Dan McAuliffe

Posted on February 9, 2012 by meg

Get ready to sweat as Dan McAuliffe brings his sexy, modern, and energetic choreography to MDH.
Dan’s dance training started at age 13 and started with Jazz and Tap, His love of dance grew and a once a week class became 5 days a week. In 2004, Dan was accepted into Queensland University of Technologies (Q.U.T) dance program and graduated with an associate degree in dance.
Mr McAuliffe’s style can be described as a mix of old and new with influences from Jazz, funk, hip hop, vogue, musical theatre and contemporary, put that all into a blender and the end result is a fast paced and exciting class that will leave you wanting more.

When Dan isn’t in Brisbane he can be found working overseas for one of the worlds most luxurious cruise line companies, Princess Cruise Lines. Combining his love of dance and travelling the world was an ideal partnership and has been performing in their award winning, multi-million dollar production shows for the past 5 years.

As a freelance artist, he has appeared in numerous video clips, television appearances, fashion shows and night club performances, both locally and internationally.

Being able to travel, Dan has had the opportunity to take classes at SDC, Pineapple studios, the Edge, Millenium dance complex and the Space.
His classes are tailored for the already experienced dancer, but don’t worry these classes are fun, just be prepared to challenge yourself.

Richard Leader

Posted on February 7, 2012 by meg

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!

Dimity Fraser

Posted on January 12, 2012 by meg

Dimity has danced her entire life and at the age 12 she realised it was her passion.

After graduating from the Australian Dance Performance Institute (ADPI) with advance diploma in dance performance Dimity continued her training at the Victorian College of the Arts School of Dance in Melbourne. While at the VCA Dimity had the opportunity to train with American prima ballerina Gelsey Kirkland and worked with some of Australia’s top choreographers such as Robert Ray, Leigh Warren, Anna Smith and Phillip Adams.

After taking a break from dancing, Dimity threw herself back into fulltime dance training at DanceWorld Studios in Melbourne and expanded her skills into commercial and Musical Theatre. Dimity was a Contemporary dancer and founding member of Brisbane based alternative opera company OutCast Opera as and a ballet dancer for metal ballet company Brutal Ballet. She has also worked with Perth Contemporary Company Remnant Dance. Dimity is also active member of Phoenix Entertainment

What can people expect from my class??:
An infusion of Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz and a whole lot of sweat and smiles.

What do I enjoy about teaching??
I love my dancing and when you love something that much, you want to pass it on to others in hope that they can find that same enjoyment.

Wendy Wallace

Posted on January 10, 2012 by meg

Wendy is a respected and experienced contemporary dance teacher. Her contemporary technique is eclectic, highly functional and produces strong, versatile dancers. She has taught at secondary, tertiary and professional levels nationally (QUT, Victorian College of the Arts, Centre for the Performing Arts and internationally (France, Tahiti, USA, New Zealand and Canada)

In addition to a successful career as a contemporary and commercial dancer in Australia and France Wendy has held the positions of Artistic Associate – Black Grace, Associate Director/ Head of Contemporary Dance – New Zealand School of Dance,
Artistic Director – Dance North and Assistant to the Artistic Director – Australian Dance Theatre (ADT)
Wendy looks forward to meeting as many dancers as possible!
We welcome Wendy to Mad Dance House teaching faculty!

Seraijah Choi

Posted on January 9, 2012 by meg

Seraijah fell in love with dance at age eight. Beginning her journey with Jazz Ballet and Latin American styles (Lambada, Bolerio, Bossa Nova, Zouk, Meringue, Salsa, Forro, Gafiera, Samba and Afro-Cuban), Seraijah then turned to hip-hop and jazz funk at age 11. Since then she has trained with the dance industry’s best (Shaun Evaristo, Tony Czar, Kumari Suraj, Anti Fischer and many more) both in Australia and during her travels to Los Angeles’ elite schools: Millenium Dance Complex, Debbie Reynolds Studio and IDA Hollywood. Additionally Seraijah has worked on music videos and live shows for both Australian and international artists such as: Brian McFadden, MizChelle (Assistant/Dancer), Killbot Kindergarten (Choreographer/Dancer).

Seraijah’s style is constantly in a state of flux – ever changing and undefined. Influenced by every style of music; charged by the urge to experiment with movement; an agglomeration of street, hip-hop, waacking, Latin, jazz funk, African, lyrical, contemporary and modern. Her passion springs from dance’s lack of limitation. Her dreams involve travelling back overseas along with developing SEEING SOUNDS. SEEING SOUNDS was co-founded by Seraijah and sister, Sheridan, in October 2010 as a means of equipping the Australian dance ‘family’ with support and knowledge that is generally inaccessible. The company brings internationally renowned instructors down under to tour dance studios nation-wide and in effect, helping to nourish, inspire and sustain the community in a way that encourages creativity, individualism and success.

Seraijah began instructing a vast spectrum of students from age 13 (from absolute beginner to advanced, children under 10 to adults, private to budiding professionals to open classes) at various academies. Today Seraijah has a passion for teaching and holds personal interest in the experience of her students. An Idealist; Escapist; Creator; Destroyer; Hallucinogen. Seraijah continues to train, work (perform, choreograph, instruct) and watch others, in hopes of growing in her art; to inspire and be inspired.

What can people expect in your class?
Expect to tap into my brain for a while. Expect to hear the music loud. Expect to learn something (but teach mesomething at the same time). Expect to have fun; to sweat it out; to challenge your self a little (but then realize it’s ok because I’m right there to answer each and every question). Expect to cheer and scream for your peers!!! Expect an aftermath of absolute delectation. Most of all, expect nothing at all…

What do you enjoy about teaching?
I have a ritual where I turn off the lights in the last few minutes of class. I try to encourage students not to agonize over getting all the steps 100% right, about who are watching them or what they look like in the mirror. Instead, I place the focus on “dancing” and I get to step back and just watch – literally see people get lost in the music and movement. It is these moments that make your heart kind of bleed out onto the floor because you are that excited…inspired…MOVED. It sounds totally cliché (I know!!) but I guess you just have to come to class to experience it for yourself!!

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/seraijaheden/videos

Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/user7927320

Jean Chritz

Posted on January 6, 2012 by meg

Click below to meet Jean and see a class!

Jean Chritz is a well-established performer in many areas of dance. Known for his versatility and adaptability, Jean’s character and charisma, brings flair and personality to his teaching.

Started out as freestyler, with a unique style and creativity Jean’s style fuses old, mid and nu skool styles of hip hop, including an essence of break, popping, locking and house. On numerous occasions Jean has represented in the hip hop scene at Australia’s biggest competitions as well as winning countless street dance competitions throughout Australia.

Jean’s knowledge has been influenced by some of hip hop well known artists, including Shaun Evaristo, Keone Madrid, Mariel Martins, Mr Wiggles and many more… He is also currently a member of Australia’s most well established Hip Hop crew, ZENITH, who have represented Australia internationally in Las Vegas.

Jean Chritz loves to dance, teach and perform. He has true swag that turns heads everywhere he goes! : )