VERSATILITY DANCE COLLEGE
Teaching Faculty
ANITA DELALAND
R.A.D. RTS. ADV. DIP, BMAAD. LICENTIATE DIP, A.I.C.D, MEMBER CSTD
Anita’s greatest achievement is having raised two beautiful children and being married to her adoring husband for 33 years. Being Principal and Artistic Director of the Anita Coutts School of Dance has been her life’s work; and she now looks forward to supporting her daughter Leah in the new and very exciting “Versatility Dance College”.
Anita’s initial training was with Lija Svalbe (Ballarat, Victoria), studying the Borovansky Syllabus, completing her Advanced examination and BMAAD Associate & Licentiate Teaching Diplomas. In 1988 Anita opened the Anita Coutts School of Dance and continued as principal for 33 years, She remains a fully qualified and registered teacher of The Royal Academy of Dance (London) with extensive experience in all dance genres and her wealth of knowledge includes musical theatre, drama, anatomy, physiology, character and psychology.
Anita’s students past and present are professional dancers with the prestigious Australian Ballet Company, Sydney Dance Company, and Queensland Ballet. The Sound of Music AU, Paris Disneyland, Lion King AU and even performed with Justin Bieber. Former students have been successfully in gaining entry to the Australian Ballet School, Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Victorian College of the Arts, VCASS, Queensland Ballet Academy, John Cranko School Stuttgart, New Zealand School of Dance and awarded recognition on the international stage at the Alana Haines Australasian Awards and Youth America Grand Prix, to name a few.
Anita continues to teach for VDC and now also enjoys being available to adjudicate and examine the Dancers of the Future.
NOELLE SHADER
Noelle trained and performed in the United States at the School of American Ballet in New York City and upon graduation joined the New York City Ballet under the directorship of George Balanchine for six years. Since emigrating to Australia in 1981, Noelle has worked as a classical dance lecturer at The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth and with The Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne.
Noelle assumed the role of Ballet Mistress with The West Australian Ballet Company and with The Australian Ballet Company, the latter for 23 years. Here, in liaison with the medical team, she developed the role of Rehabilitation Facilitator, to work closely with injured and non-injured dancers to correct alignment and faulty technique. During her career Noelle has worked with four Australian Company directors and has enjoyed her involvement with renowned choreographers, teachers and artists in the dance field. She has been a dance panel member for the West Australian Department of the Arts and for The Australia Council and has worked extensively in the wider community. In 2000 Noelle was awarded a centenary medal for her contribution to The Arts.
ALLISON GIBSON-SNARE
R.A.D. RTS. DIP ED TAS, BA EDU, RAD MENTOR
In 2019 Allison and her family relocated to Ballarat. Tasmanian born, Allison travelled to the South Street Eisteddfod as a child and viewed the incredible environment for ballet and dance Ballarat fosters. During the last 30 years, Allison has coached students in Launceston though the RAD syllabus from Pre-Primary to Advanced levels. She holds a Diploma of Teaching (University of Tasmania, 1991) and Bachelor of Education(University of Tasmania, 2004). Within the education sector she ran a ballet program at Launceston Church Grammar Junior School (2009 -2017). In 1997 was awarded the AICD teachers scholarship to attend the Australian Ballet School. Her former teacher Joan Burnett was a Genee Silver medalist (RAD) and trained in London.
Allison has a strong focus on the careful training of junior students. She has enjoyed training in tap, jazz, national dance as a student. Allison was the panel member representing Tasmania for the RAD for adecade, and was employed by the RAD to mentor on the teacher training program for student teachers(CBTS). Allison has been a teaching member of the RAD since 1990 and gained her Teaching Diploma with the RAD in1994. Former students have travelled as far as Joffrey Ballet School, English National Ballet School and New Zealand school of Dance and become teachers in Canada, Dubai and throughout Australia.
TERRI MAHER
Terri’s love and passion for Ballet and Teaching symbolises the dedicated and energetic teacher that she is today. From an early age Terri was brought up to embrace all forms of dance, from Tap to Musical Theatre and finally found her niche with the love of ballet and teaching. Terri operated her own studio for 35 years in Ballarat where she trained many students some of whom went on to be professionals in their chosen genres.
One of her students, Kelly Aykers has achieved a successful theatrical career both as a dancer and a choreographer and has currently staged and choreographed the Musical “Midnight” Cinderella. Terri has trained many aspiring Classical Ballet students who have gone on to professional careers in The Australian Ballet, West Australian Ballet and smaller companies in Europe.
In 2013 Terri achieved the status of Cecchetti Examiner which she sees as an extension to her career and another dimension to this beautiful art form. Terri enjoys teaching all age groups from Tiny Tots to Adults. She loves to impart her knowledge gained over the years through hard work, dedication and experience.
DANIELLE COURTIER
Associate Diploma in the Arts (Dance),Adv. Dip. Management, Certified Progressing Ballet Technique, (PBT) Practitioner, RAD Mentor
Danielle trained in Classical Ballet with Bryan Lawrence, Janet Karin (former Australian Ballet Principals) and Joanne Priest from the age of four. Other teaching luminaries include Michelle Potter and Julie Dyson.
Danielle was accepted into and offered a scholarship to attend Tanya Pearson's Classical Coaching Academy in Sydney.
However, life's tendency to redirect matters led to Danielle achieving her Associate Diploma in the Arts (Dance) at Brisbane College of Advance Education (now the Queensland University of Technology).
From this experience, Danielle went on to perform and tour with Expressions - Queensland Dance Theatre (Maggie Sietsma), One Extra (Kai Tai Chan) and Darc Swan (Chris Jannides).
Danielle has taught Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance and associated complementary techniques for many years. She has been instrumental in the creation of a number of key dance projects with local and regional schools and passionately promotes dance to the wider community; she continues to perform on stage and actively mentor students whenever the prospect arises.
Danielle's vision is to always endeavour to make a difference, and she is delighted to have the honour of sharing her experience with Versatility Dance College family members.
TAYLA LINCOLN
Cert IV in Dance
Tayla has been dancing since the age of 2 in all facets of dance. She completed her Cert IV in Dance at Michelle Slater Performing Arts Studio, where she found her love for teaching. Dancing has taken Tayla to America to perform at Disneyland, California Adventure Park, Universal Studios Hollywood and train at Millenium Dance Complex and IDA.
As well as being a part of Rock the Tap which featured on Everybody Dance Now and Australia's Got Talent television shows. Tayla loves working with children of all ages and is known for her nurturing and friendly rapport with all her students. Tayla thrives off the joy dance brings to everyone and it's reflected in her class environment. She is very excited to work with our dancers and pass on her knowledge.
EMMA SBARDELLA
This year marks twelve years of teaching for Emma, her teaching passion has only grown in this time as well has her skills and knowledge. Emma is excited to be part of this team of professionals and continue her work with our youngest pupils. Emma is well known and regarded for her wonderful work with with our smallest members and continues to nurture and inspire them all.
Introducing students to the world of dance is Emmas greatest joy and she looks forward to igniting the VDC students passion for years to come.
SARAH PERKINS
BEx, SportSc, ASCA S&C
Sarah began dancing at the age of three at the Anita Coutts School of Dance. At the age of fifteen she commenced full time ballet training at ACB in Melbourne for a year before completing three years with Queensland Ballet Academy under the direction of Christian Tatchev and Li Cuxin.
She has performed in ‘Swan Lake’ with Queensland Ballet Company, was fortunate to be apart of the 2017 Summer Intensive with the American Ballet Theatre and is currently dancing with Scimm Dance Company. While at University studying Sport and Exercise Science, Sarah loves how dance challenges the body and how movement can portray so much without saying a word.
She is very excited to be working with the students of VDC to help them learn about movement and pass on knowledge, from anatomy to professional dance life.
MILLY WAKEFIELD
Advanced 2 RAD
Milly has studied dance with the Anita Coutts School of Dance since she was 5 years old. From a young age, Milly enjoyed all styles of dance, focusing mainly on classical ballet and jazz. In recent years Milly has found her passion for contemporary dance and is now a part of SCIMM Platforms Youth Company. She is now a highly skilled dancer and role model to her students.
In recent years, Milly has aligned her passion of dancing and teaching, she has assisted many amazing teachers, learning many skills along the way.
She is very excited to be a part of the VDC faculty as she takes her first steps towards achieving her aspiration of becoming a dance teacher.
AVA SHEEHAN
Advanced 1 RAD
At the age of four, Ava commenced her dance training at Anita Coutts School of Dance. She found her love for dance across many different genres including classical ballet, theatrical and contemporary and has trained in both Cecchetti and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabi.
Throughout Ava’s dance journey she has been apart of the Scimm Platform Dance Company. During her training Ava has experienced many interstate and international learning opportunities as well as prestigious dance competitions such as the Alana Haines Australasian Awards in New Zealand, receiving a scholarship to dance at the Amanda Bollinger school of dance in Queensland for a week.
Ava is very excited to be apart of the faculty at VDC and work with their students to help them learn and grow through their dance journey.
BELLA LEECH
Bella began dancing at the age of three, and instantly fell in love. She has studied in Cecchetti ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and tap. Most recently, she has furthered her dancing by studying Performing Arts at Transit Dance.
Bella has not only competed and auditioned around Victoria, but was also selected to perform in Los Angeles, furthering her knowledge of the industry. Bella is currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science and loves how she can apply her dance knowledge to her studies, and share what she has learnt to her students.
Bella is very excited to be a part of the VDC faculty and is looking forward to working with their students.
BEC MCKAY
Bec started dancing at the age of 18 months at Janine O’Malley Academy of Dancing. Moving on to Rosengreen’s School of Dance at age 7. At age 9, Bec started travelling to Ballarat for Classical (RAD) and Jazz classes & studied in Geelong with Nicole Young. In 2001 Bec moved to Perth, completing her RAD examination studies continuing her theatrical training, along with some cabaret at Dance in Distinction. Bec choreographed and designed the set of Padbury Senior High School’s, 2003 Rock Eisteddfod Challenge, which she truly enjoyed.
After finishing high school, Bec commenced at the WA Academy of Dance and Drama and taught for Starlite Dance Academy in Malaga, WA, as well as working as a backup dancer. After a few years off due to injury, Bec moved back to Victoria to continue her teaching journey. In 2018, Bec joined AMCS in ‘Curtains’ as Niki Harris and choreorgaphed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2023. Bec is delighted to be joining the teaching faculty at VDC in 2024 & looks forward to teaching the adult classes!
ANTONIA BARRON
Antonia Barron made her first appearance with the Borovansky Ballet in Melbourne at the age of nine, as a mouse in The Nutcracker. Trained primarily by Russian and Eastern European teachers from the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, she danced in Melbourne, then moved into teaching and choreography, running a major training school in Melbourne for several years.
She has taught in the UK, the USA and Ireland, and has recently returned from a 14-year tenure at a major performing arts college in England, where she taught alongside such luminaries as Irek Mukhamedov and Darcey Bussell. Her former students grace ballet and theatre companies all over the world. Antonia has two university degrees and is also an academic, a published writer and a journalist.
