Brisbane Dance Centre

Barbara Eversen (Director) ARAD RAD Adv Teaching Dip

Barbara was Brisbane born and trained by a range of well-renowned teachers including Phyllis Danaher MBE FRAD, Martin Rubinstein OA FRAD, Kathleen Daintree and Nellie Potts. Following her role as Principal Dancer in Ballet Theatre of Queensland, Barbara established her own school - the Barbara Eversen School of Dancing which later became known as the Northern Ballet Academy.

In 1976 Barbara was invited by the Royal Academy of Dancing to train as a Grade Examiner and has since travelled the world examining and teaching students and teachers. In 1987, Barbara founded a youth ballet company "Young Friends of the Ballet Inc." an involvement which continued for the next 14 years during which time she choreographed and produced numerous children’s ballets for the artistic benefit of the students and the financial benefit of the Australian Ballet School.

Barbara purchased the Brisbane Dance Centre (BDC) in 1991 with a view to providing dancers not only excellent dance training but a sound education as well. Her vision was realised in 1993 when BDC gained government accreditation for its full-time courses. Barbara became the first private provider to offer vocational education and training in Brisbane. Such a concept at that time was innovative and dance training in Brisbane entered into a new phase as a result. Always recognising the need to keep up to date with the needs and demands of industry, the courses were upgraded in 1998 to Advanced Diploma Level.

In 2002 Barbara became a Vocational Examiner of the Royal Academy of Dance giving her Dual Status. That same year the fulltime section of Brisbane Dance Centre was transformed into the Australian Dance Performance Institute P/L (ADPI) and a quest began to purchase appropriate premises close to the city. ADPI was relocated to its current permanent home in Albion in 2003. In 2006, recognising a need for Secondary Students to be rewarded for their hours spent training in dance, Barbara added a Certificate III to the courses offered at ADPI. The Certificate comprises both practical and academic units, is run over 12 months in line with the School year, and students attend full time one day per week. Upon successful completion up to 8 points may be earned towards their QCE and students have the opportunity to ‘sample’ full time dance training before taking that step. Barbara has an Advanced Teaching Diploma and is an Associate and Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance, has a CN404 Instructional Skills Course Certificate and a TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She teaches in the Junior, Senior and Full time School.

Jan Moore

Jan is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and a Grades and Major Examiner for the Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing (FATD). Former principal of her own studio in Rockhampton for 25 yrs, Jan now has over 40 years teaching and choreographic experience. She is also a qualified adjudicator who has extensively adjudicated at Festivals and Eisteddfods throughout Australia. Past students of Miss Moore are presently performing in ballet companies overseas - most notably Leanne Benjamin, who is a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet. Past students have also attended The Australian Ballet School, the Victorian College of Arts, the Western Australian College of the Arts and the Queensland Dance School of Excellence.

Bill Pengelly

Born in Townsville, Bill began his training at the age of nine. In 1976, he became a member of the Qld Ballet and over the next four years performed the entire company repertoire including many principal roles. In 1980 Bill was invited to join Sydney Dance Company under the joint direction of Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon. He performed in all seasons and travelled extensively both nationally and internationally. During the sixteen years that he was with the company he also reproduced Murphy repertoire for companies such as Singapore Dance Theatre and West Australian Ballet. He also took on the role of Dance Master/Rehearsal Director as well as continuing to perform.

In 1996, he was appointed Rehearsal Director of Bangarra Dance Theatre. He toured extensively with the company with major works Ochres and Fish and also assisted Stephen Page for the Handover Ceremony at the Atlanta Olympic Games. In 1997 Bill worked with Stephen for the initial season of Rites, a collaboration with Bangarra Dance Theatre and the Australian Ballet.

In 1998, Bill was appointed Acting Artistic Director for the West Australian Ballet in the absence of the Artistic Director, Ted Brandsen. He was also given the opportunity to choreograph his first work for the company, which led to an invitation to create a second work for them in their 1999 Quarry season.

In 1999, he was appointed Artistic Director for Australian Dance Theatre. During this time he auditioned and created a new company as well as developing and choreographing for two major Adelaide seasons highlighting works by Australian Choreographers. The company also had the opportunity to collaborate with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

He choreographed the closing ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Paralympics and the Centenary of Federation ceremony in 2001. From 2000 - 2005 Bill taught and choreographed at major ballet schools and dance institutions in Sydney and Brisbane. During this time he coached many of the finalists and winners of the McDonald Scholarship.

In 2006 he rejoined Bangarra Dance Theatre. He worked on the third revival of Rites with The Australian Ballet and toured with Clan on its national tour and travelled to the UK with Bush. He left the company in 2009 to continue freelance teaching. Bill has also successfully completed a TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Natascia Papini

Born in Italy, Miss Natascia has been studying Classical Ballet and Modern Dance since the age of 6, and was assisting her teacher in RAD syllabus classes up until the time she moved to Sydney in 1994.

Upon arrival Natascia continued her dance training at the MacDonald College until she married and had her 2 beautiful daughters, Angelica and Giuditta.
In 2000 she decided to return to the world of dance and pursued her studies with a passion under the tutelage of Miss Hilary Kaplan at the renowned Alegria Dance Studios in Sydney. Natascia graduated in 2003 and the family relocated to Brisbane. She has been teaching at Brisbane Dance Centre since her arrival and approaches her work with a professional attitude and is a respected member of staff.

MIchael Edge

Born in Sydney, NSW, Michael studied at the very prestigious Newtown High School of Performing Arts where he graduated and furthered his studies at Brent Street full time Performing Arts Course. He has a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.
Michael went on to have a successful career in stage and theatre, film and television, cruise ships and commercial work including conventions and modelling. He has worked with some of the industries best including Jacqui Howard, Jason Coleman, William Forsythe, Dein Perry and companies such as the Australian Ballet, P & O, Jacobsen Entertainment, Bazmark Inq & Channel 7.

Career highlights include from stage - Shout “The Musical”; film – Moulin Rouge, Bootmen and Lantana; and television – All Saints, Always Greener and Home & Away’. Michael currently resides in Brisbane where his teaching and choreographic skills are in high demand.

Grace Willett ARAD Solo Seal

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Grace commenced her dance training at the tender age of 2 following a family move to Queensland. She has studied in both the Vaganova method and the Royal Academy of Dance syllabi attaining high Distinctions in all of her exams. She has complemented her ballet with Jazz and Tap training in the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance syllabi, and also studied Contemporary, Lyrical, Cabaret, Musical Theatre and Irish Dance genres. With a love of performance Grace joined local Youth Ballet Companies in Principal, Soloist and Corps de ballet roles, was a member of the Queensland Ballet’s Junior Extension Program performing in their 2005 International Gala and successfully competed at Eisteddfods and Dance Scholarships.
In 2007 Grace graduated from the Australian Dance Performance Institute where she completed her Advanced Diploma of Art (Dance Performance) with an OP2, was awarded Solo Seal by the RAD, and won the RAD South East Queensland Senior Ballet Scholarship and Audience Choice Award. She appeared as the ‘Fruit Vendor’ in the Australian Ballet’s Don Quixote Brisbane Season and was offered Secondments for 2008 to the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, Sydney Dance Company and the West Australian Ballet Company.
At the West Australian Ballet secondment under the Artistic Direction of Ivan Cavalleri, Grace had the honour to work with choreographers Paul Lightfoot and Petr Zuska and was appointed a Young Performing Artist in the restaging of John Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew. That same year Grace was a semi-finalist at the Genee International Ballet Competition held in Toronto, Canada. Whilst recovering from a serious injury Grace made the decision to channel her love of dance and performance through teaching. To that end she embarked on her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) with the Royal Academy of Dance, London and is due to complete later this year. She has been teaching and choreographing for students since 2006.

Summer Nelson

Summer was born in Queensland, studying dance from a young age in the RAD and ATOD syllabi. Reaching a high level in ballet, jazz and tap she then took her studies further graduating successfully from the Queensland Dance School of Excellence. Summer pursued her studies for a further two years at the Australian Dance Performance Institute and graduated with both an Advanced Diploma of Art (Musical Theatre) and her RAD teaching certificate. Summer also successfully completed a TAE40110 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

As well as sitting students in their RAD ballet exams annually, Summer has pursued her love of jazz/modern technique and choreography, and has had extensive experience with young children right up to adults. She has been fortunate enough to work with the National Institute of Youth performing Arts, coordinating 3 concerts a year at the QPAC concert hall and has also been involved in USA tours choreographing performances for Disney Land, California Adventure Land and Universal Studios.

Lauren Ware

Lauren is a brisbane based performer and teacher who is currently working on a diploma in children's services.Graduating from the ADPI Advance Diploma of Art (Musical Theatre) in 2008, Lauren has since toured with a show through New Zealand and North Queensland as well as working as a corporate entertainer for functions throughout brisbane. She is currently focusing her energy on furthering her performance experience through working with pro-amateur musical threatre groups as well as completing her studies with children.

Vanessa Friscia

Vanessa has been dancing since the age of 5 and found her true passion for dance at age 16 in the style of Hip Hop dance. Vanessa furthered her training and soon after was chosen to be a part of a high calibre hip hop crew in Brisbane, “What Tha Fuss”, winning & placing in major street dance competitions. This experience allowed Vanessa to perform with many other street crews in Brisbane.

Vanessa has participated in many international dance workshops, training and learning from world class dancers, choreographers and teachers, including Patrick Chen - Dance 2XS, Nick Bass -dancer for Michael Jackson ’This is It’, Lee Daniel – dancer for Jason DeRulo, and many more. Vanessa has gained her performance experience from dancing in many competitions crews in Brisbane as well as many events including, State of Origin, Australian Dance Festival (Sydney, 2010), Corporate Functions, Brazilian Congress just to name a few.

In 2010 Vanessa graduated from a full time dance course where she trained in various dance styles including; Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Popping, Locking, Break, Afro Jazz, Samba, Dancehall and Musical Theatre, as well as singing. Vanessa will continue to train in all styles of dance both in Brisbane, as well as wanting to expand her skills learning overseas in the future. Vanessa loves to share her knowledge and passion of dance with others through teaching. Vanessa's classes offer a unique experience and energetic atmosphere where you can be yourself and have FUN!

More Staff

Jacqui McLaren – Singing & Acting

Valerie Nugent - Pianist

Lovinnia Dickens - Pianist

Mutsumi Lui - Pianist

Mark Leung - Pianist

Keiko Matsuo - Receptionist