TEACHERS

Peter Wallace - director, choreographer, adjudicator

Peter Wallace has been in the professional industry of Performing Arts and Entertainment for over 30 years in Australia & Europe. Through the 80's Peter was an established television dancer in Melbourne on the Don Lane Show, Saturday Show Series, The Simon Gallagher Series, The Logie Awards, The Two Ronnies, Australian Commonwealth Games and many Australia Day Concerts. Peter worked with Danny La Rue in his first Australian & New Zealand tour in 1989 and has performed at many theatre restaurants and cabarets.

For 13 years Peter worked in Paris, France at the Bal Du Moulin Rouge as Principal Dancer and Dance Captain, Lido De Paris, Monte Carlo, Disneyland Paris and spent 8 years with La Nouvelle Eve as resident choreographer. Since returning to his home town in 1998 Peter has been very busy running his own dance studio and choreographing for several theatre companies around Melbourne. Peter has been nominated for his choreographic work at The Lye Bird Awards and The Guild Awards. In 2001 Peter won best Choreographer at The Lyre Bird Awards for his work in the musical “42nd Street”. Peter is also a renowned Adjudicator in Australia and Internationally. Peter's aim is to develop self-confident, happy and healthy performers and to encourage independence and self motivation.

Marc Ponzi - assistant to director

Marc of French nationality has gained his knowledge of dance technique and training in France. He has studied Martha Graham, Jose Limon Contemporary technique and Matt Matox Jazz technique. He has studied Anatomy, Physiology and Psychology of children through dance at the IFEDEM in Paris. Marc has worked in Television, Theatre Light Opera. He also performed for a period of 7 years at the Bal Du Moulin Rouge as Dance Captain and dancer.

Wendy Dalton - ballet & kinder dance

Wendy's background as a professional dancer spans over 20 years. Prior to beginning her professional dance and teaching career, Wendy had the good fortune to study all facets of Dance from a very young age under the umbrella of some of Australia's most renowned teachers and choreographers, including Joe Latona, Jeanette Liddell, Coral Deague, Barbara Warren Smith and Jilian Fitzgerald.

Wendy studied Jazz and Contemporary dance in Los Angeles and New York in 1984. Wendy also completed a year of choreographic studies at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her professional dance career includes such highlights as resident dancer for The Ernie Sigley Tonight Show, Bert Newton Midday Show, Don Lane Show, Logies and Royal Command Performances as well as theatrical productions, Evita, Iolanthe and Red Hot and Rhonda.

Wendy is a renowned examiner and adjudicator and her main focus is to acknowledge each performers achievements, give constructive and positive comments and compliment their efforts.

Phil Osborne - singing

Phil is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts school of Music where his major study/principal instrument was Voice. During the time of his course there he was taught by the late Dame Joan Hammond. Graduating from the VCA, Phil then went on to sing major roles with companies such as the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Victoria, Professional work also included the tenor roles in Benjamin Britten's Opera 'The Little Sweep', as well as soloist for works such as Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Faure's 'Requiem' and Elgar's 'Spirit of England'.

He was awarded the "Best Supporting Actor' in a Musical" by the Lyrebird Awards in 1999 for his role as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in "Guys and Dolls". Phil has been appointed musical director to many productions, including 'Les Miserables' , 'Chess', 'A Chorus Iine'. In addition to his Musical theatre pursuits, Phil pursues a wide range of musical interests which has included being director of the A Capella and Gospel group "Once More With Feeling".

Harley Grbin - funk & hip hop

Harley has been working in the entertainment industry as a Professional Dancer, Singer, Assistant Producer and Choreographer for 14 years. Harley also has been teaching dance for the past 8 years at Dance Studios such as John Young Talent School, Star Train Dance School, 'Upstage' Academy of Dance Drama and Singing.

Harley has performed in Melbourne and all around Australia in '5 star' gala events, cabaret shows, night club performances, TV commercials and for Hanna Barbara characters. Also 20th Century Fox Studio as well as extensive amounts of corporate functions. Trained in Jazz, Ballet, Tap and many street styles of dance such as Pop & Lock, Funk, Break, New Jack Swing & Hip Hop.

Harley is still dancing and teaching in Australia and looks forward to many more exciting years to come, in a wonderful thing called SHOW BIZ!!!!

Darren Tyler

Darren was most recently seen in the Production Company’s production of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE where he assisted choreographer Dana Jolly and was Dance Captain/Ensemble. Darren was Assistant Dance Captain in the Australian, and Dance Captain in the Singapore production of Oliver. He also was assistant choreographer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Darren will once again head overseas in April 2009 to perform in the famous musical Cats.

Samantha Merckel

Samantha Merckel has been trained at Peter Wallace Dance Industry since 1999. Samantha trained in all facets of Dance and Musical Theatre which has brought her to a professional knowledge and her commitment through the past ten years has now enabled her to achieve skills to become a talented dance teacher in the school.

For the past several years, Samantha has had the opportunity to perform at Wedding Functions, TV Commercials and at the 2006 Commonwealth Games where she performed in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Samantha brings to the studio encouragement, motivation and personal skills for students to embrace.