TEACHING FACULTY
Our team of talented teachers are part of what make our studios so special. Each teacher brings a unique skill-set and personality to class, whilst still upholding our high standard of dance education.
Miss Catie - Studio Founder/Owner
Catie, originally from the Coromandel Peninsula, honed her classical dance skills under the guidance of former RNZB principal ballerina Pauline Germon. Before establishing Bloom Academy of Dance, Catie spent several years teaching at some of Auckland’s top dance schools, where she taught a diverse range of disciplines including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and specialized strength and conditioning programs. Her observations of a gap in local dance offerings in Parnell led her to open the Parnell School of Dance in 2018. After successfully growing her student base in Auckland, Catie expanded to her hometown of Thames and rebranded the school as Bloom Academy of Dance.
Catie delights in the creative process of working with young dancers, focusing on foundational techniques while encouraging imaginative expression. She has extensive experience teaching pre-schoolers and takes pride in her gentle, supportive approach. Her Tiny Dancers program, which she has delivered in early childhood centers and pop-up workshops around Auckland, highlights her ability to connect with young students in a nurturing way.
In addition to her dance expertise, Catie is a qualified Pilates instructor with a Certificate IV in Mat & Reformer Pilates and STOTT Pilates Barre, as well as pre/postnatal qualifications. She is dedicated to her professional growth, regularly attending training and seminars to enhance her knowledge and skills. Her ongoing development includes participation in the Professional Development Teachers Seminar through the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Teaching Tools through the NZ School of Dance, and continued training with the Royal Ballet School in the UK
Associations: Affil A.T.O.D Teacher, APDA Registered Teacher, Royal Ballet School Primary Steps on Demand Provider, Cert IV in Pilates, STOTT Pilates Barre Certification.
Miss Neve - Ballet, Jazz, Acro & Theatre
Neve has recently relocated to New Zealand from the UK, bringing with her seven years of dedicated experience as a dance teacher. Her journey in dance began at the tender age of four, and she went on to pursue higher education in dance, further honing her skills and knowledge. Over the years, Neve has amassed extensive experience teaching a wide range of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics, and performance. She has worked across numerous schools and dance institutions in the UK, where she developed a reputation for her enthusiastic and supportive teaching approach. For Neve, every lesson is an opportunity not just to progress technically but also to ensure that students have a great time. She believes in creating an engaging and enjoyable learning environment where students can thrive and develop their passion for dance.
Miss Ronja - Preschool, Ballet and Jazz
Ronja has been dancing for over twenty years and has trained in various genres, including jazz, ballet, contemporary and lyrical. She has completed her NZAMD Solo Diplomas at a Distinction level and was a finalist in the NZAMD Scholarship awards.
Special dance highlights for Ronja include being a corporate dancer for Kathryn Wilson, and being selected to dance at events like Breast Cancer Cure and New Zealand Fashion Week. Also, she worked for Prada at the 36th America’s Cup for Prada COR and presented medals at the prizegiving, which was an experience of a lifetime!
Along with dancing, Ronja has taught dance to children aged 2 - 18 for nine years across Auckland (NZAMD and APDA). She is a qualified Barre instructor. Ronja is passionate about teaching and hopes to develop each students love for dance in her classes.
Currently, Ronja is completing a bachelor in Law (Hons) and Global Studies conjoint degree at the University of Auckland. She has just returned from a year studying abroad in the UK and in Paris (Sciences Po), and is so excited to get back to dance teaching!
Miss Rachel - Casual Teacher for Ballet & Jazz
Rachel has been passionate about dance since early childhood. She has completed the RAD examination syllabus up to Advanced Foundation and participated in numerous winter schools at the New Zealand School of Dance. Additionally, she undertook an intensive program remotely through the Queensland Ballet Academy. Miss Rachel has competed extensively in ballet solos and with jazz and contemporary troupes.
Unfortunately, an injury led to her cessation of dance performance. During her dance career, Rachel frequently assisted her dance teacher with younger classes, which ignited her passion for teaching. She continued to contribute by teaching and assisting at holiday programs and covering classes as needed. Despite stepping away from performing, Rachel remains deeply committed to teaching and nurturing her love for dance.
join our team
We are currently seeking passionate, experienced dance teachers to join our teaching team on a permanent, part-time basis. We are a growing dance school located in the suburb of Parnell. We specialise in delivering high quality dance education in small group environments. Our aim as a dance school is to create a warm, kind, and encouraging learning atmosphere for all of our students, whilst also ensuring we teach reputable, industry standard syllabi. We are looking for teachers who have experience in one or more genres of dance, are open to learning and teaching our studio syllabus, and who are passionate about a career in the performing arts. Whilst our preference is to hire experienced teachers, we are open to training a junior level teacher. As this role entails working with children under the age of 5, we are specifically seeking teachers who have a great rapport with preschool and primary-aged ballerinas. Whilst working for us, you will be supported, encouraged, and challenged to evolve and grow as a teacher. To help you achieve this, we will provide you with ongoing training opportunities, an excellent hourly rate, and a warm and welcoming work environment. To succeed in these roles, you must have an authentic and confident teaching style, the ability to teach students ranging in age and ability, commitment and loyalty to the studio, and a genuine passion for dance and movement. Interested? Email Catie at hello@bloomacademyofdance.com to express your interest/apply.