Running Dance Classes For Kids in Dunedin Since 1981

Jess works as an Occupational Therapist for SDHB and has been a successful tap-dancer at the Denise Henderson School of Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre since 2006 and has been teaching musical theatre and tap since 2017.

While training, she has completed all her NZAMD examinations including solo seal, and most recently she has completed American 6,7 & 8 examinations with 100% and distinction. She is aiming to complete American 9 in 2020. Jess has been a tap-dancing competitor since the age of 5 and competed at PACANZ in 2018. Her training with Denise has also grown her passion for musical theatre. In 2018, Jess attended CIMTISS learning from Broadway tutors.

In 2012, Jess made her musical theatre debut in MTD’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. During her years at Bayfield High School, she performed in their productions, playing Urleen in Footloose, Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes, and Marty Maraschino in Grease. Jess has also performed as an ensemble member in local shows most recently, the theatre restaurant Stage and Screen (MTD). Jess has also had 3 ½ years of classical singing training. Jess is looking forward to another great year of teaching and to pass her dance and performance knowledge to all the returning and new students.

Amelia is in her third year at the University of Otago studying a Bachelor of Music endorsed in performance. She has been doing tap dancing with Denise since the age of 9, and has also previously spent four years doing musical theatre, singing, and ballet. She has found that she is most passionate about tap dancing and playing the drums, and has teaching experience in drumming as well as in tap.

Amelia has completed NZAMD original tap exam grades 3-5 with 95% and above, and grades 6-9 with 100%, as well as American tap exam grades 3-7 with 100%, getting her two NZAMD Scholarship Awards nominations. She has also participated in tap competitions since the age of 9, a highlight being winning Champion of Champions in 2017.

She has performed in A Christmas Carol (DOS), and Theatre Restaurant shows Future Stars and What’s on the Goggle Box (MTD). Amelia is very excited to teach for Denise, and is looking forward to sharing her passions with other students.

Immy is in year 12 at Otago Girls High School. She has been dancing with the Denise
Henderson School of Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre since age 5 and started teaching at the Māori Hill Studio in 2021.

She has completed all her Tap NZAMD examinations and will sit her solo seal later this year. She gained NZAMD scholarships in both 2020 and 2021. Immy has been successful in dance competitions throughout New Zealand, highlights include winning Champion of Champions for both Dunedin and Invercargill, winner of numerous Musical Theatre Awards and placing runner up in the prestigious Vi Stewart Award in 2022. She is excited to represent Dunedin at the National Young Performer Award in October this year

Immy has also had training in Ballet, Singing, Jazz, Musical theatre and Aerobics. Last year she qualified along with her partner for the World FISAF Aerobic competition, placing 6th overall.
Her stage credits include ‘The Sound of Music’ (Marta), Christmas Carol (Children’s chorus) ‘Ovation’ (children’s chorus), ‘The Highlights’ (All Star Troupe) and has appeared in 3 Theatre restaurants (“West End to Broadway”, “Future Stars” and “It’s Showtime”)

She can’t wait to share her passion for theatre and performing with the next generation of children.

Talia is majoring in psychology and politics at the University of Otago. Talia has been training with Denise Henderson since she was 5 years old, she has trained extensively in tap, ballet, jazz and contemporary in Dunedin and Christchurch. Talia has performed in ballet and jazz competitions all around New Zealand and Australia. Talia was a part of the Otago Dancers and was privileged to dance at regional and national events with the team. She really enjoyed her time teaching last year and is looking forward to another great year.

Chloe is a 16-year-old year 12 student and has been tap dancing with Denise Henderson for 14 years.

She competes in Jazz as well as running her own Aerobics club where she is the head coach and choreographer. In October Chloe competed at the 2022 PACANZ Nationals for tap dancing alongside other Denise Henderson pupils. One of her greatest achievements was representing New Zealand at the 2021 FISAF World Championships for Aerobics.

Chloe is hoping to bring lots of fun and smiles to her Tuesday Musical Theatre class this year.

Lydia was born and bred in Dunedin and has always loved being involved in the local performance scene.

She has trained in many genres of dance such as ballet, jazz, hip hop (Dunedin School of Ballet). She started at the Denise Henderson Studio of Tap, Jazz and Musical Theatre at 6 years old, and through this
found a passion for performance, dance and Musical Theatre.

She performed in her first musical, Annie, in 2006. Since then she has had highlights in shows such as Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music, Grease: The Arena Spectacular, and The Last Five
Years.

While studying, she choreographed musicals for Kings and Queens High School such as The Lion King, and Jesus Christ Super Star, and directed Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She studied at the University of Otago, graduating with Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2016.

In recent years, Lydia had tutored at Xpression Dance Studio in Christchurch, and travelled for 3 years with Perform! Education, bringing educational theatre to the tamariki of New Zealand.

Lydia is excited to be back in Dunedin and come back to the amazing community that Denise Henderson Studio of Tap, Jazz & Musical Theatre provides.

Trainee Teacher

Hannah is a 13 year old student at Queens High School. She is trained in tap, jazz and musical Theatre with Denise Henderson and ballet with Dunedin School of Ballet. She is also part of Queens High School’s Audacity hip hop crew.

Hannah has appeared in local shows including: The Highlights (All Stars Troupe), Moana Jr (ensemble) and is looking forward to performing in The Lion King Jr and Frozen Jr as part of the ensemble later this year.

Hannah is looking forward to teaching and watching her students grow.

Trainee Teacher

Stasa is 13 years old and attends Trinity Catholic College. She has been dancing with Denise Henderson since she was 5 years old and has grown into a successful competition dancer. Stasa is currently the Intermediate Champion of Champions. She trains in tap, jazz, lyrical, aerobics and singing. Stasa’s Jazz/lyrical training was for many years with Lara Davidson and is now learning from Amy McNicholl at Denise’s studio. Stasa learns singing from Arlie Julia.

Stasa’s musical theatre experience includes appearing in Les Miserables (Little Cosette), The Highlights (Matilda) Ovation (Youth Ensemble), and the Theatre Restaurant, Future Stars. She is thrilled to be in Taieri Musical’s upcoming production of Disney’s Frozen.

Stasa is excited to be sharing her passion for dance and musical theatre with her Minis Musical Theatre class.

Teacher

Inese has 14 years’ experience across ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary. She has attended MoveItDanceworks in Wellington Island Bay since turning five, taking a range of open and exam classes over the years and provided teaching when required.

Inese started as a balletdancer at the age of four, but soon found my groove in genres such as jazz, contemporary and tap – whilst still taking ballet classes and strength and conditioning classes. Since the beginning of high school she began to involve herself in local dance competitions through solos in jazz, lyrical and contemporary, duos in jazz and contemporary and troupes in jazz, tap and contemporary – placing regularly in the top 3. In 2021 her MoveItDanceworks tap troupe was nominated for PACANZ and in 2022 she became dance captain for the troupe that competed as one of only 4 tap troupes at PACANZ NYPA.

Throughout her years of dance Inese has consistently taken jazz, tap and contemporary exams in NZAMD getting high honours and distinction results and is very familiar with the NZAMD style and format. During her first year at university (2023) Inese has become very involved in the dance life in Dunedin, taking a level two dance paper (DANC201) in contemporary dance, achieving an A+. This paper included researching choreographers and learning about their style as well as choreographing a solo and a group dance which was performed at the end. Inese has also been heavily involved in the Otago Dance Association where she teaches classes (mainly in jazz, contemporary and tap) additionally securing one of the lead roles for the 2023 showcase. Inese is also on the 2024 executive team for ODA.

Inese is extremely excited to join Denise’s amazing team of teachers and dancers in 2024.

Lara is currently living in London, she works as an Occupational Therapist and is pursuing professional performance work in the UK. In her spare time Lara is arguably one of the most successful Tap Dancing competitors to come out of her generation.

Winning over 120 championships, DTDS Champion of Champions 7 times, The Dunedin Performing Arts Musical Theatre Award 4 years running, both the Auckland Song & Dance Award at the Auckland Caledonian Competitions twice and The NZ Dance Award Musical Theatre Award. Lara, now in the twilight of her competitive performing time enjoys teaching her own students in the studio for both competitions and exams gaining impressive results. Lara teaches both beginners and the highest grades of NZAMD American Tap syllabus. Balletically and Jazz trained with Chris Rout, Dunedin School of Ballet, Anna Nees and Lizzie Adams Clarke, Lara has extensive experience as both an exam and competition dancer in both ballet and jazz. Gaining Jazz exams, RAD ballet to Intermediate and NZAMD Original syllabus 1-10 including Solo Diploma and American 6,7,8,9.

In 2011 Denise, Lara’s mum sent her to Barbara Hendry for vocal training, this gave Lara an absolutely wonderful foundation in singing and technique, before moving to Arlie Julia in 2016 and additionally Judy Bellingham in 2018. Lara has an impressive list of both vocal competition successes and theatrical credits to her name, including; Molly in Annie (Taieri Musical), Louisa in The Sound of Music (Taieri Musical), Ariel in Footloose and Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Bayfield High School), company in Wicked (MTD) and is extremely excited to have been cast in the role of Cossette in MTD’s 2020 production of Les Miserables. Lara is looking forward to expanding her teaching in 2020 to be running the new Jazz programme for the studio.