Our Professional Teachers
Gemma Dippenaar
Ballet
Gemma has been a Ballet dancer for 34 years completing her Cecchetti Ballet Examinations
from Pre-Primary - Advanced 2 Level. She was a member of the Junior Dance Theatre of KZN
as well as the KZN Youth Ballet. She has 19 Years experience teaching the Cecchetti Method both in South Africa
and the UK and is also a Committee Member of The Cecchetti Society Of South Africa, KZN Headquarters,
having completed her Cecchetti Associate, her Cecchetti Associate Diploma and Licentiate Assessment.
Gemma is among the few Cecchetti Teachers globally to have been awarded the
Maestro Enrico Cecchetti Final Diploma. She has taught Ballet at the Highgate School Of Ballet In London
as well as the St Johns Wood School Of Ballet in London for two years where she trained and
prepared students for Examinations. She also taught Ballet to their affiliated Pre-Schools.
Gemma ran her own Ballet school, the Gemma Crawley School Of Dance in KZN for 10 Years where she
trained male and female students ages 3-21 in preparation for Examinations, Productions and Performances,
as well as teaching ballet at the Pre-Schools affiliated with her dance school.
Gemma has managed trained and choreographed a Competition Team for 4 Years, winning
3 National and 2 International Competition Titles.
She is a Certified Pilates and Zumba Instructor and also holds her SAGF Coaching certification and is a
National Level 1 Rhythmic Gymnastics Judge as well holding her SABOD Regional Judges Certification.
Gemma passionately quotes "Ballet is in every fiber of my body and fuels my soul"
Tamzin Stone
Acrobatics, Contemporary & Tumbling
Tamzin fondly known as Tami has been dancing since the age of 4 and has trained in Acrobatics, African, Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Spanish & Tap.
After attending the National School Of The Arts (NSA) she went on to study Dance and Musical Theatre at the Tshwane University Of Technology (TUT) where she obtained her degree in Teaching, Choreography & Performance and was named Best Jazz Dancer in her 3rd & 4th year.
Through her years of dance training she has attained her Associate 3 in Acrobatics (Acrobatic Federation Of South Africa - AFSA) and her Advanced 3 in Modern Dance (DanceCor). Tami also holds her Acrobatic Arts Module 1 International Teachers Qualification.
Tami has a wealth of experience in teaching and choreographing, winning numerous choreography awards both locally and Internationally. She has performed on numerous occasions at the acclaimed Grahamstown Arts Festival as well as at Dance Umbrella for KMAD Dance Company to name a few.
She is currently completing her Masters in Dance and will be completing her Module 2
in Acrobatic Arts.
Tami is passionate about teaching children and growing this artform in SA and quotes:
"Born To Dance, Born To Perform"
Alexandra Dos Santos
Jazz & Specialised Technique
Alexandra started her dance journey at the age of 11 and trained under the SADTA (SABOD) dance syllabus in various dance styles such as Acrobatics, Ballet Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Showdance.
As an exceptionally talented dancer, she competed at multiple competitions (locally and internationally) and became a household name - winning several titles. Alexandra is known for her impeccable overall technique and her specialty in leaps and turns as well as being an avid choreographer in Contemporary, Jazz and Lyrical.
She went on to perform professionally in various corporate events such as:
BMW dealership Awards
Shell V-Power Activation launch
Bankserv Africa End year Awards ceremony
Centurion Mall flashmob
Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg
Virgin Active Warrior Race
Government Officials Corporate event
Alexandra says:
"As I have left my competing days behind me, I have turned my focus to the growth of the next generation of dancers. My passion for creating and moulding a new era of dance burns brightly"
Shaun Zitha
Hip Hop
Shaun Zitha is a professional dancer, dance teacher and facilitator as well as a choreographer from Durban.
He is trained in Contemporary dance and Afro-Fusion at Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre and Moving Into Dance, he has more than 12 years experience in the Hip Hop genre.
He has competed in TV dance competitions such as “Step Up Or Step Out” Season 3 and “Break Da Beat” Season 1 & 2, he received 1st place in a prominent KwaZulu-Natal Regional Hip Hop dance competition.
Shaun is passionate about teaching and has worked together with institutions such UJ Arts & Culture Dance Academy and Dance@Wits to name a few.
Shaun is fiercely invested in teaching dance because he believes that it is this generation’s responsibility to guide the next generation to keep the arts alive !
"Dance is an element that allows you to lose yourself and find yourself at the same time"