FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Olivia began dancing in Christchurch, New Zealand at a young age. By 11 years old she realised dance was to be a lifelong journey for her and so commenced full-time training, completing her education by correspondence. By 15, Olivia was being recognised in the industry having received 2nd Runner-up at the prestigious Alana Haines Australasian Awards and 1st Runner-up at The New Zealand National Ballet Awards, and a finalist for various other national and Australasian competitions. After dancing many lead roles with the Southern Ballet Theatre Company as a pre-professional dancer, she was ready to commence her first professional contract. At 19, she faced the sudden loss of her father and circumstances dictated a change of plans, and unfortunately, she was unable to accept her first contract. At 22, after 3 years away from dance Olivia decided to pursue it professionally again. At this point, she ventured overseas to train with ex-ballet masters from The Paris Opera. She entered an intense season of training and coaching that she will be forever grateful for. Olivia was fortunate enough whilst in class at Dance Works in London to receive an offer of a contract with Ballet Ireland.

Olivia danced throughout Europe for some time before returning home where she founded Dance Masters International and Convergence Dance Studios and became a qualified teacher. In 2014 Olivia won the Canterbury AMP scholarship for the vision of a National Youth Ballet Company which she launched in 2021.

Vocational Graduate Diploma in Classical Ballet (2012)

Diploma of Dance (2011)

Certificate III in Dance (2009)

Born in Hamilton, Hayley moved to Invercargill as a toddler and started ballet at age six. At ten Hayley moved to Melbourne with her family where she continued training and was later accepted into the Australian Ballet School beginning in 2009. While at the ABS Hayley received the Level 5 Award for Excellence and was selected to visit The National Ballet School of Canada and The School of American Ballet on exchange in 2011 before graduating in 2012.

Hayley then joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2013 where her performance highlights include Pas de Trois in Russell Kerr’s ‘Swan Lake’ (2013), ‘Flower Festival Pas De Deux’ and ‘Don Quixote Act III Pas de Deux’ on TOWER Tutus on Tour (2013), Andrew Simmons’ ‘Of Days’ and Javier De Frutos’ ‘Bandrillero’ on tour to USA (2014), Moth in Liam Scarlett’s ‘A Midsummer Nights Dream’ (2015), Zulma and Myrtha in ‘Giselle’ on tour to UK and Italy (2015) and the duet in Alexander Ekman’s ‘Cacti’ (2016).

In mid 2016 Hayley returned to Melbourne and taught at her childhood ballet school for two years where she also produced and staged the end of year production ‘The Magic Toy Shop’. In 2018 Hayley moved back to New Zealand, later becoming a mum to her children Darcy and Boston. She is looking forward to returning to teaching and working alongside the team and dancers at CDS.