I’ve been dancing from a young age and I’m trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and tap. I’ve taken RAD and IDTA exams as long as I can remember and have completed all the RAD graded syllabus.

I knew dance was what I wanted to do as a career, and when I was 18, I started auditioning for full time dance schools. I accepted a place to train at Bodywork Company Dance Studios in Cambridge, England. I was fortunate enough to be taught by some of the UK’s leading dancers and learnt routines from West End Shows that my tutors were in at the time. I also studied the core subjects and was then I fell in love with contemporary. I was the first student ever at Bodyworks to be moved up a year in this class and got the highest marks in this subject.

After graduating, I thought it appropriate to work toward my IDTA teaching associate and after a lot of hard work; I’m now a member of the ballet faculty. After I qualified I wanted to travel and get some teaching experience, which is how I’ve ended up in New Zealand. I was offered a place on the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies course but due to circumstances, I wasn’t able to accept. I moved here in 2010 and have taught for a few schools in the Auckland area and in October 2011, had students entered for their exams with the IDTA. It’s a great achievement to say I now have a 100% pass rate!

I’m still learning and making the transition from dancer to teacher, I’m looking forward to working with such a passionate team at Rose McRae Dance Academy. I’ve found a new enthusiasm in teaching dance. I enjoy passing on my knowledge and experience to my students, especially if they are as eager to learn as I am eager to teach. I hope to one day finish my RAD and IDTA teaching exams and become a more confident and versatile teacher. I hope to learn the NZAMD contemporary and AJDA jazz syllabus to expand my skills and be able to offer this to my students when I one day return to the UK.

My main aim is to work toward my fellowship exams so I can eventually become an examiner with the IDTA.

Hollie Dawson (A.I.D.T.A)