Michelle Huxley

Welcome to DANZA & Performing Arts! My name is Michelle Huxley and I am the Director and Principal Teacher.

I started teaching over 15 years ago throughout the Sydney region. I became a qualified ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance) teacher in modern, jazz and tap in 1996 and a qualified RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) teacher in 1997. I obtained my Diploma in 1998 majoring in child psychology and human anatomy.

The students whom I have taught in the past have received a 100% pass rate in both RAD and ISTD exams, with an average of 80% (Highly Commended). I have also entered children into Eisteddfods and Talent Quests.

I began dancing at 11 years of age with the Johnny Young Talent School where I studied drama, singing, jazz & tap and as a result of this I performed throughout Sydney and Wollongong at shopping centers, private functions and on Win Television. My first tour, at 12 years of age, was to Japan where I performed at Tokyo Disneyland & World Expo as well many other private functions.

At 14 years of age, I decided that my passion was to teach dancing, so I moved to a private dance school where I could be trained to become a teacher. Over the next four years I proceeded to complete grade exams in ballet, tap, modern and jazz, and assisted my teacher in teaching younger classes. I obtained my first assistant teaching roll at age 16. During my seventeenth year I completed my Higher School Certificate via correspondence whilst I continued my fulltime dance studies.

In 1996, I passed my ISTD teacher’s exam as well as auditioning for a dancing contract, which I successfully obtained and as a consequence I spent the next four months dancing overseas.

In March 1998, after completing my RAD Diploma, I moved to Europe to travel and continue dancing professionally. In 1999, I returned home to take over a dance school of 100 students whilst the owner was on maternity leave. On her return I remained as a teacher at this school.

In February 2005 I opened my first DANZA & Performing Arts studio in Allambie Heights. The following year a second studio was opened at Naremburn.

I hope that your children enjoy their time at DANZA and I aim to make it as enjoyable as possible.

Thank you for enrolling at Danza & Performing Arts. I look forward to the years of dancing ahead.

Michelle Huxley
Director/ Principal
DANZA & Performing Arts

Elise Osborne

My passion for dance started years ago at the age of three when I was enrolled in a dance school on the Northern Beaches. For the next 12 years I studied a variety of styles such as Ballet (RAD), Modern, Jazz, Tap, Character, Contemporary & Hip Hop. Whilst studying these styles I undertook numerous exams, successfully passing all. I was also a member of the schools performance group which performed in Eisteddfods, at Private Functions and toured NSW as Sydney Festival Ballet.

Dance also played a very important part within my schooling. I attended Brigidine College and they offered Dance as a Co-curricular activity. I represent the school in Jazz, modern, contemporary and lyrical dance. I also took Dance as one of my Higher School Certificate subjects majoring in choreographic skills, performance and safe dance practice. I achieved excellent results. In my final school year I was asked to be Dance Captain, where I was required to choreograph dance pieces and teach fellow students. This experience assisted in my decision to become a Dance Teacher.

After Achieving my HSC I studied costume design, taking courses at Tafe and NIDA. I have been teaching at numerous Dance School on the Northern Beaches as well as working as a sales assistant at Bloch. I am currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and Education at the University of NSW majoring in Dance.

I look forward to meeting you all and hope the passion I bring to my classes, leaves exceptional results.

Elise Osborne
Dance Teacher
DANZA & Performing Arts

Lily Robertson

I grew up in Sydney and started dancing when I was 5 years old. I have been studying RAD Ballet, ISTD Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop and Tap for the past 13 years and I have just successfully completed my Intermediate Ballet Exam which gives me eligibility to the Academy’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS). I have performed in many eisteddfods in Sydney and was a member of the Manly Marlins Cheerleaders for 3 years. I am currently studying Performing Arts at Bradfield Collage majoring in Dance Drama & Music.

I joined DANZA and Performing Arts as a student teacher in fourth term 2006 and have been teaching alongside Michelle Huxley ever since. I look forward to meeting you all soon.

Lily Robertson
Dance Teacher
DANZA & Performing Arts