Our Teachers

We are fortunate to have a talented pool of dance teachers in Wanaka.  They each bring a wealth of knowledge from many corners of the world, and some have trained within our school to advanced levels & now enjoy sharing their skills.  Our staff gain a great deal of satisfaction teaching and working with our students.  They are passionate about dance, and love passing on their skills to other enthusiasts within our community.

Anna Thomas

Anna (nee Yeates) has been the Studio Director & owner of Dance Wanaka since 2011. She has taught hundreds of Wanaka youth & adults, and loves sharing her passion for dance. Most local dancers started there dance journey in her popular Sparkles preschool classes. 

Her background originates back to the Waikato where her love for dance began.  She obtained her advanced ballet examinations (RAD & BBO) through the tuition of Louise Hurley, Margaret Fairhead, Valarie Lisette, Carol Speirs & Prue Gooch. She was a nominee at the National PACNZ Performing Arts Ballet Competitions (1990).  She obtained her Jazz Solo Seal (NZAMD) at Drury Lane (Hamilton) under the direction of Keri Davies & Advanced American Jazz at Directions (Hamilton). She learned tap and was introduced to contemporary when it was in its infancy in NZ.  

Anna began relief teaching for Margaret Fairhead School of Dance while studying BA Sport & Leisure Management (Waikato University) & performed with the Drury Lane Theatre Company & Hamilton Operatic Society. She was introduced & completed research projects in dance education which was in its infancy at MOE. She moved to Wellington to further her professional career in marketing & in evenings rehearsed & performed in Wellington Operatic Musical Shows - West End to Broadway, Ovation & Oklahoma. 

She moved to Wanaka in 2004 and worked at Treble Cone ski area as Marketing Manager for six seasons. While settling in the beautiful Southern Lakes, she reignited her interests in dance.  She now has 3 daughters who also love to dance.  

Anna is a member of BBOdance & APDA. She has achieved her Advanced Jazz Addict Teacher Qualifications, BBO Pre Associate Teacher Qualifications, Acrobatic Arts level 1, and regularly attends dance & teacher workshops/concourses to keep abreast with new techniques. 

Riki Young 

Riki is a senior Jazz & Ballet teacher and choreographer at Dance Wanaka. She coaches competitive dancers and also creates our stunning production posters with her graphic design skills.

Dancing and performing has been a passion of Riki's since she started ballet at the age of 3 with Joy Lewis then Glenys Scandrett School of Dance in Invercargill. She later moved to Auckland to study full time dance at the Auckland City Dance Centre under Valerie Murray & Allan Barry where she worked under the guidance of many high profile teachers. From there she moved to Brisbane for a year to continue & develop her dance skills before returning home. Classically trained to RAD advanced level & modern styles, her most recent stage performances have been with the Invercargill Musical Theatre Company.  She moved to Wanaka in 2011 & by day is an agent at Harcourts Real Estate.  

Katrina Bristow 

Katrina has a wealth of experience & knowledge in performance, vocals and dance.  Originally from Gore, she teachers our junior jazz classes.  She is also a vocal coach, professional singer & accountant by day. She is the Artistic & Event Director of Wanaka's Stars in Your Eyes since 2019, and Wearable Arts Show in Gore.

Bridget Owens

Bridget was drawn to dance by a love of movement and the stage. Performing in musicals and training in NZAMD during her school years, she attended the (then) Wellington Performing Arts Centre to gain her Diploma in Performing Arts - Commercial Dance, a memorable and rewarding period which introduced her to a number of dance techniques. Bridget assists with admin support, teaches weekly Adult Booty Barre classes & has taught junior jazz classes at our Studios.

Aimee Harrold 

Aimee is a talented senior dancer in our school & gained her APDA teacher certification in 2020.  She achieved honours for Jazz Addict Advanced 2 (distinction), Lucidity Solo Seal, Urban Ignition Level 10.  She has become a well loved all round teacher.  Aimee has enjoyed many solo character roles in our recent production - the Lion in our Oz (2020), Charlie in Willy Wonka (2021), Captain Hook in Neverland (2022).

Tamara Burrows 

Tamara is a senior Hip Hop dancer in the school and enjoys teaching our junior Hip Hop crews. 

Tayla Doran 

Tamara is an accomplished jazz & ballet dancer.  She achieved her APDA Teacher Certification in 2021 & now enjoys teaching our junior & elementary jazz dancers. Tayla was a lead soloist in recent productions - Wendy in Neverland (2022), Veruca Salt in Willy Wonka (2021), and Wicked Witch in Oz (2020). 

Isabella Soper

Bella is a senior dancer in our school and teaches jazz, hip hop & acro classes. She achieved her APDA Teacher Certification (2021), and Advanced 2 Jazz Addict with honours (2022). She is a trained gymnast & national level representative for Otago, and assists our competitive students with their acrobatic tricks. She was a soloist in our productions - Peter Pan in Neverland (2022), Violet Beauregarde in Willy Wonka (2021) & the Wizard in Oz (2020).

Vanessa Vickers

Vanessa is a senior hip hop, jazz & classical ballet dancer. She will be teaching our intermediate level Hip Hop crews this year.

Alexis-Sofia Harvey Wills

Alexis is a senior hip hop, contemporary & tap dancer. She will be teaching our junior Hip Hop crews this year.

Grace Thomas 

Grace is an accomplished senior all round dancer & performer.  She enjoys teaching hip hop & contemporary classes. She consistently achieves Honours with Distinction awards in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, & Contemporary examinations. She was awarded APDA Top Tier awards (highest marks across Australasia) for Jazz Addict, Urban Ignition, Lucidity examinations (2021). She is a successful performer at regional competitions, and has begun choreographing for younger dancers in the school.

Elizabeth Pell

Elizabeth is an accomplished senior all round dancer & performer.  She will be teaching contemporary & tap classes this year. She consistently achieves Honours her Intermediate Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary & Tap examinations.  She has regularly performed in competitions from a young age.