About
Applause Performing Arts is one of the leading dance institutions in the Hills, Blacktown and Hawkesbury Districts. At our school, we aim to encourage a widespread love of dance, welcoming children and adults who can’t help but feel the rhythm! We aim to create a positive, welcoming environment which is encouraging for all in our dance classes in Riverstone.
ABOUT APPLAUSE PERFORMING ARTS
We are located at Unit 5, 58-60 Melbourne Rd Riverstone.
Applause Performing Arts is the most comprehensive dance facility in the Riverstone area! We service the Schofields, Vineyard, Angus, Marsden Park, The Ponds, Quakers Hill and Box Hill regions.
We have three spacious studios and teach more than 10 different styles to students from ages two to adult. Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Pointe, Cheer, Acrobatics… we have it all!
To ensure classes are always fun, we offer a range of options across age groups and abilities. Each class also includes the FitMindz 4 Kids program, which encourages students to feel good about themselves and their lives.
The teachers at Applause Performing Arts have a vast range of experience across disciplines. Our collective approach is to share our love of dance while being supportive and encouraging in our dance classes in Riverstone.
IS APPLAUSE FOR YOU?
OUR VISION
At Applause Performing Arts Riverstone, we provide a space where dancers feel included and safe; and where dancing is always fun. We take an active role in shaping young people to achieve their best, both in dance and in life.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to use dance as a vehicle for excellent health and wellbeing. When teaching any style or age group, we strive to provide exceptional leadership to our students! Building talent and developing life skills such as discipline and respect are our goals.
We believe a person never stops learning! Applause Performing Arts strive to ensure our approach extends to all our students; from children to adults. We’d love you to be a part of our studio and join our mission to positively reach our community through dance.
OUR VALUES
At Applause Performing Arts we believe in:
- Inclusive – All our instructors have a strong focus on teamwork and ensuring everyone feels part of the family
- Continuous Improvement – We are dedicated to always being better than we were yesterday
- Modesty and Age Appropriateness – Making sure kids are covered and confident while still being able to express themselves is our number one priority.
- Positive and inspiring – We teach a positive psychology program called Fitmindz 4 Kids in all our classes. This aims to uplift and inspire students to always feel good about themselves.
- Respect and Appreciation – We respect and appreciate all our families and are grateful they are part of the Applause Performing Arts family.
OUR TEACHERS
The Applause Performing Arts team of inspiring dance instructors have a range of skills they can share with our students.
Miss Dana
Director
Miss Dana Clover began dancing at the age of 3; training in Jazz (ADAP), Tap (Glenn Wood), Classical Ballet (ADAP), Contemporary, Musical Theatre, and Hip Hop. She trained at Julie Melrose School of Dance, Elevation Performing Arts, and Ecole Studios. Continually feeling inspired by her teachers, she began assisting them in classes. Assistant teaching from the age of 14 years old, she started learning the best ways to pass on the knowledge they had given her.
Dana performed in two LOcREaDO Company Shows “4 Elements” and “Split Personalities”, also completing her Certificate IV in Dance Performance while at high school. She went on to receive her Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management from Brent Street Studios, training full time in the art of educating performers. She now teaches Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Acrobatics and Circus – and is loving every moment of her time in dance classes at Applause Performing Arts in Riverstone!
Miss Bridie
Teacher
Miss Bridie began her dancing journey at the age of 5 and never stopped loving it! She has trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Acrobatics.
She continued her training at Ed5 International where she achieved an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts.
With over 10 years of industry experience Miss Bridie is a passionate, hardworking and dedicated dance teacher.
Watching her students improve and succeed brings her so much joy and she strives to help young dancers reach their full potential as performers.
Miss Bridie now teaches Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Contemporary, Ballet, and our Performance Team Classes. We know you will love our classes with Miss Bridie!
Mr Brady
Teacher
Brady began performing as an actor at age 12 with Australian television and film appearances in ‘Water Rats’, ‘All Saints’ and ‘Oyster Farmer’. As he sought to add more strings to his bow, he took up dance, delving into Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical/Contemporary and Acrobatic styles of competitive dancing.
He has performed across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Central America, Canada & the US in some of the largest venues and cruise ships on the planet. In 2012 he toured three continents in Dreamworks’ ‘How To Train Your Dragon: Live Spectacular’ as an original cast member and has performed for identities such as Stephen Spielberg, Jonsi, James Marsden, America Ferrera, and Heidi Klum.
Branching into improv comedy has led him to compete in the Grand Final of Australia’s Got Talent with Phly Crew as well as collaborate on original works; ‘The Phly Crew Show’ & ‘Phly Crew 2.0’. After working with Royal Caribbean International, LOcREaDO Dance Company’s ‘Body Language’, ‘ASHE’, ‘12 Lives’, A-Live Entertainment’s ‘Music In Motion’ and Opera Australia’s ‘King Roger’, he was cast as Dance Captain for GWB Entertainment + Opera Australia’s ‘West Side Story’ and the role of Larry in Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s ‘A Chorus Line’. The Sydney Morning Herald has reviewed his work as “expert performances.”
As an award-winning choreographer, Brady launched The Blackguard in 2016, a Contemporary/KRUMP dance company, producing original works such as ‘Passion May Yet Be Fatal’ (2016) and ‘Still Breathing’ (2018). As Brady’s development of works continues, he boasts 14 years of teaching elite level acrobatics and contemporary dance, specializing in contact improvisation and movement coaching. He is excited to be guiding our Acro and dance classes in Riverstone!
Miss Ilaria
Teacher
Miss Ilaria has trained in the performing arts for over 16 years, completing an outstanding number
of examinations and receiving scholarships from the Royal Academy of Dance, Australian Conservatoire of Ballet and Glen Wood Tap.
Her training has included traditional and commercial jazz, contemporary,
lyrical, hip-hop, musical theatre, cabaret, latin ballroom, singing and acting.
Ilaria completed six months of full time dance training in Sydney and is a qualified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor.
In 2024, Ilaria will begin her studies with the Royal Academy of Dance to obtain her Certificate of Dance Teaching, as well as studying a Bachelor of Dance Education at the Australian College of Physical Education.
Miss Ilaria aims to instil the principles and a love for dance onto her students, in an inspiring and enthusiastic environment!
We are so excited to have her guiding our dance classes in Riverstone!
Miss Vanessa
Teacher
Miss Vanessa has been a dance teacher for over 10 years and has a love and passion for dance that she imparts on her students. She holds an ADA Pre-Elementary & Elementary Jazz & Tap Teacher Certification finishing with Honours with Distinction, is Acrobatic Arts Module 1 Certified, and is a Ready Set Dance trained teacher.
She specialises in most styles of dance including; Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Acrobatics. Miss Vanessa also has experience teaching Glenn Wood Tap and RAD Ballet classes, preparing her students for dance examinations.
Miss Vanessa holds an ACU Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Arts, and her passion for dance is evident in the enthusiasm she brings to every dance class!