Teachers

Kate Hanna, Principal

Ballet | Jazz | Tap | Song & Dance | Contemporary|  Lyrical | Eisteddfod
A.R.A.D, ACB Registered Teacher

Kate started dancing at age 5 with Conny Mathot studying all styles of dance. At age 13 she went to further her training at the Ransley Ballet & Dance Centre under the direction of Dawn & Joy Ransley. Here she undertook intense classical training & started their full-time program at age 14. Kate completed all of her Royal Academy of Dancing vocational grades with high distinctions & competed in the RAD’s Phyllis Beddels Bursary (finalist 2004) & Genee International Ballet competition (semi-finalist 2005)  in London, England. In this time Kate was a Soloist with the Gold Coast City Ballet & guest with the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra. Kate furthered her studies at The Ailey School & Broadway Dance Centre, New York & also The Edge & Millennium Dance Complex, Los Angeles. Kate’s professional career has seen her work with the Kinisi Dance Company, London, featured in music videos, TV series & commercials. Whilst living in the London, Kate was signed with the UK’s top dance agent Mark Summers & she was also involved with Nigel Lythgoe’s SYTYCD UK finishing in the top 16 girls, working with choreographers such as Travis Wall.

Kate is a registered teacher with the Ballet Conservatoire & has participated in the Tapatak teachers course in 2018 and 2019. Kate’s past students are currently working professionally in Queensland and overseas with companies such as Royal Carribean, The Moulin Rouge, Paris and Celebrity Cruise Lines. Kate is committed to teaching safe dance practice with a high emphasis on technique.

 

Tracey Kriz

Vocal | Musical Theatre

Tracey began her performance career in culturally rich Ballarat Victoria in the early seventies. She has a Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Graduate Diploma in Music Education from Ballarat College of Advanced Education and her AmusA (singing) AMEB. Trained in classical singing, classical ballet, jazz and tap, the theatrical stage finally beckoned. She began performing with Ballarat Light Opera Company, Ballarat Lyric Theatre and Ballarat Theatre Company. Tracey has directed, choreographed & performed in numerous musicals  & professional productions.

Tracey has worked as the Artistic Director at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School where she taught singing, Year 11 and 12 Drama and Dance, Year 7 Music and is Choral Director at the school. Tracey has mentored many students and others, who are working on the theatrical stage to further their craft and skills, many of these have been successful at NIDA and WAPPA. Tracey is the Artistic Director of the newly formed Gold Coast Production Company &  in 2015 Tracey join the judging panel for the Gold Coast Theatre awards alongside some of the Gold Coast’s leading names in theatre and entertainment.

Georgia Mollison

Tap | Pre-Junior

Georgia is a graduate of Coastal Dance where she started her training at age 5. She has studied all genres of dance & has completed the Tapatak Oz Teachers Seminar in 2018/19. Georgia travelled to the USA in 2016 on our Dance Development tour & took classes at The Edge LA, The Los Angeles Ballet Academy & Broadway Dance Center NYC. Georgia is a currently studying nursing at Southern Cross University.

Monique Feain

Classical Extension Program

Monique has been teaching for over 25 years and has been successfully coaching ballet students on the Northern Rivers for the past 18 years after running a successful Ballet School in three Sydney locations. Monique offers expert dance tuition in a disciplined but encouraging, caring and nurturing environment whether for a vocational career in dance or as an enhancement to the overall general future of the recreational student.

Riley Johnston

Hip Hop | Cover

Riley commenced her dance training at Coastal Dance aged 5. She was a part of our inaugural USA trip in 2016 where she took classes at Broadway Dance Center, The Edge & The Los Angeles Ballet Academy. After her graduation in 2017, Riley completed her Certificate IV in Dance at Dynamite Studios Australia. She is currently in her second year of full-time preparing for a professional contract. Riley takes class with some of the biggest names in  Australian dance weekly & is excited to share the latest trends with our students.

 

Joel Murphy

Contemporary | Choreography

Joel is a graduate of Coastal Dance where he commenced his training at age 8. He studied all genres of dance & was awarded the inaugural Coastal Dance scholarship in 2015.  Joel was a member of the LOcREaDO Dance Company for 3 years & travelled to China to perform at the Xinjiang International Dance Festival as well as performances in Brisbane, Sydney & the Gold Coast. In 2016 Joel travelled to New York & Los Angeles with Coastal Dance where he studied with leading figures in dance at The Edge & Broadway Dance Center. Joel went on to study his Certificate IV in dance at Dynamite Studios Australia on full scholarship & is has completed his first professional contract as a singer/dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines on Quantum of the Seas. Joel is one of the most in-demand male dancers in South East Queensland performing professionally most weekends. 2019 will see Joel join the Brisbane season of the LOcREaDO Dance Company as Dance Captain.

 

Riley Carter

Acrobatics

Riley began dancing at age 3 with Janece Graham, she competed in all of gold coasts best eisteddfods growing up. She furthered her training in all styles at Sheridan’s studio 1 under Sheridan Vollenweider and completed her certificate lV in dance at Dance force in 2017. At the age of 17 Riley was performing at local gigs for event companies and was working with Australia’s most prestige choreographers such as Kate Wormald, Stephen Tannos, Carly O’Connor and plenty more. Riley’s professional career launched off when she first featured in the music video ‘Sneak Out’ for Bombs Away airing on MTV and then from then has accomplished commercials with Sony Technology, back up dancing for Sneaky Sound System and recently performing for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Since coming home from her overseas contract she is excited to start a new adventure of teaching sharing the knowledge she has learnt over the past 16 years.

 

Tiani Cashel-Patterson

Junior Teacher / Assistant Teacher

Tiani started her training with Coastal Dance at age 3 & studies all genres of dance. She is also in the Palm Beach Currumbin Dance Excellence program & has held numerous leadership positions at the school. Tiani has performed in professional productions of Annie & Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at QPAC. Tiani commenced student teaching in 2017 and has been mentored by Principal, Kate Hanna.

 

Guest teachers have included:

Rosina Andrews: Dance Moms UK

Christine Denny: Tapatak Oz Creator

Autumn Marie Dones: A Step Around The World

Jonathan Whitlow: Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines / Fame the Musical

Sam Campbell: Disney / Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Beau Middlebrook: Disney Cruise Lines / West Side Story International Tour