From a spark of inspiration in 2001, Burns Bay Dance Studioz was founded in Lane Cove, supporting young people in their love of movement and performance. Over the years we have inspired and nurtured children’s discovery of dance. In 2012, the business went through a refresh and we removed the ‘z’ from our name. We’re now celebrating 10 Years of Dance under the simplified name of Burns Bay Dance Studios, and looking forward to celebrating more milestones with you.
Alongside lessons purely for enjoyment, we provide classes for students who want to take dance a little more seriously and maybe one day, aspire to dance or teach professionally. Whatever your dance requirements may be, you're in safe hands!
BBDS offers classes in ballet, jazz, acrobatic dance, hip hop, tap and contemporary. We also support solo and group Eisteddfods. Ages are from walking children to adults. Private coaching available on request.
ATOD Ballet
Ballet has always played an important role in the evolution of popular dance. Originating in Italy during the Italian Renaissance, and later popularised by the French courts at the turn of the seventeenth century, ballet requires an incredible amount of discipline to be performed correctly. In mastering such intensive, demanding techniques, ballet dancers achieve such levels of grace that they look as though they are ‘heavenly beings, floating gently upon the ground’.
We offer ATOD ballet classes for all level of dancers. For ballet exams, students must do two ATOD classes per week.
JAZZ
Jazz dance has roots in Africa, where movement was used in religious ceremonies and for preservation of identity and history. These dances were brought into North America as the slave trade grew up to the 1800s. Soon, this new style of performance was adapted to vaudeville and Broadway, and evolved into jazz as we know it today. Jazz is even blended with other forms of dance and music to create slightly different flavoured styles such as theatre jazz, contemporary jazz, lyrical jazz, and jazz funk.
CONTEMPORARY / MODERN
Contemporary dance is a combination of systems. It embodies several forms, such as dance theatre, physical theatre, contact improvisation and video dance, among others. Contemporary dance is close to the definition of postmodern dance, because it also fuses with other genres.
As a technique, contemporary dance is actually a mixture of styles. If you take a modern class, it is generally one technique, like Graham, Horton, Cunningham or Limon. A contemporary teacher builds their own vocabulary from one or many of these techniques, to create something new and captivating.
HIP HOP
Perhaps one of the most misunderstood dance forms, hip hop is also one of the newest. Originating in the early 1970s, with its roots deep in Afro-American dance, hip hop dance is the direct result of a marriage of two separate movements from the United States: the “b-boy” movement from the ghettos of New York, and the “West Coast Funk” movement from the streets of Los Angeles.
Tap
This style of American theatrical dance uses precise rhythmical patterns of foot movement and audible foot tapping. It is derived from the traditional clog dance of northern England, the jigs and reels of Ireland and Scotland, and the rhythmic foot stamping of African dances.
Popular in 19th-century minstrel shows, versions such as ‘buck-and-wing’ (danced vigorously in wooden-soled shoes) and ‘soft-shoe’ (danced smoothly in soft-soled shoes) developed as separate techniques. By 1925 they had merged, and metal taps were attached to shoe heels and toes to produce a more pronounced sound. The dance was also popular in variety shows and early musicals.
Acrobatics
Balance, agility, and coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sport and martial arts. They are most often performed in acrobatic dance, circus, and gymnastics, and to a lesser extent in other athletic activities including ballet, slacklining and diving.
Acrobatic dance, acro dance or simply ‘acro’ as it is commonly referred to by dancers, is the fusion of classic dance technique and the precision and the athleticism of acrobatic elements. Acro dancers seamlessly blend musicality, emotional expression, line and extension with acrobatic movements in a dance context.
Our teaching team consists of talented and qualified teachers who aim to pass on our knowledge and skill to our students. We all encourage a fun, creative and professional environment through the art form of dance.
Chelsea Capper, principal
Chelsea started dancing at a young age with the Jane Stanley School of Dance. She trained in RAD classical ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, modern expressive, musical theatre and tap.
She participated in master classes with Kim Traynor, Jane Beckett, Tanya Pearson, Vicky Attard and many more.
Showcasing her talent for dance, Chelsea has won and placed in many competitions in ballet and contemporary, and danced in many showcases such as Manly Arts Festival, Australian Dance Awards, corporate shows and local productions.
Chelsea started teaching early, inspiring young students with her love and passion for choreography. She established dance classes at Bathurst Public School, where they now hold dance groups from kindergarten to year 6. Under Chelsea's guidance, Stage 3 performed in the School Spectacular for the four years she was in Bathurst.
Contemporary choreography remains very close to Chelsea's heart, and this is proven through the many choreography awards she has won over the years, along with the students that continue to benefit from her advanced skills.
As the principal of Burns Bay Dance Studios, Chelsea is very keen to build the school into a successful venue for developing the performance skills of this generation of dancers.
Fiona Haycraft
Fiona started dancing when she was five at Janice Breen Dance in Epping, training in ballet and jazz. After a couple of years she left and went to Dumbrel Dance Academy in Turramurra. The school then moved to Hornsby and became Capital Performance Studios.
Fiona ended up studying ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and acrobatics. Competing in the competition team and solos, Fiona gained many awards throughout the years.
Continuing dance through her high school years, she auditioned and was successful in gaining a place for years 11 and 12 at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts.
Over the years Fiona performed at many shows through Sydney Dance Company and for huge Optus shows. Fiona danced with Adam Garcia throughout her teenage dancing years and learned tap from the amazing Dean Perry from Tap Dogs. Her love of dance has never left even though she now runs her own hairdressing business. Both her children are students at Burns Bay Dance Studio and she is excited to be part of our team.
Teoni Schlebs
Originally from regional NSW, she began dancing from age 3 and competed in all genres of junior dance eisteddfods gaining multiple scholarships, international performances, championships titles and RAD workshops/exams.
Teoni began teaching at age 15 at her local dance school and soon fell in love with watching students progress and reaching their goals with her assistance. Having received credits and distinctions in ATOD, Glen Wood and RAD examinations she has recently graduated from ED5 International with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts with training in all styles of dance.
“I am super excited to be joining the team at BBDS and creating a safe, fun and positive environment for all students and staff”.
Creative Kids and Active Kids NSW Service vouchers
BBDS is a registered provider for both Creative Kids and Active Kids.
