Ballarat's Most Professional Dance Teaching Facility.
At DSD we believe in fostering and nurturing dance education in every child. Our teaching staff aim to ensure that all students receive dance training of the highest standard by using positive teaching strategies to build confidence and enjoyment out of dance. Not only do we have teachers trained in the art of dance, we also have staff with education, myotherapy, pilates and PT qualifications to ensure multiple areas of dance wellbeing are catered for.
Anita Michael: Artistic Director. Principal Classical/Theatrical/Contemporary Direction
British Ballet Organization
CICB (Associate Diploma)
Cecchetti Advanced Classical Ballet, High Distinction
Anita has been the Artistic Director of the Dance School of Distinction for over 10 years, but has been dancing, performing and teaching for all of her life. Trained in ballet and calisthenics, Anita excelled at both, achieving some of the highest accolades. Anita was the winner of the Courier Classical Cup twice, as well at the Royal South St Graceful Girl. Anita is known for her exceptional skill in precise and technical ballet training as well as her ability to nurture and care for all students in her school. Anita has lead DSD to become one of Ballarat’s most prominent and successful dance schools, winning the Royal South St Teachers Aggregate multiple years in a row. Anita is a fun loving, kind and creative person with a passion for the performing arts. When Anita is not at the studio you are most likely to find her at a beach somewhere, replenishing her vitamin D and relaxation levels for the next busy year to come!
Jessica Brayshaw Classical Direction. Classical Coaching
British Ballet Organisation
CICB (Associate Diploma)
Cecchetti Advanced Classical Ballet, High Distinction
Jess is a bubbly, kind, fun and highly skilled ballet teacher, with a true passion for the art form. Jess started ballet when she was 5, and has been teaching dance for over 20 years. She has an exceptional ability to nurture young students through their early years of ballet by equipping them with a strong and stable technique whilst encouraging their love of movement, music and dance. Jess is able to build confidence in these students, often supporting them through their first and memorable experiences on stage. Jess, a syllabus guru at DSD, plays an essential part in preparing and supporting students through their BBO examinations with great success. With 3 young children of her own, Jess is superwoman who manages to be in multiple places at once and always ready with a smile on her dial!
Tessa Eichler (Morley) Classical Direction. Classical and Advanced Classical Coaching
Diploma of Classical and Contemporary Dance, Australian Conservatoire of Ballet
Australian Ballet School level 4
Australian Ballet School level 5
Australian Ballet School junior and senior associate
Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy
Bachelor of Education P-10
Tessa began her ballet training at the age of 5, and has never really stopped! She trained with the Australian Ballet school, completing levels 4 and 5, before moving to the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet to complete her Diploma. Tessa then began teaching ballet and has continued to do so for the next 20 years. During that time she also trained and worked as a myotherapist at a prominent physio clinic in Hawthorn, before moving on to her education degree. Tessa is now a primary school teacher as well as a ballet coach, combining her two loves of education and dance. Tessa has strong beliefs in positive education, and the need to bring the ballet world into the 21st century by using the most updated and scientific research on injury prevention, education, and mental health. She sees her time in the studio with the students of DSD as a true privilege and works to make a positive impact on their lives. Tessa is a self proclaimed crazy cat lady who spends most of her morning walks stopping and chatting with the local felines.
Ellie Michael: Theatrical Direction. Classical/Theatrical coaching
Cecchetti Advanced 1 Classical Ballet, High Distinction
Cecchetti Advanced 2 Classical Ballet, High Distinction
BBO Advanced 1 Classical Ballet, High Distinction
Winner Courier Classical Cup 2009
Winner Pirouette Championship 2010
Cert. 4 Pilates instruction
Cert. 3 Personal Training
Ellie has been dancing for as long as she can remember, and excelled at all styles of dance with classical ballet and jazz being her favourites. From a very young age it became clear that Ellie showed enormous amounts of talent and continued to wow audiences with her incomparable technique, strength and artistry for her age. Ellie was the recipient of many prestigious awards (too many to list here!) and it seemed natural to continue her love of dance through teaching. Ellie continues to inspire students with her knowledge and ability in ballet and jazz, as well as being a photographer who specialises in dance photography. Ellie also has qualifications in pilates and personal training which adds even more value to her expertise. Ellie loves taking trips to anywhere warm and could happily spend hours by the pool forgetting about how cold Ballarat is!
Scarlett Nash: Contemporary Direction/Coaching
Current Scimm Dance Company member
BBO Advanced 1 Classical Ballet, High Distinction
Winner Courier Classical Cup 2018
Winner Energetiks Australian Ballet School Scholarship 2019
Scarlett has been leading the way with her innovative choreography and contemporary training at DSD for the past few years. Scarlie, who trained at DSD is now a member of the SCIMM dance company in Melbourne where she continues to display her phenomenal contemporary dance talent. Scarlie is a strong and powerful mover, making the most difficult of steps look easy, all while compelling her audience artistry and passion. Scarlie, also an incredibly accomplished classical ballet dancer has won the Courier Classical Cup, as well as being chosen (multiple times) as the recipient of training scholarships at the Australian Ballet School. A wonderful mentor and role model to our students, Scarlie is hard working and impressive in all areas of teaching and dancing. Scarlie is a uni student, an animal lover, and passionate about social justice to ensure a better future for all.
Diane Wilkie: Kinderdance
Early Childhood Educator
Anyone who has a baby ballerina or baby ballerino at DSD knows how lucky we are to have Diane amongst our ranks. Di is an experienced early childhood educator, who has worked in kinder and child care for all of her adult life. Di welcomes our kinder dance students weekly into the studio, and mesmerises them with butterfly wings, ballet runs, superman flying, shark swimming, unicorn galloping, balloons, ribbons and anything exciting she can bring to the table. Di’s gentle and kind nature is a true gift, and plays an essential part in encouraging confidence and self esteem in the young dancer.
Ava Skinner Jazz Direction, Classical and Lyrical coaching
Ava is a passionate, kind role model for our lucky students at DSD. Ava trained with DSD, where she completed her VET/VCE dance subject, resulting in a perfect 50. Ava shows effortless elegance and strong technique when she is dancing and is always generous with her knowledge and time. Ava is also studying at uni in Melbourne, usually teaching ballet on a weekend.
