Natalie Ettingshausen
Natalie Ettingshausen was literally born into the world of dance as her mother, Kaye Thomas, was working as principal Boy in Robin Hood until she reached 6 months of pregnancy with Natalie. Natalie’s own childhood then followed suit and saw her in appearances in the stage musical Dick Whittington and His Cat (Phillip St Theatre) and in the Peter Allen Show (Regent Theatre). The majority of her training was with her mum but additional teachers included Beverley Chatterton,Joanne Ansell, Cheryl Reagan, Valma Sail, Edna Storey and Valda Clarkeson.
As a teacher of dance herself, Natalie has touched on every style from lyrical and jazz to her beloved tap in which she achieved her British Dancing Association Tap Teachers Certificate in 1987. She has gone on in more recent times to be certified in the Glenn Wood Tap Syllabus where the studio has seen very high results.
Before settling into a full-time Performing Arts career and life at the now Ettingshausen’s Dynamic Arts.
When you’re skating on thin ice , you might as well tap dance !
Jo Bolden
It wasn’t until after completing a Bachelor of Arts Degree (English & French) and a year as an Entertainer at Wonderland Sydney that Jo launched herself into the full-time world of the Performing Arts and Entertainment Industry.
As a performer, teacher and choreographer Jo Bolden has a wide variety of experience. As a dancer her experience includes (to name a few) performances on the Footy Show Grand Final Edition, Leo Sayer at Australian Fashion Week – One Teaspoon, Guy Sebastian ARIA Awards, The Mask 2 – (Dancer), NRL Grand Final – Meatloaf (Dancer), International Illusionists Tony Laffan and Sam Powers and corporate entertainment for Popset, JFoxx, Mitsubishi, Guerlain, Goldwell among others in styles ranging from hip hop and street jazz to cabaret, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. She is called upon to choreograph both interstaet and overseas Miss Chinese Australia Pageant (Star City), General Motors, Shanghai Tourism Festival Australia, Phoenix and Urban Dance Centre.
Those who dance are considered insane by those who can not hear the music.
Nathan Sheens
Nathan started in the entertainment industry in 1992 at Australia’s Wonderland and Conrad Jupiters Casino QLD. He is an original cast member of 'Tap Dogs,' which toured the world including London's West End and New York City. In 1997 Nathan became Dance Director and played the lead role in 'Tap Dogs' North American Tour, played the lead role in Dein Perry's 'Steel City in New York for a season at 'Radio City Music Hall, assisted Dein Perry to choreograph the 'Sydney Olympics' in 2000, worked on the Australian musical of 'Shout' as an original cast member , performed at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney's 'Star City' in the hit musical 'Mamma Mia!' playing the role of ‘Eddie’. He Co-Created, Directed and choreographed BPM beatsperminute, which had two sell out seasons at the Sydney Opera House. In 2008 Nathan starred in the original cast of ‘Billy Elliot’ the musical. In 2010 he returned to Tap Dogs for a USA tour and is now in Australia as a tap dancing penguin in Happy Feet 2.
"Rhythm and Method" inspire to the beat of the drum...
Shannon O'Shea
Born in the Central Queensland town of Gladstone, Shannon spent her younger years dedicated to dance lessons and gymnastics training. At the age of 15 and after claiming numerous national and international titles, she gave up her sport to persue a career in dance finishing her training at The Queensland Dance School Of Excellence and Ed5 Performing Arts. Professional credits Princess Cruises and The Venetian Casino Macau as well as a long list of corporate events. She has appeared on Australian Idol, X factor and Australia’s Next top Model. Performed at the Sydney Opera House in Le Grande Cirque and taken part in NRL Grand Finals, Premiers Concerts, Sydney Festival, Conventions, Commercials and Music Videos. She has worked with choreographers such as William Forsythe, Jason Coleman, Kelley Abbey, Square Division, Travers Ross and Marko Panzic. In 2011 she performed n ‘Fame the musical’ and toured with ‘Shorter, Sweeter Dance,’ and star in Ben Veitch’s ‘Blood, Sweat, Dance.’
Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Stephen Tannos
Stephen was born in Sydney and has been extensively trained in all styles of dance as well as singing and acting. Stephen was part of an 18 month Asian tour of 'Cats' The musical playing the role of 'Tumblebrutus' and understudy to 'Mungojerry'. He was selected to be a part of the Top 20 in the 2009 season of the hit TV show 'So You Think You Can Dance' where he gained notoriety for his unusual dance style. His credits also include dancing for artists such as 'The Presets' and 'Sam Sparro' as well as numerous appearances in the commercial world of dance. Stephen Tannos also appeared in 'Fame' the musical choregraphed and directed by Kelley Abbey, where he toured all through Australia. Stephen Also has gained much attention for his choreography work in Australia where he has choreographed for numerous events and showcases. He looks to broaden his horizons a choreographer.... and the title 'Tannos&Choice' which is in Collaboration with his girlfriend...
Don't be afraid to dance to the beat of your own drum
Tracie marie
Tracie-marie trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Acrobatics from age two. As a teenager she took up singing, acting, piano, guitar and musicianship also completing her exams to teaching levels. At 16 she was chosen by the Talent Development project to work with some of Australia’s top performers and musicians. Tracie-marie studyed new styles of dance, an assortment of instruments, Opera at the conservatorium, fire twirling, circus skills and behind the scenes jobs, light and sound engineering while recording her single, touring nationally and internationally as a singer/dancer. Tracie-marie performed with the band Frogs on Toast who were nominated for two Mo Awards, an Ace Award and was also crowned as ACON’s charity rep. Having worked as the owner and director of Entertainment Education companies, writer of the AcroDancer Syllabus, choreographer, entertainment manager Tracie-marie now devotes her time to educating would be entertainers while performing and expanding her education.
We touch the future – we teach
Rosa Agius
Rosa has worked with Australia’s most talented choreographers and artists. She herself is currently choreographing for Australian Hip Hop favourite Israel and is the director and co-founder of NuFirm Dance.
Rosa has appeared in music videos for Jade Macrae, Figg Kid, Sophie Monk, Mercury 4, James Kannis, Roxanne Lebrasse, Richard Tanumi, Shakaya, Breed and Israel as well as dancing on stage with artists Guy Sebastian, Thara (USA), Sneaky Sound System, Anniya Day, Katie Underwood, Kyle, and Rhys. Other stage credits include The Nelly Tour, The Cream of RnB Tour, DJ Nino Brown Tour, Israel-The Legacy Tour as well as support for Jodeci, Joe, Boyz 2 Men, and Flo Rida. Rosa has performed at the Aria Awards with Guy Sebastian, Urban Music Awards, Melbourne Grand Prix and at the Venetian Maccau with live girl band Diva. Most recently Rosa choreographed for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Australia Season 2 and took to the streets as a teacher on the So You Think Road Trip.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.
Joanne Ansell
Joanne Ansell trained in RAD ballet to Advanced Level with Isobel Anderson and Monica Halliday and achieved her RAD Teachers certificate with distinction. In Australia she studied contemporary dance under Margaret Chappele and Keith Bain and in New York with Alvin Alley Dance School (1981), Kathryn Dunham (1996) and Martha Grahame (1997) and American Dance Studies in California (1997). Joanne also completed all studies in the American Tap Syllabus. In the entertainment industry Joanne worked as a dancer, singer, actress and choreographer. She performed at Menzies Theatre Restaurant and then on Bandstand, Channel 9 and in the Athol Guy and Frank Ifield Shows, Channel 7. She was a contemporary dancer in Australian Opera televised performances. She was in many TV commercials, documentaries and was the lead dancer in an ABC television production “Hector and Millie”. Joanne performed in ballet performances “Hansel and Gretel”, “Giselle”, “Copellia” and “Nutcracker”.
Dance like no one is watching!
Sean Marcs
Sean Marcs graduated from Wesley Institute completing his BCA Dance. In 2008 Sean choreographed Sup-port for the Fast + Fresh Dance at Riverside Theatres, and announced overall winner of the festival, taking home the award for ‘Most Outstanding Choreography’. 2008 also saw Sean create his major graduating work C.B.D that is now part of Wesley Institute’s repertoire. In 2009 Sean performed in Sydney Festival’s First night in ‘Physical Fracture’ by Marnie Polamares and worked with renowned choreographer Martin del Amo in Dirtyfeet’s production Tipping Point, through which he has continued this working relationship with del Amo as a solo performer in 2010 performing in his work ‘All Mine’ at the Short Sweet + Dance Festival. In 2009 Sean was invited to be a part of youMove’s choreographic residency program where he began development of his work P.S. youMove presented this work in Short + Sweet Dance 2010 where Sean was awarded “Most Outstanding Choreography ”.
It’s not who you are that holds you back,
it’s who you think you are.”
David Cuthbertson
David has appeared on Police Rescue and GP for the ABC, Mr Punch of London for the BBC, Home and Away for the Seven Network and numerous television commercials. Some of David's theatre credits include Me & My Girl , Peter Pan, Turandot , Go West, Star Wars Live, Stickled , Sinbad and he played the title role of the Fiddler in Fiddler On The Roof at the Capitol Theatre Sydney. David spent 6 months onboard ocean liner MV Karelia, travelling as lead singer throughout South East Asia. He hosted Cartoon Network Live touring the world, before continuing his training at the National Theatre, London. Further UK credits include being chosen to workshop a selection of musicals at the Edinburgh Festival. David is the artistic director of his own theatrical company Kids Act Up and is eagerly writing a book to motivate young people towards a career in the entertainment industry.
If you can dream it, you can do it
Rhiannon Hill
Rhiannon has been with EDA since 1991, beginning her dancing tuition at the young age of three (3) years.
She has learnt many styles of dance over that period of time and has performed in numerous corporate shows, festivals, awards nights and eisteddfods within Australian and overseas. She has been fortunate to learn from many well known leading choreographers such as, Nathan Sheens, Glyn Gray, Sue Ellen Chester, Lee McDonald, PJ Clarke, Patrick Chen (USA), Rachel Schmultz, Jo Bolden and Renee Berry. As a dedicated EDA student, Rhiannon received many outstanding awards for her group and solo work always showing great potential. Due to these attributes she was invited to join the student teacher program, which she did for several years. In 2006 she joined the EDA teaching team At EDA she teaches the Dynamites, Jazz ,Tap & solo work to the younger students in the school acheiving outstanding results.
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today
Julie Pringle
Julie started dancing at the tender age of three (3) at Newtown under the instruction of Cheryl Regan. In her later years she was trained by Miss Kaye Thomas, in jazz, tap and classical ballet, successfully competing in many eisteddfods and competitions.
Julie has been teaching at Ettingshausen’s Dynamic Arts since the year 2000. Her true passion and primary focus has been working with the younger children, helping to build their skills, co ordination, rhythm and mostly importantly their self confidence.
She believes these magical years are where children are given the opportunity to best express themselves in a safe and nurturing environment.
Julie’s aim is to teach in a style that has a positive influence on shaping the students individual personalities.
At EDA Julie can be found wherever many happy little faces are, often in the Melon Room, teaching Pre Schoolers, Mini and Juniorette jazz and tap classes.
Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dreams
Katie Kermond
Katie Kermond has had a significant career in Australian Musical Theatre. Her first major productions were West Side Story and Camelot followed by La Cage Aux Follies, Guys and Dolls, Evita and Sugar Babies. Her comprehensive dance and comic skills kept in demand, she appeared in Grease, Jerry’s Girls , Chicago and Singing’ in the Rain. Katie has received her A.R.A.D – Advanced Royal Academy of Dance, London. Studied voice with Bob Tasmen-Smith, Clare Crowther, and film and Television Acting at NIDA, the Film and Television School Sydney and the Actors Studio. She has studied internationally in London and New York. Katie has discovered the pleasure of teaching her craft, and tutor’s at NIDA, AIM and Central Queensland Uni. Katie along with her husband Wayne, has had success in Producing and Directing the new Australian Musical Cabaret “Candy Man”. Katie and Wayne’s Production Company has staged and Choreographed Production Shows, Corporate Events and Fashion Parades.
May your soul always sing & dance
Casey Hadfield
Casey has been a part of the EDA family since 1990. Involved as both a student and teacher. She has completed a Bachelor Arts (Dance)/Bachelor Education at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) allowing her to teach both dance and drama at a High School level.
Casey is a current member of the Sydney Roosters Cheersquad and has recently been involved in production for a new Children’s Television program which will be viewed in the US. Whilst she was a student of Gymea Bay PS and Kirrawee HS, she was selected to be in the New South Wales State Schools Dance Company for
6 years. Other performance opportunities include The Hooley Dooley’s ‘Super Dooper’ DVD, Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Australian Dance Awards and various charity and sporting events throughout Sydney.
Casey has felt nurtured by the EDA environment and now enjoys passing her performance and teaching skills to our current EDA students.
Dance first think later
Di Solomon
Multi award winning entertainer - vocalist, pianist, guitarist, composer and of course Voice Teacher, started her teaching career at Lombardo Music Rockdale in the early 1990’s and went on work as Voice Tutor at Port Hacking High School, Miranda, where she has worked since 1994. She has more than 30 years professional industry experience, having held her first music residency at age 15. Di was a as musical supervisor for a preschool, while still gigging, and since then Di has been lucky enough to work only as a full-time entertainer and performer touring nationally and internationally with literally hundreds of bands & shows. Apart from teaching solid vocal technique, she specialises in repertoire selection and performing onstage. Her experience covers Cabaret, Solo Piano Vocalist, Corporate Functions, Fifties Rock and Roll and Girl Groups, Jazz, Cocktail Bar, Duos, Swing, Vocal Harmony Groups and Backing Vocals, Acapella, Big Band, Promotions, Rock Bands & Current Pop.
Singing washes away from the soul, the dust of everyday life
Kim Traynor
Kim studied in Sydney with Scully Borovansky and upon completing her studies with the Royal Ballet School, London she joined the Deutsche Oper Am Rhein in Dussildorf. Returning to Australia she joined the Australian Ballet Company touring extensively throughout Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Along with Kelvin Coe OBE and Donna Traynor she founded the NSW College of Dance offering a service to the dance community in Sydney at a professional and amateur level.
Kim joined the Victorian college of the Arts as a Senior Lecturer in classical ballet teaching both secondary and tertiary students. She has adjudicated the Macdonalds Performing Arts Challenge and also events in New Zealand,Asia and throughout Australia. Now as a freelance classical coach she continues to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise to the wider dance community in Sydney.
Kim joined the EDA teaching staff in 2006 and will be found working her magic with the major ballet grades.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are
Leah Baker
Leah began her assocaiation with Ettingshausens as a student. Since 4 years of age she studied Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Drama and Singing.
Leah has been a Cronulla Sharks N.R.L Cheerleader for the past 10 seasons, which also lead to the State Of Origin Blues, and the Official Finals Series Cheersquads. She was fortunate to be a part of the Sharks Elite Cheersquad that won the grand first prize of $20,000 in the Cheerleader Challenge on The Footy Show 2006.
Cheerleading for the Sydney Kings Basketball team since 2003, Leah has impressed them with her talent and in 2006 she was promoted to Captain and Choreographer of the squad. In March 2007, she travelled with the Kings squad to cheerlead in a 10th Year Anniversary International basketball tournament in China.
Also in 2007 she was offered a teaching job at a new Cheerleading school in Balmain called, Cheer Talent. Leah is currently teaching Cheeky Cheerleading, Boys and Girls Funk at EDA.
You can be influenced or be an influence
Kaye Thomas
Kaye Thomas, known as “Miss Kaye”, is where all this began. Mother of Natalie Ettingshausen and former owner of the school. Kaye danced since the age of four (4) years and as a teenager won the Channel 9 show “Opportunity Knocks”. In her later years worked professionally at the Tivoli, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Chevron Hilton, Chevron Silver Spade Room Sydney, Chevron Melbourne with Bert Newton, Theatre Royal, Channel 9, Bobby Limb Variety Show, and sang and danced as the lead in many pantomimes. She then danced overseas and returned to start her own dancing school full time, specializing in tap. Kaye is a qualified teacher of the British Dancing Association jazz, tap and ballet syllabus and has been a BDA examiner for over 30 years.
Recently danced with Todd McKenny at Star City & danced in a TV commercial for foxtel. At EDA, Miss Kaye teaches everything but her unbeatable knowledge and expertise is in Tap!
Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land amongst the stars