Meet your
dance teachers

Myffie has been involved in the Arts for the past 50 years and associated with PDA since 1992 when her two daughters enrolled in their first ballet classes. Fifteen years later she and her family took over the management of the Academy with the intention of upholding the legacy of inclusion established by the Founder, Marlene Mayall.Over the past 18 years Myffie has continued to be inspired and challengedabout dance education; encouraging staff and students to be inventive, imaginative and joyous in their teaching and learning.

Comdance Jazz, Tap & Theatrical Teaching Diploma, Comdance BLUE SASH, Certificate IV Dance Teaching & Management, Certificate IV TAE

Jessica has danced for 30 years in many styles of dance including Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Drama and Singing at PDA before being offered a position in full-time dance at the Dance Factory where she studied a Certificate IV in Dance. She holds Comdance Theatrical, Jazz & Tap Teaching Diplomas and has completed the highest level of performance examinations to gain her Blue Sash as well as a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management and a Certificate IV of Training & Assessment (TAE). Jessica has travelled throughout Australia examining the ADV syllabus and is currently undertaking studies to qualify as a Comdance Examiner.

Comdance Jazz Teaching Diploma,Tap & Theatrical Teaching Cert,Comdance BLUE SASH Cert IV Dance Teaching & Management

Kathryn started dancing with PDA in 1996 and has successfully completed the syllabus for CSTD Modern Jazz and Tap with several Teaching Certificates. She has also completed the RAD Graded Examination levels including the Advanced 1 Vocational Exam. She was an Assistant teacher with Parkwood before commencing her dance teaching in 2008 and since, has taught all levels of work at many dance schools, as well as teaching students with Special Needs for 10 years. She has performed in the AFC Asian World Cup Opening ceremony, VAMFF Finale and was a member of Melbourne Tap Dance that performed throughout Melbourne, including the Australian Tap Festival.Kathryn has also studied and gained a Biomedical Science Degree majoring in Cellular Molecular Biology with Distinction and has gained her Master of Teaching in Primary and Secondary schools.

Comdance Tap Teaching Diploma

Kylie Digby has been involved in the dance industry for the past 40 years. She began as a tiny four-year-old stomping Domeney’s halls with Parkwood Dance Academy studying all styles and has taught there for over fifteen years. She has gained major examination standards in many forms of dance, specialising in Tap.In 2006, Kylie gained her CSTD Tap Diploma.She is well respected by her peers for bringing out the best in her students and regularly enters them in exams with outstanding results. Kylie also volunteers her time with local community-based theatre companies and has choreographed many shows including Pirates of Penzance and Gondoliers (Babirra), 42nd Street, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, Gypsy and Variety Shows.Aside from teaching at PDA, she works in Accounts and Administration.

Comdance Tap Teaching Diploma

Bridget Sutton has been a student of Parkwood Dance Academy for eighteen years. She has completed the highest CSTD Tap Performance Exam, a CSTD Teaching Certificate for Tap and Jazz exams to Grade 6. Bridget joined PDA’s teaching staff in 2013 having completed many years of Class Assistance.Bridget is a corporate lawyer specialising in public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity and equity capital market transactions.

Comdance Tap Teaching Diploma, Comdance BLUE SASH

Tamara began dancing at the age of 5 and has been dancing at Parkwood Dance Academy since 1999. She has completed the highest exams in the CSTD Jazz, Tap and Theatrical syllabi and successfully passed the RAD Advanced 1 Ballet exam. In 2015 Tamara also gained her CSTD Tap Teaching Diploma.Tamara has had experience teaching jazz, tap and ballet to junior levels as well as Adult beginner classes and a Stretch and Strengthen program for senior students. Outside of Parkwood, she has had a variety of teaching and dance experiences including choreographing the local secondary college’s school musical, performing in the 2015 Asian Cup Opening Ceremony, attending the Global Dance Convention in 2014 and 2015 and participating in workshops run by the CSTD and Australian Ballet.Tamara has also obtained her Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and works as a physiotherapist in a public hospital. She is currently undertaking two research projects and is planning to pursue her interest in physiotherapy for dancers in the future.

RAD Solo Seal

Vagonova Pre Professional

Certificate IV in Dance

Michelle started ballet at the age of six commencing part-time training at Gay Wightman’s School of Ballet and The Australian Ballet School as an associate/senior associate under the direction of Miss Gailene Stock CBEAM. Michelle then progressed to full-time training with The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet for two years followed by Marie-Walton Mahon’s for one year. After completing all of her RAD Major exams including the achievement of Solo Seal in Sydney, Michelle then competed in the Genee Awards in London. After auditioning in Europe, Michelle landed a position at The Heinz-Bosl Stiftung Academy in Munich. After almost two years in Germany, Michelle performed a season of La Bayadere with The Bayerisches Staatsballett and then flew back to Australia to continue down a Contemporary pathway.

Diploma in Dance Teaching & Management

Certificate IV in Training & Assessment

Certificate IV in Pilates

Certificate in Safe and Effective Dance Practice

Jane is a senior dance educator who has worked in this field for over 40 years in Australia, teaching at numerous dance schools, lecturing at Box Hill Institute for 15 years, and developing VET training and assessment resources for several accredited dance teacher training courses.

She was privileged to train as a dance teacher with Laurel Martyn OBE, an Australian icon of dance performance and education, and to work closely with her for more than a decade.

Jane’s enduring interest in pedagogical methods which foster improved standards for both teachers and students is reflected in her international presentations including RAD 2016, 2018 and 2021, IADMS2012-2017 inclusive, and daCI 2015, 2018 and 2022.  She has written a dance teaching manual for young dance students, ‘Dance Is…..’ and is currently Managing Trustee of the Laurel Martyn Foundation and Executive of the Laurel Martyn Dance Teaching System.

Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre)

Comdance Theatrical Teaching Certificate

Elysia Carroll (Ely) has been dancing for 30 years atParkwood Dance Academy. Her love of dance started with Tap at age 5 and quicklyspread to, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Musical theatre. She has completedher Jazz, Tap and Theatrical Comdance exams to the highest level receiving theGwen Mackey Gold Cross award for her final tap Public Performance exam. Shealso studied R.A.D ballet to grade 8 standard and has completed her Comdance TheatricalTeaching Certificate. Ely has completed the Certificate Musical theatre courseat the VCA as well as obtaining her Bachelor of Arts majoring in Dance andDrama from the Ballarat Arts Academy, Federation University.

Ely has been teaching 3 year olds to adults for 14 years in Jazz,Tap, Ballet, Drama, Singing and Contemporary. She loves sharing her joy ofperforming, and witnessing the happiness and self-expression occur in a danceclass. Outside of dancing, Ely has worked as an Education support teacher andcompleted an intensive short course in Speech pathology.

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Comdance Jazz Teaching Certificate

Sarahjane started dancing at age 4 and transitioned to PDA in 2005. She has completed the RAD Graded Examination syllabus and Comdance Modern Jazz syllabus (including the Comdance Modern Jazz Shield). She later completed the Comdance Major Ballet grades up to and including Advanced Ballet and the Martin Rubinstein Ballet Award. Sarahjane has been involved in many rich and exciting opportunities over the years including Competitions, Manningham City Council MC2 Opening Ceremony, AFC Asian World Cup Opening Ceremony, RAD Audrey Nicholls Awards and a variety of Victorian Workshops and Conventions. Sarahjane began as a Class Assistant before commencing teaching in 2016. She brings her passion for health and the human body to every class she teaches; encouraging students to condition, control and respond to their bodies as instruments. Sarahjane completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (minoring in Italian studies) with high distinction in 2019 and is currently completing the BMedSc(Hon)/Doctor of Medicine program at Monash University.

Comdance Jazz Teaching Diploma

Comdance Tap Teaching Certificate

Alicia Choy is a seasoned dancer who honed her skills in Singapore, obtaining the CSTD Tap Teacher’s Certificate and CSTD Jazz Teacher’s Diploma in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Throughout her career, she has worked in both teaching and choreography, contributing to numerous award-winning solos and troupes for regional and international competitions like Get The Beat. She has also been an active participant in the Singapore dance scene, performing and choreographing for several events. Relocating to Melbourne two years ago, she is concurrently pursuing a Master of Teaching while actively participating in the DanceSport scene.

Comdance Jazz Grade 9

Advanced Gold Bar Tap

RAD Grade 8 & Intermediate Ballet