Christchurch
Jazz Dance Lessons | Contemporary Dance Lessons, Drama Lessons, Musical Theatre Lessons, Preschool Dance Classes
About That Dance Studio
At That Dance Studio our main objective is to bring the joy of the wonderful world of Dance and Performing Arts to our students. We want to do more than educate our students, we want to inspire them and help them grow.
We offer dance classes for children from as young as 2-years old right up to adult levels. We have classes following Jazz syllabus work (ATOD) as well as open Jazz and Contemporary classes. Our open classes build technique and develop a dancer’s style.
That Dance Studio also offers Performing Arts and Musical Theatre classes that focus on the three main disciplines of performance: Singing, Dance and Drama. These classes give students a balanced range of performance skills. Through our programme we encourage children to engage in the creative process and express their own ideas. We all know that children are full of good ideas!
Each year our students have the opportunity to showcase all they have learned at our end of year recital.
About Miss Gemma
Gemma is the principal of That Dance Studio. She has achieved her RAD Intermediate Foundation, NZAMD Elementary Ballet (Distinction), NZAMD American Jazz (Distinction), NZAMD Level 3 (Distinction), NZAMD Grade 7 Tap (Honours), AJDA Advanced (Distinction) and successfully passed her NZAMD Solo Seal examination.
Gemma started dancing at the age of 8 learning jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and hip hop. After high school she studied contemporary full time for two years at Hagley Dance Company under the guidance of Sheryl Robinson. Through this course she enjoyed studying contemporary, ballet, funk, jazz, hip-hop, Pilates, yoga, improvisation and Indian and was awarded her Certificate in Dance gaining Excellence both years.
In 2005 she was invited into secondment with Raewyn Hill’s professional contemporary company for her show ‘Angels with Dirty Feet’. In the same year she competed at the Alana Haines Australasian Ballet Awards where she was awarded a two-week scholarship to attend the Victoria College of Arts in Melbourne.
She was nominated for the PACANZ Young Performer of the Year Award in three times. In her final year she was the only South Islander to be placed as a top 6 finalist. She was also nominated for the NZAMD Nationals for Jazz numerous times and in 2005 she was placed 3rd in Modern Jazz and 2nd in Classical Ballet Sections. She also placed in the top 10 of the Australian Showcase Dancer of the Year multiple years.
She then moved to Sydney to study full time dance and performing arts at ED5 International. After her graduation she was signed onto the books of ‘Instinct Management NSW’. Through this agency she was able to travel for shows throughout Australia and New Zealand. Her highlight was performing three weeks of shows in Dubai. She was also a dancer for the “Countdown Spectacular” reunion shows in Australia.
On moving back to Christchurch, she was assistant to the choreographer in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and was performer/dance captain for Hairspray for Showbiz Christchurch. She has choreographed and performed in Coca Cola Christmas in the Park 2010 – 2018.
Gemma has a passion for choreography. She has choreographed dances for her pupils and herself that have achieved success throughout New Zealand and Australia. These successes include her pupils being placed in the top 10 of the New Zealand Dance Idol Competition in the Senior, Pre-Teen and Junior sections and PACANZ Young Performer of the Year Award. Her pre-teen age jazz group was placed runner up at the ‘Battle of the Stars’ in the Australian Showcase National Dance Finals.
Most recently she performed in and was dance captain for Legally Blonde the Musical in the Court Theatres 2016/17 season. She was also as the choreographer for Showbiz Christchurch’s production of “We Will Rock You”. She has also travelled to America and London to attend dance classes. In 2020 she was also excited to be featured in the music video for Afta Dina Mint’s song “Remember Myself”.