F.C.B.A. C.I.C.B. Examiner and Maestro Cecchetti Diploma Holder. Cetificate IV
Jane moran – Principal, Classical Ballet
Jane trained in South Australia where she studied the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet and passed all ballet examinations up to and including Advanced with Honours. As a child Jane spent much of her time performing, her professional stage experience includes King and I, Sound of Music, South Pacific, Carousel and pantomimes Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty, Hans Christian Anderson and Pinocchio. She went on to study full-time ballet in Melbourne at the National Theatre Ballet School under Gailene Stock and Gary Norman before moving to Sydney to continued full-time training at the New South Wales College of Dance with Kim Trainor and Kelvin Coe. Jane then joined the Contemporary Dance Company in Sydney, working and touring throughout NSW.
In 1995 Jane completed a three year diploma of photography in Sydney. She then went onto complete all of her Cecchetti teaching examinations, she holds the prestigious Cecchetti Diploma and is a Fellow of the Cecchetti Society. Jane is an examiner for Cecchetti Australia. She is also an accredited trainer (holder of TAE40440 & CUA40313/CUA40211)
Dianne pokorny – Principal, Classical Ballet
F.C.B.A. C.I.C.B. Examiner, Maestro Cecchetti Diploma Holder, Certificate IV & Master of Arts in Performance.
Dianne originally trained in Adelaide under Judy Watson and went on to further full-time study with Laurel Martyn at Ballet Victoria in Melbourne. Dianne spent 3 years under the tutelage of Janina Curnovas and was invited to join Ballet Victoria on their tour of Petrushka with Valery and Galina Panov. At the completion of her study she was accepted into the Australian Ballet Company by Dame Peggy Van Praagh. Dianne was a member of the Australian Ballet Company for a number of years and worked with many notable choreographers, travelling extensively throughout Europe, Asia and America. During her time with the company she danced in all major classical ballet productions, especially notable was the staging of Suite En Blanc by Serge Lifar. Dianne left the Company to pursue a career in teaching dance. She gained distinctions in all teaching examinations and holds the prestigious Cecchetti Diploma. In 1989 Dianne was appointed to the position of examiner. In 1998 she graduated from University with a Master of Arts Degree in Performance. Dianne is a member of the Cecchetti Grade Panel which is responsible for writing and implementing the pre-primary to grade 6 syllabi. She is also on the Examiners Training Panel and is the NSW Representative to the National Council.
Emma moran – Contemporary & Classical Ballet
Maestro Cecchetti Diploma Holder, A.C.B.A. C.I.C.B.
Emma was born and raised in Sydney where she began her dance training at Lane Cove Dance Academy under the guidance of her mother, Jane Moran. Here she studied the Cecchetti method, from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2, also receiving her Enrico Cecchetti Diploma. Emma continued her training at Alegria Dance Studios, under the direction of Hilary Kaplan and Archibald Mckenzie, before moving to the UK to complete her BPA at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. Emma was then a part of Sydney Dance Company’s inaugural Pre-Professional Year
During her time as a student, Emma was awarded 1st place in the 2010 Gold Section at the Lucie Saranova Memorial Awards and in the same year, received the Valrene Tweedie Memorial Scholarship. She was recipient of the Big Brother Scholarship, allowing her to travel & study in the UK. On four occasions she was awarded the Valrene Tweedie Perpetual Trophy for Choreography and has also received the William Carse Memorial Award for outstanding commitment and consistency to the Cecchetti Society of Australia.
Professionally, Emma danced with Phoenix Dance Theatre & Sketch Dance Company in the UK, as well as with Opera Australia. She has performed works by numerous choreographers including; Richard Alston, Rafael Bonachela, Lucas Jervies, Craig Bary, Henri Oguike, Sharon Watson, Tanja Liedtke & Ana Luján Sánchez.
Recently, Emma has had the privilege of working with many young Australian pre-professional dancers; teaching students at Tanya Pearson Academy & Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year, choreographing works for SCIMM Dance Company and working with Cecchetti Ballet NSW students. She is a qualified Cecchetti Ballet Australia & Rambert Grades teacher and enjoys sharing the wholistic training that the combination of these two syllabi bring with the students of Lane Cove Dance Academy.
Kristy walker – jazz
An accomplished entertainer and performer, Kristy has trained jazz, classical ballet, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, tap, singing, drama, musical theatre, and modelling. As an avid dance student since the tender age of 3 years, Kristy later attended The McDonald College of Performing Arts where she learnt the foundations of dance, singing and acting. Kristy’s credentials range from touring with a live children’s entertainment show to winning numerous awards at eisteddfods, performing at the Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony, starring on television in Crime Scene Investigation Australia and numerous television commercials and appeared as the lead in Art Vs Science ‘Finally See our Way’ Film Clip.
Kristy is an energetic and enthusiastic young professional with a love and passion for the performing arts.
Grace fitton – Classical Ballet & Jazz
A.C.B.A. C.I.C.B.
Grace began dancing at the age of three at Ballet Academy Northside, before continuing her studies at Lane Cove & Roseville Dance Academies, taught by Jane Moran and Dianne Pokorny. She has trained in both RAD and Cecchetti classical ballet, as well as jazz and contemporary. Grace regularly performs in live children’s entertainment shows, and has danced in flash mobs, music videos and short film ‘The Half’.
Grace is enthusiastic and passionate about teaching, currently studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary)/Bachelor of Arts at Macquarie University. She successful completed her Cecchetti Associate with Honours.
