SCCOD - Creative Team

Karen Manley commenced her classical Ballet training at the Ferraris/Draper School of Ballet-(Johannesburg South Africa). She successfully auditioned for and attended the Full time National School of the Arts and graduated year 12 in 1991. During this time she was also a member of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet Company dancing many Principal roles including the Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty and the Lead Sylph in La Sylphide. She also guest appeared on several occasions with the Senior Ballet Company (PACT Ballet) in Johannesburg.

In 1992 Karen completed a 12 month fulltime Dance Training course at the Pretoria Technikon and was awarded a National Certificate in Dance. It was during this time that she also gained the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance Advanced Certificate with Highly Commended which qualified her to participate in the highly regarded International Genee Ballet Competition.

In 1993 with plans already in motion to immigrate to Australia with her family, Karen decided to focus on her teacher training and went on to gain the RAD Teachers Certificate. Since arriving in Australia in 1994 she has taught at a number of respected Dance Schools both here on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, specialising in teaching the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus (from Pre-Primary through to the prestigious Solo Seal Award). Karen has enjoyed tremendous success with student exam results maintaining a 100% pass rates with several high distinctions and many of her students have achieved prizes and major awards at Eisteddfods both in individual and group entries.

A number of Karen's past students have also successfully auditioned for the Qld Ballet Jnr Extension Program and the Australian Ballet Schools interstate Extension Program. In 1997 Karen was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Karen has also recently been appointed as an adjudicator with Get the Beat Dance Competition and regularly adjudicates nationally. Opening the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance is the realisation of a lifelong dream and one which Karen is thrilled to be able to share with you and your child.

Kelly has been singing and dancing since she was eight years old, beginning her training in Jazz, Tap and Ballet at Maria Shanks Dance Centre. As the years went on, she expanded her repertoire to include Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Kelly appeared in her first Pro-Am Musical ‘Shout!’ at age 15, singing and dancing alongside Rowena Wallace and Dale Pengelly. Since completing high school and her CSTD exams, Kelly has performed at various charity events, sporting events, competitions, conventions and dance festivals.

In 2010, Kelly received a grant from Bond University to tour the U.S.A, training at prestigious dance studio ‘Millennium Dance Complex’ learning from some of the world’s best dancers/choreographers including Dave Scott (You Got Served, Step Up 2) and Dante7 (Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott). She also had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland California and onboard Carnival cruise lines ‘Splendour’. Kelly was recently offered her first professional contract as one of Bindi Irwin’s backup dancers/singers ‘The Jungle Girls’.

She is very passionate about dance and acheived her Diploma in Musical Theatre Performance and Commercial Dance whilst studying at Conroy Performing Arts College. In 2013 Kelly was awarded her Full CSTD New Modern Jazz Teaching Diploma.

Sunshine Coast born and raised mother of two Allison Bunney is a gifted and versatile teacher. Allison began dancing at the age of 4, studying Ballet, Tap and Jazz at Jill Peachey School of Dance. She completed all levels of examinations in Ballet, Tap and Jazz with top marks and achieved her teaching status with Education in Dance and Theatre Arts syllabus (EDTA) by the age of 16. When Allison was 17 she was selected to take part in the EDTA millennium celebrations in Sydney at the Opera House. Allison was appointed the head of Performance Team and eisteddfod work when she was 18 at Coolum Beach School of Dance where she continued to work for 13 years. She has choreographed winning routines for eisteddfods throughout QLD where most of her Musical Theatre and Song and Dance routines were undefeated.

During her mid 20's Allison decided to continue her professional development and studied to become a Royal Academy of Dance teacher, she was awarded the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with RAD in 2006. Several of Allison’s former students have been successful in their auditions for Brisbane City Youth Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Qld, Qld Ballet junior extension program and Australian Ballet interstate program.

Since starting her family Allison has been working at several coast schools specialising in the new RAD syllabus and still has a strong love for all genres of dance.

Mark Brinkley trained under Pam Petrie and Phyllis Danaher in Queensland before entering The Australian Ballet School in 1970 where he topped both years with Honours. In 1972 he joined The Australian Ballet working with such distinguished international artists as Dame Margo Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Sir Frederick Ashton and Sir Robert Helpmann.

His many roles included those in Gemini/Monotones/Romeo and Juliet/Swan Lake/Symphony in D/The Dream/One in Five/Carmen/The Merry Widow/Lady and the Fool/Nutcracker/Tales of Hoffmann/Beyonf Twelve/Spartacus/The Concert/The Taming of the Shrew/La Fille Mal Gardee/Gaite Parisienne/Giselle/Don Quixote/Graduation Ball/Pineapple Poll and Coppelia. Promoted to Soloist in 1979 and to Senior Soloist in 1981, Mark has toured extensively overseas with The Australian Ballet on 12 occasions and he was a Guest Artist with the Company.

In 1993 Mark was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to Ballet and was made a Maroochy High Achiever by Mr Fred Murry (Chairmen of The Maroochy Shire). After leaving The Australian Ballet, Mark became a staff member of The National theatre Ballet School from 1996 till the end of 1999. During the year of 2000, Mark was a Lecturer at The Australian Ballet School and From 2001 till the end of 2008 he lectured at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

Mark was Appointed an International Adviser on The Royal Academy of Dance (Board of Trustees) in London and spent 4 years in the role. While in London Mark was a guest teacher with The Royal Ballet School. In 2009 Mark returned to Queensland and now freelances as teacher, adjudicator and Examiner and has taught with The West Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Adelaide College of the Arts, QUT in Brisbane, Victorian College Of the Arts and a number of Private Ballet Schools.

Jessica began her dance training on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland at age 7. After being awarded her Solo Seal in 1998, she was offered places at The Australian and Royal Ballet Schools and granted a scholarship to the Vienna Opera Ballet School, where she trained under Nadia Tikhonova.

During her time in Europe, Jessica competed in a number of competitions, taking the gold medal at the Biarritz International Ballet Competition and Silver at the Aktzent International Ballet Competition (Vienna). Jessica also appeared as a finalist at the Adeline Genee Awards (London) and semi-finalist at the Luxembourg International Ballet Competition and and was offered a position with Jeune Ballet de France.

Jessica’s classical performance repertoire includes Diana et Acteon (Diana), Giselle (Giselle and Peasant Pas de Deux), La Bayadere (Gamzatti, Nikiya, Shadow Soloist), Le Corsaire (Soloist, Pas de Trios), Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy), Paquita (3rd Soloist), Sleeping Beauty (Aurora, Lilac Fairy, Crystal Fountain Fairy), Swan Lake (Odette), Suite en Blanc (Cigarette Solo).

After graduating from QUT with an Associate Degree in Dance in 2006, Jessica began guest teaching in the Vaganova method at a selection of Australian dance schools and institutions, including the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Urban Dance Centre and Sydney Dance Company. Jessica is also a Certified Holistic Health Coach, specialising in working with dancers in the areas of nutrition, mindset and positive self-esteem.

Majella danced in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay since the age of 3, studying all genres of dance and performing arts and completed all of her Tap/Jazz/Acrobatics/Ballet and Theatrical exams within the CSTD Syllabus. Most recently she completed her CSTD Tap Teachers Certificate and in 2013 was awarded her full CSTD Tap Teachers Diploma.

Majella has performed at various charity, cooperate and promotional events throughout Australia including performing as an Acrobatic Fairy for A Mid Summer Night’s Dream touring show, Melbourne. She has held workshops and choreographed for numerous studios as well as competed at eisteddfods throughout QLD.

Majella moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2011, since then she has continued to perform and hopes to keep teaching for years to come.

Stevie-Rose was born and raised on the beautiful Sunshine Coast and commenced dancing from the young age of seven. She trained in classical ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and hip-hop. As well as completing various dance exams through FATD syllabus, Stevie-Rose has also had training in vocals and acting. Once completing her schooling Stevie immersed herself into the dance industry by studying full-time in a Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance).

Since then she spent some time living in Los Angeles developing her experience through learning from some of the most legendary choreographers in the world. In addition to this Stevie worked as a dancer/choreographer at many corporate and promotional events.

Now at just 24 years of age Stevie comes with an abundance of qualifications including a CERT IV in Dance Teaching and Management, Certified Trainer and Assessor (TAE) and a Bachelor of Education (majoring in Dance). Currently teaching full-time in the secondary context, Stevie-Rose is committed to lifelong learning and promotes this within all her classes, inspiring all individuals to stay passionate, driven and determined young dancers.

OUR CREATIVE TEAM