Meet The Team
Suzanne
Founder | CEO | Teacher | Ballet
Suzanne is the extreme Ballet enthusiast behind Ballet.Culture.
At the age of 4, Suzanne attended her first Ballet lesson. This was where her dream of becoming a Ballet Teacher began.
In July 2019, Suzanne founded Ballet.Culture. Her aim was to create an environment that welcomes people from all backgrounds to learn thewonderful benefits of Ballet, in an empowering and fun way.
Suzanne is a qualified Ballet teacher with The Imperial Classical Ballet (ISTD), but also has a working knowledge of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus and is a registered teacher with BBO (British Ballet Organization). She uses her experience to create and choreograph classes that reflect technique, poise and passion. Suzanne's qualifications go beyond Ballet, as she is also a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. This provides her with the knowledge to guide her students and encourage movements beneficial for their development.
When Suzanne is not teaching, she is mum to two children. Willa (11) and Esca (7). They make sure she stays grounded and motivate her daily to achieve her dreams.
Suzanne will be teaching all the Ballet classes in Otumoetai, Maungatapu and Arataki. She is also responsible for all Ballet.Culture administration and planning.
Lesh
Teacher | Tap
Lesh started dancing when she was 7 years old. Starting in American Jazz and Ballet, later moving on to American Tap and Hip Hop.
When Lesh turned 18 she started Contemporary Dance, which she continued until moving to Hamilton to attend University. In Hamilton she had the amazing opportunity to be a cheerleader for the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup.
Over the past 4 years, Lesh has focused exclusively on Ballet and has accomplished many of her goals through Ballet.Culture, including sharing her passion for Tap and choreography.
Lesh has several years experience as an Early Childhood Education Teacher, which gives her a wonderful working knowledge of children's developmental abilities and the importance of learning movements through dancing. She recently hung up her ECE teaching hat and is focusing on her family business, working from home and introducing her 2 year old daughter to the dance world by teaching her tap and starting her in ballet classes with Suzanne.
Lesh will be teaching all Ballet.Culture Tap classes.
Ella
Teacher | Modern Dance
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Ella fell in love with all things dance at the age of 3, and began competing in local competitions at the age of 8, with Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Musical Theatre and even a little bit of HipHop! She later explored Ballet, and her appreciation for the style has only grown since she began her journey with Suzanne in 2017.
Advancing into leading school dance troupes and attaining NCEA Dance qualifications, Ella focuses passionately on expressive performance and creative choreography, to enhance her own, and others’ love of dance as an art form.
Ella is beyond excited to bring her experience and love for modern dance to the Ballet.Culture family!
Ella will he teaching all the
Ballet.Culture: Modern Dance classes.
Taylor
Teacher | Contemporary
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At the age of 5, Taylor started Lyrical and Jazz. This is where she first discovered her love of Dance. Over the years, Taylor added Ballet, Acro and Contemporary to her repertoire and found that this was where she truly excelled. At Ballet.Culture, Suzanne opened Taylors eyes to the amazing world of ballet.
In Intermediate and College, Taylor started sharing her talent and experience and led a School Dance Troupe, choreographing dances in her own unique style of Contemporary.
Taylor really enjoys creating dances that are heartfelt and involve movements uniquely designed for the story she wants to share.
Two years ago, Suzanne gave Taylor an opportunity to share her passion for Contemporary Dance, by adding a specially choreographed Duo performance to the Ballet.Culture annual showcases at Baycourt. It was so incredible, that it is now a tradition.
Taylor is extremely excited to further share her passion and expereince at Ballet.Culture, starting in Term 3, 2023.
Taylor will be teaching the Ballet.Culture: Adult Beginner Contemporary classes.