The mediocre teacher tells,
The good teacher explains,
The superior teacher demonstrates,
The great teacher inspires.
- William Arthur Ward   

DDTPS have a range of teachers that specialise in their feilds within the performance industry to enable your child the best education in the arts. All teachers follow the DDTPS code of conduct & philosophy and provide fun, friendly and challenging environment to enable all students to enjoy their experience and also grow in their craft. 

Artistic Director: Kate Histon R.A.D rts  Advanced Level; Performance Troupe & Classical Ballet

Kate began formal ballet and dance training at the age of 4 and by 6yrs she was performing regularly in competitions and events in solo and group work. At fourteen Kate’s exceptional talent for dance was recognised as she was accepted into full time training at the Marie Walton Academy of Dance in Newcastle whilst continuing her high schooling via distance education. In her second year of full time, Kate performed as an accompanying dancer with the Australian Ballet Company’s rendition of “Swan Lake".

In her late teens Kate’s love of teaching dance and performance was discovered. She began teaching classical ballet as well as meditation and performance dynamics to fulltime dance students as a way of assisting them cope with the rigors of dance. At the same time she began exploring other dance styles and began a 2yr contract as a jazz dancer for the World’s Biggest Disco. Determined to understand the connection between mind, body and spirit and the role it plays in the life of a dancer, Kate began studying numerous personal development and self-actualisation methodologies and philosophies that she now incorporates in her teaching style.

In 2000 Kate moved to Byron Bay with an endeavor to build the formalised dance culture she had been apart of for many years.  As a qualified teacher through the Royal Academy of Dance Kate built Dance Dynamics Theatrical & Performance School integrating and emphasising personal development as well as dance excellence.

Kate is also a professional facilitator in the field of human behaviour in Australia and overseas www.KateHiston.com. She specialises in the dance and performance industry and consults to dancers and teachers interstate and locally on a regular basis. Kate’s methodologies are regularly shared through Dance Life Australia www.dancelife.com.au   

 2010 Teaching Staff

Rebecca Balfour Musical Theatre Director & JFH

Dance and musical theatre have always been a part of Rebecca’s life. At age 5 her endless adventure into the world of performing arts began, embracing styles such as musical theatre, ballet, tap & jazz. An award winning student, Rebecca’s passion continually paid off and because of her hard work, her talent emerged wining multiple places at eisteddfods and receiving scholarships for her exceptional ability in the arts. 

Creativity is an essential part of Rebecca’s life and her influence as a performance artist and teacher was inspired by her parents who are both passionate and reputable high school teachers specializing in the arts and performance. Infusing her two great loves of teaching and performance Rebecca at 14 years old this rare talent started her teaching career with much encouragement from her mentors.

Rebecca’s ability grew rapidly and soon enough she was touring The America’s, Canada and Europe with the international company Up With People where she undertook an internship as the dance director.

In 2000 Rebecca established Tamworth Academy of Dance and in the two years she directed her school she inspired and developed many students.

Rebecca has been apart of our Dance Dynamics family for the past five years and her love and commitment to our students and the arts have been a huge contributor to the development of our students ability and talent as dancers, actors and all round performers.   

Zoe Wall Classical Ballet     

Zoe Wall was raised in Byron Bay, attending Byron Rudolf Steiner School at Ewingsdale and then Byron High School. Zoë’s passion for dance began at a very early age. Her first performance was at twin towns when Zoe was 3.

Dance Dynamics (formerly Byron Bay Academy of Dance) was Zoë’s dance school under the tutelage of Sui Blumson. Sui taught the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus under which Zoe achieved distinction results throughout her training.

At 16, Zoe moved to Sydney to pursue a professional career in Ballet, studying fulltime with the Rochelle Dykstra Academy of Ballet in Rose Bay. Months away from moving to Vienna to train with the Vienna Opera Ballet School Zoe critically injured her ankle which brought a premature halt to her career. After traveling the world, Zoe returned to her Byron Bay home, where she has established a fashion design business specialising in textiles.

Zoe brings her amazing Classical Ballet expertise to our students and her trained eye combined with her warm heart have inspired many students in the love of this central art form.

Mary-Ellen Stringer - Musical Theatre and Singing Coach

Mary-Ellen joined her first touring theatre company at fifteen and started singing professionally at sixteen. She trained as an actor with Hayes Gordon at his Ensemble Studios in Sydney. She toured the country with Lamplight Theatre Company – at one stage the only entirely self funded, award paying theatre company in the country. But singing is her first love. She is a published songwriter and has extensive experience singing live and in the studio. She was part of a loose collective of musicians in Sydney in the late eighties and early nineties that formed around Louis Tillett and his legendary Paris Green blues band. She is a mother of two and has lived in the Northern Rivers region for almost ten years. ‘Like all creative practice, singing is a discipline that involves the whole person - mind, body and spirit. The most rewarding aspect of teaching young people to sing is witnessing the emergence of their own voice. I love the moment in class when the students stop singing in American accents. What follows is at first a tremulous and shy delivery, but becomes a joyous, full bodied expression of the self. It makes me cry every time.’ 

Marla Albiston - Contemporary, JFH

Marla is very excited to be back for her second season with Dance Dynamics! Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, she has been living in Byron Bay since September on a one-year Working Holiday Visa. Marla has studied all styles of dance in such places as Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, LA, and New York, and enjoyed performing on the high seas as a dancer with Princess Cruiselines. She has her Bachelor of Education degree from The University of Alberta (English major, Drama minor), and has been teaching dance for the past six years. In addition to her passion for dance, Marla has also been studying circus arts for the last two years, and loving the opportunity to put her dance skills to work in a new, and unique environment.

Megan Werner - JFH

Megan started her dancing life at the age of five in Classical Ballet, Jazz and Tap. By the age of six she began dancing competitively and by seven years of age she had seven solo routines that she performed at eisteddfods. This included tap, jazz, slow modern, ballet, demi character, national and novelty.. At fifteen years of age, Megan began her teaching career by becoming a teacher’s assistant. Since then, Megan has been teaching every year and specialises in teaching the RAD ballet syllabus to junior students as well as Jazz/Funk/HipHop.                                                                                                                    

 As a dancer Megan completed up to her Royal Academy of Dance Advance 1 and attended many special master classes some with the Australian Ballet School. 

Megan believes that her versatility is due to her dedicated spirit and the influences of both male and female dance mentors. This extensive experience enables Megan to provide children with a variety of new and fresh movement.

Megan’s major study and core performance piece for her HSC were both nominated for call-back meaning she reached the top 10% in Australia HSC dance. Megan’s love of dance teaching and unique experience is such an asset to our students. Megan will also be studying education at university part time.

Bo Daly Contemporary & JFH Teacher

Bo has had a variety of dance experience in the Byron Shire. Her focus and dedication to dance has led her to achieve outstanding results in her examinations and dance in general. She was 2006 Dance Dynamics Dancer of the Year due to her commitment to her team, inspiration to her peers and the junior school. In Bo’s life at our school she grew from strength to strength. In 2007 she began our specialsed Master Dancer™ and Teacher training course and from here she flourished not only in her dance precision but her ability to teach all her knowledge she had been studying for many years. At the beginning of 2007 Bo’s dance excellence was rewarded in her acceptance into the Gold Coast Musical Company’s rendition of “High School Musical”. Bo’s HSC contemporary dance piece she choreographed was recently nominated for the top 10% in Australia! She is a great role model and we are excited to watch her teaching career unfold.

Regular Guest Teachers

Jen Murray – Contemporary

Miss Jen first came to our school in 2007 and was the director of our Dance Dynamics Company. Having embarked on a lifelong exploration of physical and energetic principals, Jen continuously strives to continue her understanding of the mechanics and artistry of the body in motion. She performed professionally as an independent contemporary dance artist in Canada from 1997-2003, after which time she traveled to Australia where she guest taught and choreographed at the Northern Rivers Conservatorium of Arts. Jen’s contemporary classes and choreographic vocabularies are influenced by the myriad of dance styles she has studied including; ballet, Graham, Cunningham, butoh and improvisation. Her classes are technical, challenging and fun and she encourages her students to explore the dynamics, energy and breath within their dancing to deepen their interpreting performing abilities. Jen is also a practicing and certified Hatha/Vinyasa yoga teacher.

 Jessica Capolupo - JFH

Jessica’s spunk and down to earth approach mixed with her exceptional talent as a performer and teacher are a breath of fresh air to our industry. Our students love her and her extensive experience as a dancer, actress, singer, presenter and all round performer in the entertainment industry is second to none. A natural performer she has appeared in various productions from television to stage and is currently a celebrity radio host on the Gold Coast at 102.9 Hot Tomato! Jessica trained full time in performing arts at ‘Brent Street

’ in Sydney and her skills and experience are an asset to our students.