Masters of Teaching: Dance (RAD and University of Surrey)
Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation: Choreography (Victorian College of the Arts)
BA Dance Education (RAD and University of Surrey)
RAD: Registered Teacher Status
ISTD: Full Teaching Member
Helen trained in classical ballet at the McDonald College of the Performing Arts in Sydney, and has studied Contemporary Dance, Jazz and Tap, all to advanced/professional level. Helen holds Registered Teacher Status with both the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) and the Royal Academy of Dance, (RAD) and in 2022 became an Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Ballet School. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Choreography in 2008 (VCA, Melbourne) and is a graduate of the RAD’s BA in Dance Education and Master of Teaching programmes. Helen has lived in the UK since 2009, working at RAD Headquarters in London as a Lecturer in Dance Studies in the Faculty of Education and as a Teacher of Ballet at the RAD Dance School. Helen has written and tutored on numerous teacher training programmes and CPD activities, including being part of the team that devised the RAD’s Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing research project and the Silver Swans® teacher training initiative.
Helen’s most recent role as Director of Dance at Brighton College has seen her lead a team of ten dance teachers in running more than 120 weekly dance classes for some 400 pupils, including specialist boys’ programmes, ISTD and RAD Graded and Vocational examination lessons, and competition work. Helen’s pastoral role at the College has centred on helping pupils to navigate demanding schedules of academic, co-curricular and sporting commitments whilst maintaining the highest levels of dance training. During her time at the College Helen had pupils accepted into full-time and summer school programmes at the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Rambert School, Mountview Theatre Arts, National Youth Ballet of Great Britain and the London Children’s Ballet – not to mention the many dancers who have achieved Vocational level dance exams alongside winning places at LSE, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Ivy League Universities in the USA.
ICB FISTD (Imperial Ballet - Fellowship)
MA in Professional Practice, Dance Technique Pedagogy
MTH AISTD (Modern Theatre - Associate)
RAD RTS (Royal Academy of Dance - Registered Teacher Status)
Advanced 2 ICB
Lorraine Bennett was Director of Classical Ballet Centre Canberra (CBCC) from 2009 to 2024. Her involvement, dedication and commitment to the studio, previously the Betsy Sawers School of Dancing and then Canberra Youth Ballet School, spans over 40 years – right back to Lorraine's very first ballet class as a child.
Lorraine has taught for small stints in many ballet schools around Australia and abroad, and throughout her ballet schooling, teacher training, teaching, study and travel, Lorraine has been very fortunate to work with many Internationally recognised dance educators and medical specialists. Medical science in dance is a passion for Lorraine who works hard to keep abreast of advances in research and methodology, resulting in educated students and families.
Lorraine has introduced the ISTD method to the studio to enable dancers to be internationally recognised in their dance training, no matter which field and genre their interests lie. Lorraine has gained her Fellowship and Advanced 2 qualifications in Imperial Ballet, as well as her Associate in Modern Theatre.
Lorraine's style of teaching is technical and challenging, yet rewarding and fulfilling. Her enthusiasm for helping all students discover the benefits of learning such a beautiful art form, and to realise their own potential, has been proven for over 30 years.
Diploma of Dance and Dance Performance
Royal Academy of Dance: Dance Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate
Stephanie first started dancing at the age of 5 at Miss Helen's studio in Cooma. She continued her full-time classical coaching with Tanya Pearson and Julie Wells in Sydney. At age 15.Stephanie moved to Hamburg, Germany, to study on full scholarship at the John Neumeier Ballettzentrum Hamburg then graduated with a Diploma of Dance and Dance Performance from the New Zealand School of Dance. Stephanie danced with the Hamburg Ballet, and performed professionally in New Zealand and Hong Kong before joining Royal Caribbean International where she was Dance Captain and performed as a featured dancer and aerialist. Upon returning home to Australia, Steph completed the Royal Academy of Dance Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate under Miss Lorraine’s mentorship.
During her time at CBCC Margaret completed her Advanced 2 exams in ballet, modern and tap. After year 12 Margaret decided to continue her dance education and began studying for her Ballet Associate under the guidance of Lorraine Bennett. Margaret finds teaching rewarding and is excited for where this professional journey will take her.
Margaret is also currently studying a double degree at the Australian National University for a bachelor of political science and a bachelor of science.
AISTD TAP (Tap - Associate)
Melia Wenger started dancing at age 4 at the Canberra Youth Ballet school (now Classical Ballet Centre Canberra). She tried many different styles during her training including ballet, modern, tap and jazz. After her dance training had finished, she decided to continue developing her skills as a dancer by training to be a teacher. She has since obtained her Associate in Tap through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. She began teaching classes at Classical Ballet Centre Canberra in 2016 as an assistant, and is now one of the modern teachers on Friday afternoons.
As well as dance teaching, Melia is passionate about art. She decided to follow her love of photography and has completed her Certificate IV in photography at the Canberra Institute of Technology.
Mia commenced training at our studio in 2009 at 4 years of age. The studio nurtured and developed her skills and love of dance all the way through until she graduated in 2022. During this time Mia completed all available styles, Ballet, Modern, Tap, and Jazz, and was a member of performance group for 9 years. She participated in all available examinations, completing her Advanced 2 in Ballet, Modern and Tap.
Mia has travelled with two of our overseas tours, USA in 2013, and Europe in 2015. Mia has also performed many roles including the White Witch (2022) in CBCC’s end of year production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Mia is pursuing study in Nutrition and Human Movement at University. Mia truly loves seeing development within students each week and enjoys seeing their passion for dance grow.
ISTD AISTD (Dip) (Tap - Associate Diploma)
FATD
Christina Philipp began her dance training at our studio aged 4, right back when the school was owned by Betsy Sawers. Over the years she studied Tap, Modern, Jazz, Classical Ballet and Contemporary dance. At 18 she began teaching, one day a week, while she also studied a Bachelor of Arts and Science at ANU. By the time she completed her degree she had increased her teaching hours, and she knew that was what she truly wanted to do.
Christina has since gained teaching qualifications from the Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing (FATD) and the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) and is continuing to increase her qualifications through the ISTD, having achieved her Associate Diploma in Tap. Christina is also regularly involved with local musical theatre companies, both as a performer and choreographer. She loves the joy that dancing brings to children, and the sense of accomplishment they get when they can perform a new step or routine.
Throughout her time at Classical Ballet Centre Canberra, Elaine Li trained in ballet and modern, completing her Advanced 2 exams in both styles.
Since graduating, Elaine has continued her dance eduation, obtaining an Associate in Ballet through the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing under Miss Lorraine’s guidance and mentorship. Elaine hopes to pass on her love for all that dance entails.
Elaine is currently studying a Bachelor of Economics at ANU.
Emily is a qualified Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor (and nurse), and a former student of CBCC. Emily enjoys making her conditioning classes Pilates centred, with a strong focus on strength and functional movements that positively benefit ballet technique.
