Richard Leader ex-professional soloist, choreographer, ballet company director, trainer & assistant
Trained at the prestigious Royal Ballet School (London) and finished his final years at the contemporary Rambert College of Dance.

A classical ballet soloist and contemporary dancer, Richard worked in European Dance Companies over 15 successful years.  After his career as a classical ballet dancer, he became an internationally known company trainer, choreographer and assistant ballet company director.
Richard has worked in Broadway Musical productions in the USA, and in the West End Berlin, as well as working in TV and film productions. Richard has a wide range of professional choreographies to his name and worked as a contemporary dancer for the renowned Jochen Ulrich.
When Richard retired from professional theatre he became a dance professor for various Dance Universities and schools including the State Music & Dance Schools of  Austria and became senior  teacher for the ‘Dance and Young Dancers Project’ for the  Austrian government & Vienna State Opera Ballet school. Since emigrating to Australia in 2006 Richard has worked for many large dance schools in the ACT & NSW and is co-director of The Dance Centre Peregian Springs Pty Ltd.

Mad Dance House is delighted to have Richard at Mad Dance House. Welcome Richard!

For Mandy, Dance was a much loved hobby until she was employed at a Brazilian Theatre Restaurant in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley in Oct 2006.  Here she was trained in the unique style of Latin American movement: including Samba, Salsa, Afro, Axe & Lambada.  With 4 solid years of dance performance experience, she now trains the dancers for the theatre show – teaching choreography and styling.
In 2010, Mandy won the Salsa Solo Competition Team Category with her crew “Risque” debuting in Sydney with a new fusion of hip hop & Salsa that won them the 2010 title.

Because of her background in Latin dance, Mandy decided to become a Zumba Instructor to inject a bit of her dance passion & energy into her students as health and fitness are also a big motivation in her life.
What does dance mean to you?
For me dance is totally personal ~ it is my passion because it makes me feel free & full of energy, life and emotion.  It is not to judge or compare… but to be yourself and just let loose, have fun and shine!
What do you love about teaching?
Zumba is very high energy & not too structured or technical – so for Zumba I love to see my students going crazy and having fun, smiling and screaming and wildness!
The music is very motivating too so I try to keep the moves fun & fresh.  Once I see smiling & laughing during my class I feel I have achieved my purpose for that session.
What do you love about MDH?
The “dance culture” I feel when entering the building & see in the students and teachers. Everyone is there for the same thing – to have fun, to move & train & enjoy their passion for dance.  Everyone is super friendly but also in their own “dance world” striving to learn & reach their goals, sharing their love & passion for the same thing & filling the class with good vibes – so it becomes very motivating & addictive!

Brodie can be described as energetic, bubbly and fun with a limitless passion for dancing. Brodie’s musicality and rhythm was encouraged throughout her childhood with a musically talented family and artists such as Michael Jackson and Prince being a large part of her first song and dance influence. From the young age of seven Brodie started her dance training in physical culture (calisthenics/jazz/deportment) representing Brisbane at a national level in Sydney for over eight years before discovering her love for Hip Hop music, culture and dance. After finishing high school and attending many hip hop classes around Brisbane in 2001 Brodie joined Industrie One Studio and went on to become a member of their hip hop and street dance crew performing at local clubs and events as well as acclaimed competitions such as FISAF. Brodie was driven to persue her passion for hip hop and street dance and in 2006 opened Bounce Street Dance Studios in three locations (Corinda, Victoria Point and Rochedale) running dance classes successfully for four years working with international choreographers such as Triple 8 Funk (New Zealand), Quon (USA) and Melbourne sensation, Kristy McCarthy. Being a member of award winning crews, Doojsh and Bounce, Brodie has represented Brisbane at national and international Hip Hop competitions ‘Battlegrounds’ in Sydney and Melbourne from 2006-2008.

Brodie is a versatile dancer and performer making countless appearances at Brisbane night clubs, festivals and corporate events as well as televised performances such as TV show ‘Hot Source’, nationally televised Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, and Fox Sports Muay Thai events. She is devoted to creating a fun, relaxed social atmosphere in her classes and her main goal is to promote fitness through hip hop and street dance. Brodie guarantees you will leave her class feeling positive and inspired!

What do you love about teaching at MAD ?
The thing I love about MDH are my students, every week they continue to improve and inspire me and most of all they are alot of fun! Mad Dance House has a relaxed vibe that is hard to find anywhere else, its this vibe that sets the teachers and students here apart and its this vibe that allows us all to feel comfortable and enjoy dance which is what dancing should be about.
What does dance mean to you?
Dance is life, life is dance, its all i have ever known and its my passion, my escape and my own world that i can emerse myself in no matter what else is going on in life. I love it, dancing and performing is hard work but at the end of the day we all do it because its that drive and passion in our lives that makes us happy.

What do you love about teaching?
I love creating a relaxed and social environment for my students, to help them develop and progress but at the same time keep that balance between focus and fun! There is nothing more rewarding than seeing dancers, especially beginners, executing choreography and growing as dancers right before your eyes.

Click on the link below to meet Katie and see some of her classes in action!

Just ask anyone who has been taught by Katie Dickens and you will receive raving reviews! A true teacher, she is committed to having all students in her class succeed.

Katie has been in the performing arts industry for over 16 years, training in all styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Musical theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical Jazz and Hip Hop. She is trained in acting and singing from prestigious performing arts school ‘NIDA’ in Sydney. No stranger to the stage, she has performed in many musicals, and stage productions.
Katie has travelled to the USA to further her career, training under world-renowned choreographers.
In 2010 Katie’s years of hard work and persistence, landed her in the Australian Finals of the ‘Miss Universe Australia’ competition.

She has qualifications in Personal Training and Pilates, to help student’s reach and maintain their goals. Katie continues to keep her dream alive, auditioning, performing and running workshops in cities around Australia

“All we need is to believe in ourselves, then – anything is possible”
Katie looks forward to dancing with you all!