Margot Darragh (Bbus)
General Manager

Margot has over 11 years experience working in Auckland, London and Toronto for organisations that are leaders in their field.  Working mainly in the corporate environment for financial organisations and within the Project Management arena, she has been responsible for developing as well as implementing procedures, project management methodologies and quality management systems. Margot graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Business in 1998, but embarked on her O.E shortly afterwards in January 1999.  While overseas Margot was able to sample the exciting international dance scene and upon her return to NZ in 2004 reconnected with her dance background by enrolling in dance classes and taking on a new role as a part time hip hop and jazz dance teacher.

Margot was finally able to combine her business background with her passion for dance when she joined The Apollo Theatre School team in 2006 as Quality & Administration Manager.  Margot is now the General Manager of The Apollo Theatre School and is delighted to be working full time in the industry by combining this role with her role (General Manager) at L’Academie de Danse.

Julia Barry Dip. R.B.S(T.T.C), A.R.A.D.Adv.Teaching Dip, A.I.S.T.D
Tutor

Julia graduated with Diploma of the Royal Ballet School Teachers’ Training Course, London, in 1977 and emigrated to New Zealand.  She spent two years as a dancer and Ballet Mistress in Russell Kerr’s “Dance in Schools” performance company, whilst also establishing her teaching career.
 Julia holds the Royal Academy of Dance Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Teaching Diplomas, Associate teaching qualifications in the National Dance, Modern Theatre Dance, Imperial Ballet and Cecchetti Ballet Branches of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, a Teaching Diploma in Benesh Dance Notation and is a certified Pilates Matwork instructor.

Julia has run her own highly successful large ballet school (the Auckland Ballet Academy, 1984-1995), has taught free-lance at many dance schools and seminars throughout New Zealand and has been very involved with training dance teachers.

Natalie Blucher BCS, A.T.C.L Trinity Guildhall London
Tutor, Student Welfare Officer

Natalie Blucher BCS, A.T.C.L (Teaching Speech & Drama) & level 2 Theatresports teaching certificate.  Natalie has completed the Speech & Drama Trinity College London syllabus and in 2003 achieved a distinction in her Trinity College London A.T.C.L in teaching Speech & Drama. Natalie has also achieved all nine grades in Speech NZ Public Speaking & Communication. Natalie regularly attends professional development workshops in mentoring and speech & drama to ensure she is at the cutting edge of the expanding creative arts industry in New Zealand.
In 2003 was awarded an AUT scholarship for her strong leadership skills. She graduated from AUT with a Bachelor of Communication Studies where she has learnt about television, journalism and in her final year majored in Creative Industries and Public Relations.
Over the past six years she has taught at Caisley’s, Kingsway School and Apollo Theatre School.  Natalie has worked professionally not only a teacher but as an actress, communicator and theatresports entertainer.

Catherine Carr DIP ABRSM, AIRMTNZ
Tutor

Catherine’s passion is Musical Theatre. She has worked as a repetiteur, Vocal Coach and Musical Director around Auckland and the Manawatu, in both Professional  and Community Theatre for the past 20 years. Favourite’s to name a few include “Fame”, “Les Miserables”, “Dames at Sea”, “Big River”, “King and I”,  “Grease”,  “Tilly”,  “Cabaret”,  “Stretchmarks”, ’ Guys and Dolls”, “Oliver”, “Annie”, “A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum”, and currently working on “Pippin”.

Catherine has taught Piano and theory of Music privately and as an Itinerant in Secondary Schools since 1992.  As a Dance accompanist, she plays regularly for a number of studios around Auckland, including L’Acadamie de Danse, Auckland Academy of Dance and  provides accompaniment for open  Ballet classes at Unitec’s Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts, Contemporary Dance degree.

Arini Going
Tutor

Arini is a graduate of the Apollo Theatre School, and has been training and performing since she was 6 years old.  Arini has more than 5 years teaching experience in jazz, tap and hiphop and is now working professionally as a dancer, dance teacher and model.  As well as her teaching experience, Arini has many choreographic and dancing accomplishments which include choreography for and as a member of the dance crew ‘Unlimited Stylz”; choreography and performance in ‘Fusion’ and 'Cirque Apollo' (Bruce Mason Centre).  Arini was a finalist in 2006 Flava Hip Hop Dance Battle and was selected for D’ziah to Dream 2007 workshop and performance.  Arini successfully auditioned for the Moulin Rouge (Paris) in 2006.  Arini currently teaches tap and jazz at The Apollo Theatre School.

Raewyn Hing BA/LLB, B.COM, B Sport and Rec, Dip. Tchg
Tutor

Raewyn Hing is the owner of IQ Pilates and has been working in the human movement field since 1989. She began her formal Pilates instructor training in 2000 with Polestar International and is now an instructor mentor and assists on Polestar International training courses.  Her teaching experience includes group reformer teaching, Mat classes, semi-private, private and group equipment classes.  Her special interests are sports performance and post- injury rehabilitation.  Raewyn is the first in NZ to both teach gyrotonic and gyrokinesis and offer both exercise techniques at her studio.  Raewyns achievements include:

• Polestar International Practitioner: Post-Rehabilitation Equipment, Mat and Reformer
• Bachelor of Sport and Recreation (major Sport Science), Commerce, Law, Arts
• Diploma of Teaching
• Sports Science NZ and Academy of Sport provider
• Netfit and AUT certified trainer and group exercise instructor
• ISAK Level 3 Anthropometrist (Science of Body Composition).

Andrew Jones
Tutor

Andrew started dancing at age 8 and has trained in all genres of dance in including Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Tap and Contemporary.  For the last 3 years Andrew has been Teaching and Choreographing Hip Hop inbetween numerous performance at shows and gigs in a variety of dance styles. Andrew was part of the NZ School of Dance Junior Associates programme in 2005–2006, training in Ballet and Contemporary. Andrew along with two others created the dance crew Unlimited stylz which was a finalist at the Flava Hip Hop Dance Battle 2006 and performed at many schools around Auckland. Andrew graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre from The Apollo Theatre School in 2007, and now teaches at both The Apollo Theatre School and L'Academie de Danse. Andrew dances with Auckland based Hip Hop crew TMC, which achieved the status of 2nd in NZ, and 19th in the world in 2007.

Astrid Stevanon
Tutor

Astrid achieved her BBO Advanced Ballet and NZAMD Solo Seal Jazz, performed in many shows in the North Island and also trained in RAD Ballet, BBO Tap and Contemporary before receiving the Anne Wooliams scholarship to attend the Victorian College of the Arts at Melbourne University in 1995.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Dance she has spent the last 10 years teaching and choreographing in full-time and part- time dance schools in both New Zealand and Europe.  Since returning to New Zealand in 2006 Astrid has been a full-time Teacher at L´Academie de Danse teaching Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Contemporary.  At the Apollo Theatre School Astrid supports Julia and Sarah in providing classical training for the students.

Harry & Marie Raiend
Ballroom & Latin

This component is offered once a year in a 8 week tuition block.  Harry & Marie Raiend, the Directors of ucan2 Dance Studio, have more than 60 years of combined experience in teaching dance.  
 
Harry has a Dance Masters Degree form Europe, licentiate level of qualifications in Ballroom, Latin American and New Vogue and holds an International Adjudication Licence.  Harry danced competitively in Europe and was a Judge on TV3's New Zealand ‘So you Think you Can Dance’ in 2006.
 
Marie trained in New Zealand and has over 20 years of dance teaching experience.  Marie holds fellowship degrees with the NZFDT and the FATD with whom she is an examiner, is qualified in Ballroom, Latin American & New Vogue, and holds an International Adjudication licence.

Dana Murphy
Stage Makeup & Hair

Murray L Hing MNZSP, RNZP DipPhys, MNZMPA, Reg Physio, ACUP
Flexaclinic – Integrated Health & Fitness Training Programme

Murray Hing, well-renowned physiotherapist with extensive experience in professional sports medicine, musculoskeletal, manipulative medicine and corporate and lifestyle health, deliver the Integrated Health & Fitness Training Programme at The Apollo Theatre School.
 
Murray has recently completed his masters in manipulation and his postgraduate diploma in acupuncture, qualifying with honours.  Murray is looked upon as an expert in his specialist field of physiotherapy and leads the team of physiotherapists at Flexaclinic who provide physiotherapy to the students of The Apollo Theatre School.

Flexa Physiotherapy specialises in musculoskeletal, sports medicine, post-operative and injury rehabilitation, lumbar and spinal injuries, muscle balancing and hands-on physiotherapy treatments.

The Flexa Clinic Physiotherapy team are proud to have treated some of New Zealands finest sports men and women, including atheletes from NZ Rugby League, NZ Basketball, NZ Aerobics, NZ Rugby NPC, Super 12, Kings Soccer teams and many Olympic and Commonwealth Games athletes.