Carole Speirs - Director of Ballet
Carole Speirs (ARAD Adv. T Dip) is a Dance Educator/Classical Tutor and an Examiner (Grades and Vocational levels) for the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She is also the RAD Moderator for the AUT University Bachelor of Dance program.
New Zealand born and trained, Carole has gained a very wide range of teaching experience. Over many years she has taught young children through to tertiary level students in the private sector both open classical technique and syllabus classes.
Contracted to the Royal Academy of Dance Internationally, Carole has secured extensive experience as an examiner/assessor of student progress and ability. Of particular interest is the professional development of teachers of classical dance and Carole is often involved in the construction of new courses designed to assist teachers in furthering their knowledge and skill. For many years Carole directed her own school, focussing at Vocational Level. Former students have had many special achievements including Royal Academy of Dance "Adeline Genee" gold and silver medals.
Carole has organised seminars for teachers and students and has also been a member of the faculty for RAD Summer Schools including: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Luxembourg and Munich.
Carole is focussed on the education of mind and body through enjoyable participation in dance activities.
Keri Edley - Director of Jazz
Keri Edley is the Director of Jazz at the Academy and Artistic Director for Jazz Dance New Zealand (JDNZ).
Keri started ballet dancing at the age of 8 years, passing examinations in the British Ballet Organization Syllabus and then trained in ball room dance becoming a teacher as well. Keri has also studied Jazz dance for several years in the New Zealand Association of Modern Dance (NZAMD) Syllabus passing examinations including the Advanced level. In March 1979, Keri began her own dance school 'Keri Edley Modern Dance School', teaching Jazz and the following year she as invited to become an examiner for the NZAMD Jazz syllabus. In 1993, Keri was invited to become the Artistic Director of Jazz Dance New Zealand (JDNZ) where she helped develop a new syllabus for Jazz Dance. She is also now a national examiner for the JDNZ.
At the beginning of 2002, Auckland Academy of Dance incorporated Keri Edley Modern Dance School and moved to our larger current premises in New Lynn.
Keri is well known for her unique choreography. She choreographed and directed full length shows with her dance company 'Tiptoze', who performed all over New Zealand for a period of several years.
Over the years Keri's students have gone on to many different careers in dance including performers in stage musicals such as Cats, West Side Story, and Starlight Express as well as the Sky City Cheer Leaders, Vodafone Warriors and some have been accepted into international dance companies.