Staff Biographies
Janine McGrath
Director & Main Teacher Classical Coaching AUSTRALIA
Founder and Artistic Director Brisbane City Youth Ballet
After studying all facets of dance from leading teachers from a very young age Janine received full teaching qualifications in ballet, modern and tap dance as well as graduating from University with a Bachelor of Education. Commencing teaching with the Department of Education, Janine opened her own dance school in 1994 quickly developing a reputation as a leading school in classical ballet with excellent teaching and exceptional choreography.
After an inspirational visit to the US, In 2008 Janine decided to focus solely on developing BCYB by closing her own school to give the company the time and direction it needed. BCYB and teaching students is her love and life passion as she dedicates her week to BCYB and working with elite full- time and part time students from 9 years of age who require specialised training to reach their goal of becoming professional ballet dancers. Her coaching program Classical Coaching AUSTRALIA has been recognized internationally. CCA now offers classes in ballet, contemporary and mime in the afternoon school from 7yrs of age. Janine was invited to spend a week at the Royal Ballet School and The John Cranko School in Stuttgart, each year she visits top company schools around the world to ensure her students reach the highest standard.
Classical Coaching Australia has produced 20 ‘Youth American Grand Prix’ New York Finalists and 7 Prix de Lausanne Candidates to date. CCA has produced two YAGP bronze medalists, five top 12, three Prix de Lausanne FINALISTS including two years 2013 & 2015 where her students were the youngest Prix de Lausanne finalists. Recently four CCA students took many top prizes at the Asian Grand Prix (Australian Round) including winning the Leanne Benjamin Award Tait Memorial Trust Scholarship to represent Australia at the final in Hong Kong. All full time CCA graduates have been placed in the worlds’ leading ballet company schools.
Past and present students have attained outstanding Examination, Bursary, Scholarships and Eisteddfod results. They have also been finalists or prizewinners at prestigious competitions both nationally and internationally. Past students have been accepted into the Paris Opera Ballet School, Royal Ballet School, Australian Ballet School, John Cranko School Stuttgart, Dutch National Ballet Academy Amsterdam, San Francisco Ballet School, ABT Jacqueline Onassis Ballet School, Houston Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Hamburg Ballet School, Princess Grace Monaco, Canada National Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Pre- Professional Year & Royal Ballet School Antwerp Belgium.
Past students have received contracts with The Paris Opera Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, New Zealand Ballet, Washington Ballet, Arizona Ballet and Ballet de l’Opera National de Bordeaux.
Her youth ballet company has already produced many magical ballets: ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘The Magic Toyshop’, 'The Fairy Doll', 'Sleeping Beauty', 'Cinderella', 'The Snow Queen', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Magic Faraway Tree' and 'Nutcracker' with repeat seasons of both 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'The Nutcracker'. Her passion for ballet and choreography is evident in these full-scale story ballets.
Her greatest joy is seeing dancers reach their potential and enjoy the experience and magic of theatre. The training students receive at Classical Coaching Australia combined with the performing experiences with Brisbane City Youth Ballet is clearly evident in these stunning story ballet performances.
Jan Moore
Jan is a Life Member and a Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She is also, a Life Member, and a Grades and Major Examiner for A.D.A. formerly known as the Federal Association of Teachers of Dancing. Former Principal of her own studio in Rockhampton for 25 years, Jan now has over 50 years of teaching experience. Over the years, she has adjudicated at festivals and eisteddfods throughout Australia. Jan has also been committed to the Brisbane City Youth Ballet (BCYB) since its inception and works with the Artistic Founder and Director, Miss Janine McGrath, as Rehearsal and Class Teacher. Past students of Ms Moore are presently performing in companies both overseas and in Australia, most notably Leanne Benjamin, who was Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet. Jan and Janine have worked side by side for over 20 years producing many professional dancers.
Kate Sim A.R.A.D. Solo Seal
Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Certificate (Vocational Graded: Distinction)
Kate studied ballet in Brisbane with Robyn Power and Margaret Dixon and as a full time student with Prudence Bowen in Sydney. Additional studies were undertaken in London with Anna Northcote, Maria Fay and Errol Addison. On returning to Australia, Kate danced with Ballet Theatre of Queensland performing a range of principal and soloist roles including Pigtail and Foueett girl in Graduation Ball, Prudenza in Pulcinella and Odette in Swan Lake Act 2. As a member of the Heidelberg Ballet Ensemble Kate performed the Pas de Deux from Flower Festival at Genzano and principal roles within ballets such as Mark Annear's In Celebration and Theme and Variations. Kate is a highly regarded freelance ballet teacher specialising in open classical ballet classes and coaching of senior ballet students. Kate has been a faculty member of the Queensland Dance School of Excellence for twelve years. Kate is a registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and from 2004 to 2013, was a tutor for the RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS).
Kimberley Davis
Kimberley grew up in Maitland N.S.W. She attended ballet classes in the Cecchetti method under Suzanne Pettit. At 15yrs Kimberley moved to Brisbane to attend Queensland Dance School of Excellence followed by another move to Melbourne to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Dance through the Victorian College of The Arts. Upon graduation Harold Collins offered her a position with the Queensland Ballet Company. She was promoted to Featured Artist in 1995 and under the new direction of Francois Klaus was promoted to Principal Dancer. Kimberley enjoyed dancing numerous soloist and principal roles from ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Giselle, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet Peer Gynt and The Little Mermaid. Kimberley was nominated for a Helpmann Award in 2003 for her performance in “The Big Three” which included works by international choreographers William Forsythe, John Neumeier and Stephan Thoss. Some of the most memorable moments in her career involved featuring and being involved in the choreographic process of new works by artists such as Natalie Weir, Paul Boyd, François Klaus, Chrissie Parrot and Rosetta Cook.
In 2003 Kimberley stopped dancing to have the first of her two children. Since this time she has enjoyed freelance teaching and performing in independent dance project works as well as gaining a diploma in Professional Pilates. Using her understanding of body mechanics as well as her own professional experiences Kimberley now receives particular enjoyment from teaching, coaching and inspiring young dancers to grow into all they can be.
Monique Feain
Head of Cecchetti
Monique has been teaching for over 25 years and has been successfully coaching ballet students on the Northern Rivers for the past 18 years after running a successful Ballet School in three Sydney locations. Monique offers expert dance tuition in a disciplined but encouraging, caring and nurturing environment whether for a vocational career in dance or as an enhancement to the overall general future of the recreational student.
Robyn Czislowski
Robyn studied under Meryl (Hughes) Papas OAM and completed all her Royal Academy of Dance exams passing Solo Seal in 1966. She performed as a Principal and Soloist for many years with Ballet Theatre of Queensland touring extensively throughout South East Queensland and also performing on television. Robyn was Principal of the Enoggera Dancing School for 12 years and was also Ballet Mistress for the Australian Youth Ballet in the 1980’s. Robyn is currently teaching for Classical Coaching Australia and also assists with rehearsals for the Brisbane City Youth Ballet.
Riley Baldwin - Contemporary Teacher
Originating from Bundaberg, Riley commenced his full-time studies at the Australian Dance Performance Institute in 2009 before successfully auditioning for the New Zealand School of Dance in 2010 where he majored in contemporary dance. During his time in Wellington, Riley performed works by Rafael Bonachela, Garry Stewart and Antony Hamilton as part of the School’s annual Graduation Seasons and received guest tutorage from industry professionals such as Richard Cilli, Craig Bary, Sarah Foster-Sproull and Lina Limosani, whom he worked with professionally in 2014. Since graduating in 2013, Riley now embarks on his choreographic pursuit by continuously aspiring to develop, nurture and shape his own unique form of movement through his coaching and choreographic endeavours. His distinct flair has been acknowledged at elite competitions around the world with solo work performed in the Finals of both the Youth America Grand Prix and the RAD Genée International Ballet Competition to name a few. Riley also founded his own collective — RB Corp. — as a way to fortify his devotion to the craft and creation of contemporary dance, and influences younger generations to follow through the company's youth attachment, RB Corp. Instruction.