Who are we?
Our Mission and vision
Expanse School of Dance has been present in the Pakenham and Upper Beaconsfield area since 2022, proudly supporting students as they begin their dancing journey! We pride ourselves on creating confident and creative individuals through an inclusive class approach where each individual gets the opportunity to perform and achieve their optimal dance ability.
Our teaching community includes lifelong students who have returned from employment as dancers, choreographers and teachers to share their expanse of knowledge and skills to our amazing dance community.
Our aim is to provide quality teaching within a limited class size to focus on developing creative and confident individuals who can apply their skills from the classroom, to the outside world. When you become part of our community, you enter into a supportive and inclusive family, one which we are so very excited to have you part of!
To pass on our passion and love of dance by instilling the joy and an appreciation of dance in every student. With the right teaching ethos and guidance, we aim to nurture every student to achieve their goals and become creative and confident individuals in an inclusive and supportive environment.
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We also hope to foster an appreciation for dance as an art form. Students are guided to be their best as they learn attributes of kindness, respect and self-worth while supporting other students in their own learning journeys.
Our Teaching Team
At Expanse School of Dance we are very proud of our teaching team. All our teachers have first aid training as well as a wide variety of teaching qualifications to ensure our classes are positive, challenging and inclusive.
Alex Wall
Director/Teacher
I am Alex and I have been dancing since the age of 3. I started teaching in 2017, and have since attained a Classical Ballet Teachers Certificate from the Southern Federation of Dance, Teachers Certificate in Progressive Ballet Technique, Acrobatic Arts Teacher Certification and a Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management. I also finished my Bachelor of Primary, Secondary and Inclusive education in 2023 and will commence my Certificate of Dance Teaching (Baller) with the Royal Academy of Dance in 2024. I have been lucky enough to compete in competitions throughout my dance career, placing first in the Southern Federation of Dance choreographic competition in 2018. I am very passionate about dance teaching, and watching students develop their creativity, confidence and love of dance!
Leonie Van Vliet
Teacher
Hi, I'm Leonie and I have a range of experience in teaching dance with my favourite style being ballet. I am qualified in Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management with the Australian College of Dance, Cert II in Dance (Contemporary & Jazz) and Classical Teaching Certificate with Southern Federation of Dance. I have been with Expanse School of Dance since the age of 5, and have performed in various performance, productions, and competitions. I first began assisting in 2014 and later in 2016 began teaching. I feel very passionate towards my teaching and loves seeing my students achieve their goals.
Gretta Urquhart
Teacher
Royal Academy ballet from Australian ballerina, Kathleen Gorham, and I have carried that legacy on for more than 25 years as a registered teacher. My history includes some television work on ‘In Melbourne Tonight’, amateur theatre productions, championship Calisthenics and formal jazz teacher training and shows with the Dance Factory in Melbourne. Most important of all, as an experienced teacher and a parent of four children, I understand and enjoy helping students to experience the joy of dance and the correct way to perform the steps. For me, each and every child has the ability to gain form learning dancing of one or other style whether it be for enjoyment alone or as a stepping stone to a vocation in dance.