Teachers
Principal: Michela Dent-Causon, L.I.S.T.D.
Maestro Enrico Cecchetti Diploma,
B.A. Dance (Adel. Uni.)
Australian Ballet School Adv. Teachers Diploma
"I started dancing in 1973 at the Essendon Academy of Ballet and continued there through my formative years of training . In 1983, I studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, and in 1984/85 with Carole Oliver in Ballarat as well as Mr. Willoughby.
I attained my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Dance at the Adelaide University. in 1988. I have also attained my Associate and Licentiate status exams in the Cecchetti Method (Teaching Qualifications) and have attained the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma with Distinction. From 1991 to 1997, I owned and operated Indooroopilly Academy of Dance in Brisbane.
On Mr. Willoughby's retirement, my husband and I moved back to Melbourne in 1998. In 1999, I studied at the Australian Ballet School for a Teachers Diploma becoming qualified in the methodology of the system of training taught there.
The Cecchetti Society is now a registered training organisation within Australia and therefore I am able to teach dance at Certificate 4 Level - the Australian Standards qualification."
Dance Qualifications
Associate in the Cecchetti Method 1990
Associate Diploma in the Cecchetti Method 1992
Licenciate in the Cecchetti Method in 1992
(3rd level in teaching qualification in an Internationally Recognised Syllabus)
Bachelor of Arts (Dance) University of Adelaide 1986 -1988
Advanced Diploma of Teaching from the Australian Ballet School 1999
Enrico Cecchetti Diploma 1995 and 1996. Distinction for both
Fellow Cecchetti Ballet 2007 (still to do an anatomy paper)
Certificate 4 in Cecchetti Ballet
Dance Background - Teaching Experience
1998 - now Owner of Essendon Academy of Ballet
950 Mt Alexander Rd, Essendon 3040 till 2007 and currently at 7 Victory Rd, Airport West
• Teach ballet to 3 yr old to adults, preparing students for exams each year and put on a performance at the end of each year.
• School operates 6 days a week
• Have taught contemporary and jazz over these years
1993 – 1997 Owned and operated Westside Ballet Centre and IndooroopillyAcademy of Dance in Brisbane
• Taught ballet, contemporary and jazz to various age groups.
• School was open 6 days a week.
1991 – 1993 Taught full time for Westside Ballet Centre in Brisbane
1989 –1990 Taught Contemporary at Ascot Vale Ballet School
1989 – 1990 Would Guest teach at Essendon Academy of Ballet
1986 - 1988 Taught contemporary at schools as part of the degree course in Adelaide
Dance Technique background
1973 – 1985 Essendon Academy of Ballet - Classical Ballet
1983 Victorian College of the Arts – Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Character, Improvisation.
1984 - 1985 Carole Oliver School of Ballet - Classical Ballet, Jazz & Contemporary
1982 –1985 Victorian Cecchetti Scholar – Classical Ballet
1986-1988 Bachelor of Arts (Dance) Contemporary Dance, Classical Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom, African Dance, Composition, Kinesiology,
1991- 1997 Qld Ballet Company – classical ballet classes
1996 Contemporary classes at Expressions Dance Company
1997 - 1998 Indooroopilly Academy of Dance – Tap
2001 - 2003 City Dance Centre – Classical Ballet
1999 Australian Ballet Teachers Diploma – Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Character Dance.
CHRISTINA APARO - TAP /jazz Teacher
ALYSSA TANNOUS. - Hip Hop teacher
Madeleine Causon
Madeleine has trained at Essendon Academy of Ballet from a 3 yr old. She has attained all the Grade and Major exams in the Cecchetti Ballet Australia Syllabus. Comdance jazz exams level 5-8 and won the overall Victorian award for level 6. She is now doing full-time dance at Ministry of Dance.
GUEST TEACHERS 2020
NATHAN BROOK SOLOIST DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
BENEDICTE BEMET PRINCIPAL DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
AMY HARRIS PRINCIPAL DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
GUEST TEACHERS 2021
JANUARY NATHAN BROOK SOLOIST DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
JANUARY BENEDICTE BEMET PRINCIPAL DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
JANUARY NICOLA CURRY SOLIST DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
JANUARY DIMITY AZOURY PRINCIPAL DANCER AT THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
OCTOBER JASMIN DURHAM CORYPHEE AUSTRALIAN BALLET COMPANY
JUNE RICHARD HOUSE. SOLOIST SARASOTA BALLET COMPANY
GUEST TEACHERS 2022
RICHARD HOUSE Dancer at Sarasota Dance Company
TYSON POWELL Former Dancer at Australian Ballet Company
FRANCIS LAWRENCE. Currently in “An American in Paris”
GUEST TEACHER 2023
CRISTIANO MARTINO Former Soloist of Australian Ballet Company
RICHARD HOUSE. Former Dancer at Australian Ballet Company and Sarasota Ballet Company Current dancer at Semperopera Baller in Germany
NATHAN BROOK Senior Artist Australian Ballet Company
GUEST TEACHER 2024
AMY HARRIS Recently retired Principal Dancer at Australian Ballet Company
RICHARD HOUSE. Former Dancer at Australian Ballet Company and Sarasota Ballet Company Current dancer at Semperopera Baller in Germany
GEORGE -MURRAY NIGHTINGALE. Recently retired dancer Australian Ballet Company
MICHAEL SCOTT_KAHANS Alberta Ballet Company (Canada) Dancer
Natasha Middleton
Guest Teacher 2017
My lifelong passion for dance is now fully engaged in passing on my skills and artistry to young people. My long career as a professional dancer coupled with teacher training, has prepared me as teacher, mentor and coach in the discipline of classical ballet. I specialize in daily technical training, repertoire, rehearsal direction, pointe, choreography and pas de deux.
My experience with companies such as Sydney Dance Company and in my work as Rehearsal Director with Tasdance has given me a strong insight into the preparation and teaching of contemporary dance including technique and repertoire
Teaching Experience
2011 – 2014: The Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Secondary School
2010: West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Perth Technique Class/ Ballet
John Curtin College of the Arts Secondary School, Perth
Dancing Experience
1994 – 2007: Sydney Dance Company,Royal New Zealand Ballet Company, Principal Dancer, Tasdance, Co.loaded, Project based dance Productions including writing, directing and performing in dance-narrative film ‘Merge’ (20 mins) which was screened on the ABC in 2007 and 2009
1980 – 1993: West Australian Ballet Company, Principal Dancer, London City Ballet, Principal Dancer, Le Ballet du Nord, France, Guest Artist, Ballet Classico de Zaragoza, Spain, Guest Artist, Scottish Contempory Dance Theatre, Guest Artist, Australian Stars of Ballet, Guest Artist.
Guest Teachers 2023