About us

Why choose Wellington Ballet for Lessons?

Wellington Ballet began in 2006.  With ballet, jazz and contemporary dance classes available in Khandallah  it’s never been easier to express yourself through movement!

Our mission at Wellington Ballet School is to provide every student with excellent training in classical ballet and dance, in both a positive and enjoyable environment. As professional dance teachers, we believe we offer the Capital’s best dance lessons and invite you to come visit and see for yourself!

Benefits of Enrolling in Wellington Ballet Lessons

We have two main dance studios in Khandallah fully equipped with a bars and mirrors.  Classes are ran out of the Khandallah Bowling Club & the St Barnabas Church on Boxhill.

When an adult or child enrols with our dance school, there are many benefits including:

• Being able to express themselves in different ways
• Building & maintaining their fitness levels
• Gaining stage experience
• An education in the Arts
• Building self confidence
• Developing coordination & musicality
• Learning discipline & focus
• Making new friends
• Having fun!

Do We Offer Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary Examinations?

Yes! At Wellington Ballet School, we follow the Royal Academy of Dance graded examinations and the NZAMD Jazz/Contemporary Syllabus schedule. In Term 3 each year, we hold dance exams for Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary. While participating in the exams is not compulsory, we work towards them in our lessons during the year. It remains the choice of both the parents and students if they want to sit the exams. There is an additional exam fee which is payable at the beginning of the third term which covers the cost of the examination, the examiner and the room hire.

If you would like to learn more about enrolling in Wellington ballet lessons, please have a look at the timetable and see which days best suit you.  For a list of dance class prices or to reserve a spot in one of our lessons, please visit our book a class page.

Milly has been dancing for most of her life. She begged her mother repeatedly to enrol her in ballet class until her mother relented and that was the beginning!  She progressed through the Royal Academy of Dancing – RAD – (as it was then) syllabus and at age ten, she won a scholarship to study at the RAD as an “RAD Scholar”.  Approaching High School exams, she decided that medicine was calling and went to Medical School in London after a year in France working as an au pair.  She has since spent a lot of her spare time dancing in the local ballet schools, wherever she could find a class – London, France, Jersey, Germany, USA and then back in the UK.  After 18 years’ Service in the British Army as a doctor, and several children later, she and her husband, Tim, moved to Wellington.  She is delighted to be teaching on a Saturday – a lovely change from her day job – and she is familiar with the RAD syllabus, having coached children through the exams in UK.

Emily has been dancing since she was 4 and hasn’t stopped since. Emily completed all levels of NZAMD Jazz and Contemporary, gaining her solo seal in both genres. She was nominated in both Jazz and Contemporary for the National Championships 4 consecutive years in a row. Emily has trained in the RAD ballet syllabus up to Advanced 1 and Grade 8. Emily went on to study full-time Commercial dance at the Te Auaha Institute of Creativity where she graduated in 2020 with a Batchelor of Creativity.
Emily has modelled and performed for WOW (World of Wearable Art). Most recently in 2021, Emily directed and choreographed her original Contemporary Work “The Race”, which was selected to be showcased in the NZ Fringe Festival. Emily has been involved in local events, including performing for the Wellington Gold awards and cheerleading/performing for the Wellington Saints Basketball games.

Millie Moon has trained 14 years in the RAD ballet syllabus from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2. She was also a NZSD Regional Associate and Junior Associate. Growing up, Millie has competed in many local ballet competitions as well as the Alana Haines Australasian Awards. Millie went on to study full time at Whitireia Performance Centre in Wellington where she graduated with a Diploma in Performing Arts (Commercial Dance). Upon graduating, Millie successfully auditioned for Marko Panzic’s ‘The Dream Show Business’ where she trained in Commercial Dance in Sydney. Whilst in Sydney she was offered an 11-month contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a production cast dancer.

“Michael is originally from the Philippines but also spent some of his adolescence in Wellington. At the age of 15, he moved back to the Philippines and started training as a ballroom dancer competing and winning a number of competitions in the Latin American category. He was later introduced to classical ballet, contemporary dance and flamenco by Annie Divinagracia-Sartorio, a former soloist of Ballet Philippines. 

Michael completed his Diploma in Applied Arts (Dance) in 2015 at Whitireia Performance Centre, Wellington but prior to that, he had taken up two years in Architecture and a year in Interior Design at the University of San Agustin, Philippines.

Michael was a featured dancer in the Wellington Musical Theatre productions ‘Grease’ and ‘Mamma Mia’ and was also commissioned to be the lead role of Dance Works’ production of Aladdin in 2016.”

Emma enjoys teaching yoga and all that its offers for the body, breath and mind. Yin for its calmness and softness it brings and yang for flow that dances with the breath in mediative movement. Emma is also interested in how Pilates can support yoga with a functional approach to movement and breath work from a clinical perspective. Combining the practical approach of Pilates with the flow of Yoga helps support functional movement patterns in sports and dance. After traveling exploring Asia and Europe yoga was a passion that Emma wanted to explore and learn to become more a part of her life. Leading her on a path with some teachers that have truly inspired her. When not in the studio Emma finds joy in activities hiking, dancing Zouk and Swimming. For an evening in she enjoys being creative with water colours and embroidery and trying her hand at ceramics. 

Te Atawhai has been dancing most of her life since her first ballet class at 3 years old. She trained at Danceworks studios in Palmerston north before moving into full time dance training at En Pointe Dance Academy in Wellington in 2022. Te Atawhai studied the Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus up until Advanced 2 and gained high merits and distinctions across all her exams. She competed regionally and nationally for 6 years in both group and solo competitions. She was also an NZSD contemporary associate in 2021 and 2022 before progressing on to join the schools full time course in 2023. She is now in her second year as a contemporary major. Te Atawhai’s most recent achievement was being selected to dance in one of New Zealand’s biggest events World of Wearable arts 2023. She looks forward to passing on all her skills she has learned as a dancer.