Principals

Wendy Lowe A.R.A.D. (Advanced)
Wendy danced in many productions with Ballet Theatre of Queensland and also with The Queensland Modern and Contemporary Dance Company. In 1977 Ballet Theatre's Artistic Director, Phyllis Danaher M.B.E., F.R.A.D. appointed Wendy as her Assistant and Ballet Mistress where she was responsible for reproducing many ballets in their repertoire over several years.

Judith Lowe A.R.A.D. (Solo Seal)
Judith danced with Ballet Theatre of Queensland for many years, dancing principal roles in various productions. She was also a Foundation Member of The Queensland Modern and Contemporary Dance Company and toured with them overseas to Britain where she performed in London and Aberdeen to personal acclaim. Judith has been selected to appear with the Australian Ballet and Opera Australia and most recently in Swan Lake with the Royal Ballet during their 2002 Tour of Australia.

Teaching Staff

Tamarah Gannon M.R.A.D. – Ballet
Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance, London.
Tamarah has successfully undertaken examinations with the Society for Education Dance and Theatre Arts (EDTA) in Classical Ballet, Jazz and Gaelic. She has been a member of the Studio for the past 7 years and has assisted us with classes for the last 5 while studying for her RAD Teaching Certificate. She is presently studying Advanced 2.

Jean Logan A.R.A.D. (Solo Seal) – Ballet
Jean has passed all her RAD Examinations and was a member of Ballet Theatre with Wendy and Judy for several years. She has worked professionally, performing in JC Williamsons musicals both here and in New Zealand. She has been assisting the studio for over 20 years, and we value her expertise in assisting with the training of our students.

Sandra Walker A.R.A.D. – Ballet
Sandra has completed all her RAD Examinations and also studied SATD Syllabus, sitting for exams in Classical, Jazz & Tap. She was a founding member of the Australian Youth Ballet in Brisbane and toured with them to Aberdeen and London. She then went on to study at the Australian Ballet School for 3 years and was chosen as a performing member of their Dancers Company. Sandra has been assisting with classes at the studio for the last 4 years.

Robyn Ross A.R.A.D. – Guest Tutor
Robyn started dancing with Ashgrove Dance Studio when she was 6 and has continued her career firstly with Queensland Ballet and then overseas with Wiener Ballet Theatre, Lewis London Ballet, European Ballet and English National Opera as a soloist dancer. She performed as principal dancer for 6 years with the Bat Dor Dance Company and also worked with Ballet Contemporaneo in Caracas in Venezuela. In 2003 she danced with Compagnie Phillippe Trehet and most recently she has been working with Ballet Ireland as Ballet Mistress/Rehearsal Director. We are delighted that she has returned to Australia and will be teaching from time to time with the Studio as a Guest Tutor. Robyn has studied in London obtaining her RAD Professional Dancer's Teaching Diploma. Robyn has been asked to return as Rehearsal Director for the forthcoming season by Ballet Ireland and will return to Australia in December.

Anne McCaffrey M.R.A.D. – Ballet, Tap & Jazz
Anne has studied ballet, tap and jazz with the Studio since she was 3 and has passed her RAD examinations. She is presently studying Advanced 2. Anne attended classes in London in 1998 and choreographed Little Shop of Horrors for the Fulham Broadway Theatre Group. She is very capable at teaching Ballet, Tap and Jazz and is often called on to step in when a teacher is unavailable.

Bill Simpson – Funk Tap
Bill has completed an Associate Diploma in Dance at QUT. He has performed with members of Tap Dogs and Raw Metal, and has appeared in West Side Story. Bill also has his own performing tap group, Red Hot Rhythm.

Rosemary Jones – Tap & Jazz
Rosemary is an original Studio member having commenced lessons with the school in 1972. Rosemary has studied Tap, Jazz and Irish and has passed Examinations. She has been teaching Tap and Jazz with the studio for many years.

Long Huynh Ho – Funk/Hip Hop
Long's passion is dancing and choreography. The D-Tox Dance Crew & Company is his creative vision. He has choreographed and danced in numerous shows and competitions.

Viola Wynne-Hoelscher – Funk/Hip Hop & Tap
Viola has been dancing at the Studio for 10 years. She has completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Dance) and Secondary Education at QUT and is currently teaching dance at Narangba Valley State High School. As a young dancer Viola was a member of Ballet Theatre of Queensland. Viola has a passion for all styles of dance, particularly Contemporary and Hip Hop and thoroughly enjoys teaching young people.

Cherie Hearn T.C.R.G. (Irish) – Irish
Cherie is a teacher and adjudicator with the Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin. She has competed in World, Australian and Great Britain Championships.

Trinetta Herdy T.C.R.G (Irish) – Irish
Trinetta has been a member of the Studio for several years, studying Ballet and Irish. She is now a qualified registered teacher with the Irish Dancing Commission having successfully passed her final examination in 2007. Trinetta has also been successful in Irish Competitions competing at State and Australian Titles and the World Championships in Ireland.

Darleen Gunthorpe A.R.A.D. – Pilates & Stretching
Life Member of the Pilates Foundation UK.
Darleen has studied ballet in London and Australia and has passed her Advanced RAD Examination. She trained in Pilates in 1986/87 with Alan Herdman in London and taught at his school until 1996, when she opened her own studio. In 2002 she returned to Australia and has been teaching Pilates for us since her return.

The teaching staff will also be assisted by some of our senior students including Elizabeth Lee, Shari Hamilton, Madeleine Walsh, Brittany Date and Steve Williams, as well as some of our junior students.

*All teachers of children hold a current Blue Card for Child Related Employment.

Last Updated: 30 Jan 2008