MEET THE TEAM

You're in good hands

Meet our talented team of Principal Tutors at CANTERBURY BALLET.

Focused on teaching exceptional technique and creating unforgettable experiences, our team is committed to our dancers’ satisfaction and success.

TAISIA MISSEVICH

Founder

LILY CARTWRIGHT

Director

PRINCIPAL Senior School

ALEXIS JAMES

Director

PRINCIPAL Junior School

INTRODUCTORY DANCE

MUMMY AND ME

Led by a dedicated team of instructors, this class will have you and your Pre Schooler on their feet in no time showcasing their talent !!

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Enjoy sharing in the joy and journey of your pre school child”s discovery of movement, co ordination and musicality in an imaginative class which uses story telling through mime and the use of props and costumes along with a few sassy Jazz Dance numbers. You will see their confidence build week by week.

TRAINING PROGRAMS

BEGIN YOUR DANCE TRAINING ADVENTURE

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These dancers build their technical and artistic knowledge and work towards becoming the best dancers they can be. Through encouragement, a positive learning environment and attention to individual needs teachers assist each dancer to strive and succeed.

“Reach for the stars without fear or doubt." All is possible when you exercise focus and determination”.

Involvement in Competition Groups and preparation for solos and examinations are offered. Performances in Ballet and Contemporary/Jazz dance are staged as part of each dancers annual study and experience. Traditional repertoire and new choreographies form part of the performance program.

YOUNG DANCER

LIVE TO DANCE

This class is a favourite among our four to seven year old students. Everyone loves the opportunity to explore the new dance styles. Both Jazz and basic Acro are incorporated into this class. Students will also be introduced to the ABT National Training Curriculum.

This program builds on the young child’s discovery of movement and physical understanding. The focus of co ordination and musicality are augmented with the introduction of agility, flexibility and balance, correct posture, correct use of feet and legs into the classes.

The expression of enjoyment and fun through the use of games and thoughtful role play assist in continuing to build the dancers

confidence and ability step by step while also mastering the early classical vocabulary. Our amazing tutors make sure everyone gets individual attention while keeping the class collaborative.

OPENING HOURS

Mon - Fri: 8am - 6pm
Sat: 9am - 4pm
Sun: 10am - 2pm

PROFESSIONAL TRAINEE PROGRAM

Canterbury Ballet takes a beginning student to a professional level of dancing in  
the Full time Trainee Program. Students can begin at the age of seven to nine in Level One of the ABT program. Emphasis in this program is placed on Attitude, Musicality and Technique. These dancers study Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and Commercial Dance and National Character.  Entry is by audition or invitation only.

PROSILLIO ACADEMIC PROGRAM

The majority of our Full Time Trainees attend the Ao Tawhiti campus.
The dancers are able to take advantage of the “Prosillio Academic Program” which is delivered on site by registered teachers in partnership with Ao Tawhiti. “Prosillio” is Latin for “to Leap Ahead”.
Every student enrolled in the Prosillio program develops an Individual Education Plan (IEP), which is established and reviewed during Individual Education Meetings (IEM) throughout the year. The IEM allows the student, their family, learning advisor, and coach to share their thoughts, discuss challenges, and set goals.
All students are tracked against The New Zealand Curriculum, and senior students can also complete the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). However, students do not follow a prescribed assessment route. Instead, each student works at a level that is appropriately challenging, and that reflects his or her particular needs, interests, and goals. To accommodate students’ busy training schedules, a responsive and flexible approach is adopted, which utilises online learning, one-to-one and small group mentoring, and workshop sessions.You learn through your passions, investing in your interests and undertaking learning that meets your needs.

INTERNATIONAL TRAINEES

We accept dancers from all over the world by audition into our Level Six and Seven programs.

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Pictured: Rayco 2017 Graduate

Victorian State Ballet

Ballet Theatre Yugoslavia

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