Staff
The Sayers Dance Centre employs as Advanced students in their student teacher program.
Student teachers always work together with the school's qualified teachers to gain skills which they might be able to use in their own schools in the future. They must be of Advanced standard to become student teachers.
The centre often employs past students who graduate and qualify as teachers to ensure that their successful teaching methods continue for the next generation of dancers. This keeps the high standards and successes repeating over the years with qualified, dedicated, and professional teachers.
Principals
Vivianne Sayers
Founder of Sayers. Passed away June 2024
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Life Member - Royal Academy of Dance
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Registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance
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Founder of the Sayers Dance Centre 1975
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Trained and danced with the Borovansky Ballet.
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Co-Founder Qld. Dance School of Excellence (Q.D.S.E.) 1982
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25 yrs.Member of the Q.D.S.E. Artistic Committee
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Vivianne wass married with 2 grown children and 4 grandchildren and 3 gorgeous Great Grandsons
Nadine Sayers-D'Arro A.R.A.D SOLO SEAL
Principal
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A.R.A.D. Solo Seal - Dip. Q.D.S.E. RAD.R.T.C.
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Current member of South East Queensland regional panel of the Royal Academy of Dance
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Registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance
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Trained at Sayers to Advanced - Solo Seal
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Teaching at Sayers since 1982
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Gained the Solo Seal of the R.A.D. 1984
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Nadine is married with two children. She is often invited to Guest Teach and to Adjudicate competitions and Eisteddfods
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Specialist classical teacher with many years of performance and teaching experience.
Teachers & Administration Staff
Sarah Thompson
Teacher
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Sarah trained on the Gold Coast before attending the Queensland Dance School of Excellence
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Trained with the Qld Ballet and was promoted to company dancer.
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Danced as a soloist with the Staatsballett Hannover in Germany.
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Attained her Diploma in Pilates while teaching at the Sydney Dance Company.
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Moved to Brisbane to study and teach Ballet and Pilates.
Laura Wood A.R.A.D
Guest Teacher
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Laura trained at Sayers from a young age until an adult. She trained in all genres and completed her Advanced 2 RAD.
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Graduated from the Queensland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE).
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A graduate of the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year (PPY)
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Laura danced professionally with Celebrity Cruises, Sydney Dance Company and Opera Australia.
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It is so exciting to welcome Laura back home to the Sayers Dance Family.
Kath C
Guest Teacher
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Kath trained with Sayers Dance Centre from aged 3 to Advanced 2.
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Diploma in Dance from Queensland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE).
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Attended WAAPA Advanced Diploma of Dance.
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Taught at Sayers, many years ago
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Performed at Tokyo Disney
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Bachelor of Nursing with Distinction.
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Current registered nurse who is looking forward to returning to Teach at Sayers.
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It is so exciting to welcome Kath back home to the Sayers Dance Family.
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Simone Atthow
Guest Teacher
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Trained at Sayers, Graduate of QDSE & QUT.BA (Dance)
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Expert Teacher of Ballet & Contemporary. More than 20 years teaching experience.
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Previously a professional dancer with the Queensland Ballet & Expressions Company.
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Has taught at QDSE & QUT and is a freelance choreographer.
Marise McGuirk A.R.A.D
Guest Teacher
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A.R.A.D. Associate Diploma Performing Arts. (dance) Q.U.T.
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Registered teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance
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Member R.A.D.Panel - Adelaide 1982-96
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Specialist classical teacher with many years of performance & teaching experience. She is married with 2 Adult children, daughter Chloe graduated from Sayers. She joined the West Australia Ballet Company in 2013.
Deborah McDonald
Administration
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Deborah has been part of Sayers since it started, Deborah is Mrs Sayers Daughter and Nadine's sister. Deborah has been working in the office since 2007.
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Having not done ballet herself, her daughter did dance for many years.
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Deborah is married and has an adult son and daughter and three gorgeous grandsons.
Christopher Rickert
Teacher
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Trained at Sayers to Advanced.
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Graduated New Zealand School of Dance.
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Competed in New York International Ballet Competition.
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Danced Numerous Title Roles as part of the company of the Royal Danish Ballet. Spent over 10 years with the Company.
Mia O'Byrne A.R.A.D
Teacher
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Mia trained at Sayers from a 3 year old to an Adult. Training in Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Repertoire and Classical Ballet
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Completed her Advanced 2 RAD.
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Completed Certificate 111 in Dance.
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Mia trained extensively under the guidance of Principal Nadine Sayers and is now a teacher for young students in Ballet, Jazz, Musical theatre and all levels of Tap.
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She is currently also studying a Bachelor of Radiation Therapy at QUT.
Caitlyn Lee
Teacher
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Caitlyn has been dancing for over 15 years in genres including tap, jazz and ballet.
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Previously trained a the Ritz Performing Arts Centre.
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Has completed her CSTD jazz teacher's certificate.
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Caitlyn spent the last year teaching dance at St Aidans Anglican Girls School.
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She is also studying a Bachelor of Psychological Science at UQ.
Hannah Baden-Clay A.R.A.D
Guest Teacher
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Trained at Sayers from a 3 year old to her Advanced 2.
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A.R.A.D
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Hannah is in her final year of university studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree Majoring in Dance Performance at QUT. She has also completed her Royal Academy of Dance teaching qualification.
Miranda Zeller A.R.AD
Guest Teacher
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A.R.A.D. Trained at QUT graduating with a BFA
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Choreographer Launchpad 2011 for Expressions Dance Company
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Freelance contemporary technique teacher at Expressions Dance Company, QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts (dance), QDSE, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Center for the Performing Arts
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Qualified Physiotherapist
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Mum to a gorgeous baby boy.
Taylor Bubb
Guest Teacher
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Taylor is a modern choreographer who strives to create with no boundaries. With CSTD diploma qualifications, she extends her expertise to a wide variety of students of all ages and abilities. During her examination period she was also awarded the Gold national tapping award.
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She was lucky enough to perform in the Melbourne Tap Festival after receiving the BPAC Tap Scholarship in 2013. She was also awarded a scholarship to Broadway Dance Centre in New York in 2014 . She has been highly trained in all styles of dance since the age of 3 and her passion shines through in all of her classes and choreography in all genres.
Carolyn O'Byrne
Administration
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Carolyn has been part of the Sayers Dance Centre for many years, since her eldest daughter started dancing with us as a young child. Carolyn started working in the office in 2018
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Carolyn is married and has a son and 3 daughters. All daughters learned ballet and other genres up to senior level classes. Mia is a now a teacher at Sayers.