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Alumni

Check out what some of our past students have gone on to achieve...

         ANYTHING is possible!

At Classique, we aim to provide a foundation that creates a world of opportunities in dance. We want our students to have the confidence to walk into any class, workshop or audition knowing that they can achieve whatever choreography or exercises required. Our students are also educated on theatre etiquette, technical theatre knowledge and we have a high expectation of our students attitude, team spirit and respect for those around them - which are all imperative to furthering their opportunities... The dance world is not always just on the stage!

KearnaPhilpott

"I walked into Classique Dancentre at the age of 13 having never taken a dance class in my life.. Starting so late, I had to train so hard to be as good as the girls around me - with the likes of Annabel & Maddie Scott, Alix Birtwhistle & Alex Peters inspiring me everyday. Miss Linda took me under her wing and sparked a fire within me that still burns today. She pushed me to be the best I could be and I am forever grateful for everything I learnt in my early years of dance. I can still hear her yelling at me to point my feet hahaha! Summer School 2009 - Miss Dana Jolly came down from Melbourne to teach us and it was an experience I’ll never forget. Like Miss Linda, Miss Dana saw something in me, she inspired me and fuelled my fire!! I worked my little butt off for the next few years and was lucky enough to move to Melbourne in 2011 where I completed year 11 & 12 & was able to train with Miss Dana Jolly.

 

In 2013 I was accepted into BAPA (Federation Uni, Arts Academy) for a bachelor of Muscial Theatre. In 2014 I also gained a spot at Spectrum Dance & Performing Arts School so I left university to train full time for 3 years in an industry based school. I loved Uni, but I just wanted to DANCE (there was too much singing & writing for me haha) This same year I became a reserve Cheerleader for The Melbourne Storm NRL team. In 2015 I earned my place in the Storm Cheerleading Squad and was on the team for 5 years, later becoming Dance Captain. In 2019 after 4 hard years of auditioning I secured my dream dance contract - Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines!!! I had gotten to the end of every cruise ship audition over those 4 years but had never been called up. It just goes to show you should never ever give up on your dreams!! I was so lucky to still be in Melbourne working in the industry in those 4 years, cheerleading for Storm, working on corporate gigs and choreographing for the Western Bulldogs Womens AFL cheer squad as well as the Melbourne Vixens Netball dance team. But 2019 was my year to shine. I had gained a contract on Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas & got to go overseas for the first time. I was flown to Miami to the Royal rehearsal studios where we learnt our 2 incredible shows: “Showgirl” & “The Effectors”. Whilst on my first contract I was lucky to visit all of Japan, China, Vietnam & Phillipines. Sadly in 2020 Covid stopped the world & we were sent home early. In 2021 I was asked back to Spectrum of the Seas to be a part of the “Come Back Cast”. We were sent straight to the ship and had to quarantine quite a lot but we finally opened my favourite show “Showgirl” to our very first audience back since covid and this time I was lucky enough to become the Company Manager & Dance Captain of the Theatre Cast. Our home port for this contract was Hong Kong and then Singapore and we even got to visit Malaysia. It was amazing! After an incredible yet challenging covid contract, I returned to Australia in July and I am currently at home resting and spending some much needed time with my family and friends. My contract lengths are between 10-11 months long and it certainly is the hardest thing being away from my loved ones for that long but I honestly do feel like I have the best job in the whole world !! In January next year I will be heading back overseas for round 3 on Quantum of the Seas which I am very excited for as it will sail in Australia, South Pacific Islands, Hawai, New Zealand & Alaska!" -2022

Bronte
Lister

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Since leaving Classique Dancentre, I have moved to Melbourne and slowly shaped the life of my dreams. After being accepted in Showfit, a Two Year full time musical theatre Course in Melbourne, my family packed up and moved our lives to the mainland so that I could follow my dreams. I will always be grateful for my families sacrifices in this endeavour as I would not have been able to do it without them.

Shortly after moving to Melbourne, I was wrapped up by the Showfit community where I made many lifelong friends, one of which is my boss Leanne White who added me to her staff list at Centrestage Performing Arts School, shortly after arriving in Melbourne.

At Showfit, we trained 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. We would start each day with a 2 hour dance class in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip Hop, Commercial Jazz and Latin. For the rest of the day, we were provided singing classes, song repertoire, acting fundamentals, voice classes for acting, mock auditions and business/brand/social media classes. The thing I loved the most about Showfit is that it isn’t a university degree so there is no curriculum. At the beginning of each year, the staff adapt the trajectory of the course based around what the current cohort needs! It’s an extremely personal and catered course that I would recommend to anyone!

After leaving Showfit, I was optimistic about the freedom I would have in creating my own training schedule. While I am working for Marriner Group as a FOH usher at the Regent Theatre, Princess Theatre and Comedy Theatre, watching all of my favourite shows weekly (the dream,) and teaching dance 5 nights a week, my days are free for training! I have followed Dana Jolly closely this year as she has become so much more than just a dance teacher; she’s my mentor. I take her class twice a week and the improvement I have noticed from consistently taking her class is very exciting! She’s got my back through and through, I am very grateful to Miss Linda for fostering that connection from my very first summer school at Classique.

This month (Sep, Oct) I have been having lots of success in my auditions and I feel like next year is going to be an extremely exciting year. From getting to the end and being on hold for Universal Studios Japan (by the time this yearbook comes out I should know 🤞🏼) to my first professional musical theatre callback for Annie! And my callback for Disney Cruiseline in which I am still awaiting a response! I have a great feeling about next year and I am so optimistic about what is to come. I’ve shifted my goal from strictly musical theatre to “earning money doing what I love.” if I am receiving a weekly paycheck and I get to do what I love which is dance and perform, I will consider myself the luckiest girl in the world.

At the end of the year, I am petting of for my first ever solo travel experience! I am heading to New York City for my 21st birthday! In New York, I am seeing over 10 Broadway Musicals, the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, taking classes at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Centre, getting my first pair of Laduca Boots Professionally Fitted in store, as well as engaging in all that the city has to offer. I am beyond excited.

I am grateful always to the support of Classique Dancentre, and thank them often for the strong foundation not only in dance but also in my work ethic and my humble nature. I thank my best friend, Miss Alex. We talk every single day and she is my rock, I wouldn’t be where I am without her support.

Work hard, Stay Humble. ✨🖤🤍

DAKOTA LEONARD

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I started dancing before I can even remember. For years my pointed feet were more of a flex, and my stage presentation had my mum questioning if I was about to throw up. Throughout these years, getting out there and doing my best was all that I thrived towards. Big lights, pretty costumes and amazing friends, what more could a girl want? 

When I was 11 I started to take dancing more seriously, I worked harder and practiced more.... and in this year I won my first jazz solo! It made me feel so happy! Not because I got a shiny trophy but because it made me feel like all of my hard work was paying off. This only meant that I got back into class and worked even harder. I wanted more of that feeling of butterflies in my tummy and having a smile so bright my jaw starts to hurt! So I decided that it was something that I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing. 

Everyone is on their own path and we will all end up in completely different places. It’s not a race, it's a journey, your unique journey! I have to regularly remind myself of this statement when training with all of these amazing people. Not one person has the same specialities and qualities which is why keeping your focus on your own story is more important than I can even express! 

Sometimes we think so much about the overall goal or destination and less about the small wins that we achieve in everyday life. Since starting Fulltime I keep a journal of my achievements, big or small so that I can look back on them when my spirits are low and I’m lacking confidence. Everytime I do this I cannot wrap my head around how much I’ve learnt, experienced and achieved throughout my training at Lee Academy so far, I am so excited for what’s to come! 

Every year my dance Island grows bigger and bigger. It takes up more of my life physically and mentally. I am continuously growing as a dancer and learning new things about myself and what I can do. You’re not going to know if you can do something until you try it, the majority of my classes in Fulltime are styles I didn’t even take back home. We don’t show up to be the best, we show up to work to the best of our ability in hopes to improve by even 1% each day. Things take time and there are going to be bumps in the road but that’s what makes you the dancer that you are! I couldn’t tell you the amount of times I’ve face planted, slipped over or even fallen from the silk! But I’m testing my limits and that’s how we get better! 

Acceptance, of who you are, what you’ve achieved and your facilities. The “I wish” mentality isn’t helping anyone, shifting your mindset to “I Will” is going to change your life and experience as a dancer greatly. Not only your performance but your enjoyment of what you do. I spent years in the dance room with a lot of really negative self talk. But why? Why do something that causes so much stress, anger and tears, when you can learn to acknowledge your growth and enjoy your individual process! 

I wanted to write this letter, not to preach about my successes, but to share with all of the younger students at Classique, what I have learnt along my journey in hopes to keep the passion and determination alive!

Claire
Males

Full time dance at Ev & Bow, Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs NRL Cheerleading, Celebrity Cruiselines.

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Elise
Kolka

Full time Musical Theatre at Patrick School of the Arts

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Heath
Kolka

Australian Ballet School,

West Australian Ballet

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Classique Dancentre  2024

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