarship to The Australian Ballet School, Summer School. Taylor achieved Distinction in all her grades and also spent three seasons with BCYB. In 2017, she received the Australian Day Award, Cultural Award, for the her contribution to the Arts.
Taylor continued her classical training at The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet (ACB) in Melbourne. Taylor has become an accredited teacher for the ACB and continues her tertiary studies in Sport and Exercise Science.
Sarah Wright
Classical Ballet
Sarah started her dance training at age 4 with ABDA, completing all levels of the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet. Her training continued at the "Akademie des Tanzes" in Mannheim, Germany, studying the Martha Graham contemporary technique and further her training in the Vaganova Method of Classical Ballet.
Soon after, she was accepted into a junior ballet company in Florence, Italy, focusing on the Cecchetti Method of Ballet and the Cunningham contemporary technique. Sarah joined the Balletto del Sud company in Lecce, Italy, performing many pieces choreographed by Fredy Franzutti.
Back in Australia, Sarah is excited to share her international experience with the next generation of dancers!
David Semple
Classical Ballet
David completed his training at the Australian Ballet School before joining the Queensland Ballet Company. He danced classical solo and principal roles including Swan Lake, Copeilia, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Othello. He also enjoyed performing in many other works from choreographers including Natalie Weir, Paul Boyd, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, Stephan Thoss and Davide Bombarda.
David began his teaching journey as a Pilates Instructor working in injury rehabilitation, later added ballet teaching where he combined his experience with Pilates to help young dancers gain a greater understanding of their bodies.
Juliet Burnett
Classical Ballet
Bio following soon
Mila Nathan
Classical Ballet
Mila’s ballet journey began at the age of 3 in New Zealand, before moving to Australia at age 6. She trained in classical ballet, both RAD and Vaganova, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. While training full time at Amanda Bollinger Academy of Dance, she performed and competed in various competitions in Australasia and received scholarship offers and summer school opportunities, including The Princess Grace Academy.
At 16 she moved to Europe, where she trained and performed with Rudra Bejart Ballet School in Lausanne, Switzerland. Back in Australia, Mila focuses on her tertiary studies in Exercise Science and alongside guides and teaches the next generation of young ballerinas.
Riannon McLean
Contemporary
Riannon graduated with a Diploma in Dance Performance from the New Zealand School of Dance in 2000 as “distinguished graduate”. Riannon has had an extensive professional performance career spanning over thirteen years, touring extensively, both nationally and in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North America. Riannon has worked for Merenia Grey Dance Company (NZ), Dance North, Australian Dance Theatre and most recently Expressions Dance Company. Her choreographic credits include works for Choreodrome, (UK) Dance North, Dance North’s Extensions Youth Company, Townsville. Cecchetti Conferences, contemporary solo QLD Cecchetti Medals, QUT guest choreographer, and Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts. Riannon’s renowned teaching capabilities and mentorship qualities have seen her teach as a guest artist for LDTX Beijing (China), Cathy Sharp Dance Ensemble (Switzerland), Australian Ballet Gala (Melbourne), Victorian Academy of Ballet (Canada), Expressions Dance Company, QUT, WAPPA, 2Ballerinas, QDSE, RAW Dance Company, Brisbane Contemporary Dance Intensive, ACPA, Daniel Jaber and Lina Limosani of Limosaniprojekts. Riannon is also a qualified Xtend Barre instructor and Pilates Mat Instructor.
Jake McLarnon
Contemporary
Jake completed his training at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and joined Australian Dance Theatre. He performed with Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) before returning to Australian Dance Theatre to perform “Objekt”. Jake became an ADC company member and contributed to the development of many new work.
As a choreographer, Jake created a work for the Tenerife Festival, “Iso” for ADC’s Converge as well as works for the ADC Youth Ensemble.
Aside from teaching, Jake has taken up a position at HOTA Gallery exploring his connection to the arts across various mediums.
Kiarna LaRosa
Jazz
Kiarna started dancing at the age of two, studying all styles of dance including -Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap & Musical Theatre. Kiarna has studied RAD ballet, BDA tap, jazz and CSTD contemporary, gaining her teachers qualifications in Tap and Jazz at the age of 16. Kiarna has worked with many industry professionals: Jack Chambers, Andrew Fee, Matthew Browning and Carly O’Connor just to name a few.
Kiarna studied with RAW Dance Company, graduating in 2015 with her Diploma in Musical Theatre.
Kiarna is now part of the team at Raw teaching and performing for the company.
Ariane Murray
Character Dance
Ariane Murray was born in Paris and commenced dancing at 5, later studying full time at the Victorian College of the Arts for 4 years where she completed her Bachelor of Arts (Dance).
She performed with Bellder Ballet Theatre for 3 years before changing to the commercial dance industry for 10 years.
Ariane has been teaching ballet and contemporary for over 25 years, however, as a registered teacher for the ICDS (International Character Dance Syllabus), she has spent the last 5 years focusing on her love of Character Dance, which is essential to todays dancers.
Marija Simonds
Gymnastics
The love for rhythmic gymnastics began at the age of 4 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. From age 9, she was coached in Sydney by Australia’s Commonwealth & Olympic gymnastics pioneer Edith Peluso. Marija continued her journey in Adelaide, competing in state- and national championships until her transition to coaching and judging in her early 20’s. An accredited coach with over 10 year’s experience, she has trained gymnasts from the age of 4 up to level 10.
Having also trained in the RAD ballet stream, Marija’s understanding and love of dance compliments her gymnastics background, helping dancers to further develop their physical capability, spatial awareness, coordination, reflexes, strength and flexibility.
Mary Bertossa
Yoga
Mary found Yoga in 1991 and first taught in the late 90’s. With a resolve to continued learning the years have unveiled some incredible jewels of this ancient tradition. With a firm foundation in Iyengar Yoga and study of Ayurveda, certificates in Yoga Therapy, E-RYT 200 hours, E-RYT 500 hours, Mary is a fourth series Ashtanga practitioner with a daily practice of Pranayama and Zazen.
Classes may be therapeutic, where the student can gently touch the pain, be it physical or emotional and release it with awareness, or dynamic, physically strong with emphasis on connecting breath to movement, a moving meditation, well-being of our bodies.
