Teaching Team at Tutu Studios

We pride ourselves on being warm, caring, and expert dance educators. We understand the magic and wonder of childhood and how best to teach children. We understand that dance and activities for children are about fun. And even more than that, we believe your child is important and are committed to helping your child be happy and healthy through dance.

Meet the instructors that make Tutu Studios the wonderful school that it is.

ELKE CROWE – Director and founder of Tutu Studios Ballet Pty Ltd

What do you love about teaching?

I love the immediacy and spontaneity of the children, and their imaginations and the joy of sharing dance. I also love watching them blossom as dancers and confident individuals. The sense of pride you feel as a teacher when the children progress is indescribable. It is the most joy-filled wonderful job that I get to create cherished childhood memories.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

Ballet and I particularly love preschool dance and Tutu Toddlers.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

Spending time with my husband and two girls, walking the dogs, eating Asian food, going to Pilates, dreaming up new class plans and stories and commissioning gorgeous props.

What are your qualifications?

  • Certificate Ballet Teaching Studies – Royal Academy of Dance
  • Registered Teacher – Royal Academy of Dance
  • Master Teacher – Leap n’ Learn
  • Affiliate CSTD

MISS EMILY

What do you love about teaching?

I love nurturing a love of dance and movement in my students – I find it incredibly rewarding to watch them blossom into confident dancers with an appreciation of music, body awareness, making lifelong friends and so much more!

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I love teaching ballet, jazz and tap

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

Working as a physiotherapist at the Children’s Hospital

What are your qualifications?

  • Registered Physiotherapist – Bachelor of Physiotherapy
  • Registered Teacher – Royal Academy of Dance
  • Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies – Royal Academy of Dance
  • Professional Award in Adult Dance Practice (in progress)
  • Royal Academy of Dance
  • ‘Dance for Parkinson’s’ introductory and advanced teacher training courses
  • Successfully completed Primary to Grade 8 and Advanced 2 in Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Exams
  • Level 1 Sports Trainer – Sports Medicine Australia
  • Current First Aid & CPR certification

MISS GRACE

What do you love about teaching?

In my opinion, teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world. As a teacher, you create such a loving bond with your students and that relationship is something the children will cherish for life. Not only that but seeing the growth and development of the students, not only as dancers but as people is probably the thing I love the most about teaching. Dance is such a beautiful language of self expression that teaches so many important life skills and seeing the progression in the students each week gives me an unexplainable sense of pride.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I love teaching all styles of dance but my two main loves would have to be ballet and jazz.

When you are not dancing what are you doing?

In a very rare time I’m found not dancing or baton twirling you could find me at the beach, the markets, the gym, going to see shows or live music or visiting family/friends.

What are your qualifications?

  • Advanced Diploma of Musical Theatre & Commerical Dance
  • Level 1 Arcobatic Arts Teaching Certification
  • ABTA National Champion Baton Twirler & Australian Representative for Artistic Twirl

MISS BETSY

What do you love about teaching?

In every child lies a potential that awaits to be developed and nurtured.  In every child lies a dream of what they would like to be-someday. What I love about teaching is the joy that it brings to my students whenever they are in a class or rehearsals. The perseverance and initiative that they show to learn the steps and the dance is what inspires me to teach. Their dedication to learn the combination of steps and Dances and just being confident on stage making it their own playground is what I love most in teaching. “Sharing a child’s dream is one thing; making it come true is another”

What is your favourite thing to teach?

For me, teaching the BASICS is my favourite thing Because I believe that this is the foundation of learning in Ballet.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

A dedicated wife and Mum.

What are your qualifications?

  • Ballet Teacher & Artistic Director for 14 years
  • Gold Medalist, Performance Awards of the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF BALLET, New York (Level 9)
  • Highly Commended Examinee, Australian Conservatoire of Ballet conducted by Ms. Christine Walsh
  • Was a company member Philippine Ballet Theatre for 7 years
  • Performed with Beijing Dance Company
  • Performed with the National Ballet Company of Korea
  • Soloist and Principal Dancer, Quezon City Ballet, Philippines
  • Completed the 1999 Teachers’ Seminar at Vassar College in New York Poughkeepsie sponsored by the American Academy of Ballet

MISS TASH

What do you love about teaching:

There is nothing I don’t love about teaching! I love watching the children grow and develop, not only as dancers, but as individuals, as they discover themselves through movement. Ballet was a such a fantastic outlet for me all throughout my childhood and schooling – there is so much to be learnt from dancing that being able to give that to our next generation is so special.

What is your favourite thing to teach:

My favourite thing to teach are skips! They can be tricky so mastering skipping is so rewarding for both me and the dancer!

When you are not dancing what are you doing:

Studying medicine at the University of Sydney

What are your qualifications:

  • Successfully completed all RAD examinations from Primary to Advanced 1 with Distinction
  • Teaching Pre-School Ballet with Tutu Studios since 2013
  • HLTAID001 Provide CPR
  • HTLAID002 Provide basic emergency life support
  • HTLAID003 Provide first aid

MISS CHARLOTTE

What do you love about teaching?

I love watching my students progress and become more confident in their dancing and themselves. There is so much to be learnt from ballet and the values taught in class are easily transferrable to everyday life. Being involved in their continued improvement and seeing them flourish into talented young dancers is an incredible thing to be a part of!

What is your favourite thing to teach?

My favourite things to teach are ballet and jazz.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

Studying towards a Bachelor of Exercise Physiology at UNSW and practicing pilates.

What are your qualifications?

  • Successfully completed all Royal Academy of Dance examinations from Primary to Advanced Foundation
  • St John’s First Aid

MR DAVID

What do you love about teaching?
My favourite part about teaching dance is watching the growth my students have as they progress through each term. It’s always amazing to see the learning curve children have — tasks that appeared to be difficult at the beginning of a term become easier toward the end of the term.

What is your favourite thing to teach?
My favourite thing to teach is contemporary technique. Contemporary technique uses the base of ballet, but it allows for more freedom from the rigidity of a normal ballet class.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?
When I’m not dancing, I enjoy exploring Sydney and being by the water.

What are your qualifications?

I trained and studied in the United States. I graduated from Endicott College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and a minor in Dance. I trained in ballet through a partnership between my university and Boston Ballet while also studying contemporary and modern techniques. I underwent further training at Bates’ Professional Dance Training program. While in school, I danced professional for BoSoma Dance Company in Boston, MA, and upon graduation, I have taken various other performance contracts all across the world.

MISS BECK

What do you love about teaching?

I love how dance inspires confidence through expression of movement. The growth that dance lends to students is wonderful to watch especially as students progress throughout the term, ultimately becoming more confident versions of themselves. I find it incredibly rewarding to watch students persevere and progress throughout the year making memories that will last them a life time.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I really love teaching contemporary due to the absolute freedom of movement it lends to the students.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

Studying bachelor of medical science at UNSW.

What are your qualifications?

  • Successfully completed all RAD examination including Advanced 2
  • Assisting for tutu studios since 2018
  • Certificate II in Medical Service First Response

MISS CLEO

What do you love about teaching?

I love being able to give a child a step or a move or a routine and watch them make it their own wonderful performance.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

My favourite thing to teach is technique. Correct technique let’s a dancer perform safely and correctly which then allows them to add their own beauty to a performance.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

When I’m not dancing I’m studying or spending time with friends. Perks of being a Year 12 high school student I suppose.

What are your qualifications?

I learned ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary at Janice Breen Performance Studio for 12 years and performed at many events such as Carols in the Domain, Premier’s Concerts, The Spot Festival and many more with them. I’ve completed RAD graded examinations up to Advanced 1.  I’ve been learning tap and musical theatre jazz through school for 3 years as well.

MISS SAMANTA – ASSISTANT

What do you love about teaching?

The thing I love most about teaching is children, the time spent together, having fun together and learning from them.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

My favourite thing to teach in ballet is the choreography because children are always very happy and excited. Especially when they wear their new tutus for the performance.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

When I’m not teaching ballet I am studying ballet. And when I’m not studying ballet I am studing at school. Also I spend a lot of time alone reading and watching Netflix. Sometimes I like to hang out with my friends. And the gym is where I spend my free time left. And travelling is my second passion.

What are your qualifications?

My qualifications are speaking few languages (Italian, Spanish, French and English), dancing, working with children and I like to do written translation from a language to another.

MISS JESSICA – ASSISTANT

What do you love about teaching?

I love working with children and helping them learn and have fun. I love watching them grow as a person and a dancer. Teaching others to do what I enjoy is an amazing experience to share their joy of the sport/art.  

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I love teaching all types of dance. Each style has its own appeal.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

When I’m not dancing I am at school or studying. Also, I spend time with my friends and family.

What are your qualifications?

  • First Aid trained
  • White card
  • Experience as a volunteer peer support person at school and dance leader in the school show.
  • Dance performance experience in shows. Most recent Grease at Arena stadium  January 2018 and Carols in the Domain December 2018. School Spectacular 2017.  HSC core composition dancer.

MISS MADDIE – ASSISTANT

What do you love about teaching?

I love being able to teach and see how kids advance and grow. There’s something so special about seeing them gain confidence in themselves and a finding a passion for dance and art.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I love teaching ballet and jazz.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

I’m studying music and theology at Hillsong College. I also adore photography and writing songs.

What are your qualifications?

  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in Musical Theatre from Columbia College Chicago
  • Trained teacher for Spotlight Dance and Theatre Company
  • Musical Theatre Dance Teaching Assistant at Columbia College Chicago

MISS LAUREN – TEACHER

What do you love about teaching?

I love how rewarding teaching is and how the students look up to you the same way I did to my dance teachers growing up. There is nothing better than seeing the students grow more confident and how they improve and develop each week.

What is your favourite thing to teach?

I enjoy teaching all genres of dance as I believe each type of dance expresses a student in a different way.

When you are not dancing, what are you doing?

When I am not teaching I love to keep active and go to the gym, beach and just enjoying the outdoors and everything Sydney has to offer!

What are your qualifications?

  • Trained in ballet,tap,jazz,modern,contemporary,musical theatre and commercial since I was three years old.
  • Diploma in performing arts
  • Various dance contracts including a UK theatre tour and Disneyland Paris.
See your tiny dancer shine at Tutu Studios
  • I love that the children are always happy and included and having fun. Love coming to the viewing days and seeing how much they have all progressed over the term.

    Kirsten
    Kirsten Mum of Isabella, 6yrs