Our Staff
Principal - Corynne Darcy
Tap (LGTDA), Jazz & Ballet (ATOD), Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), Acrobatic Arts, Cheerleading (AASCF) B.Ed (Primary) Honours
Miss Corynne’s passion for dance began at the tender age of 4 when she started Saturday morning dance classes with Coralie Bradshaw at Bradshaw Performing Arts Academy in Sydney. She was trained in jazz, tap, classical ballet, singing and musical theatre for five years until a family move shifted them from Sydney to Newcastle. She then continued her dance training with Pullars Dancing Academy until the completion of high school and completed her Les Griffith Tap Dancing Association Examinations with D.A.P.A. Principal Lesly Stevenson whilst studying to become a Primary School Teacher at Newcastle University. She was also trained in RAD Classical Ballet and has since completed all of her Australian Teachers of Dancing Examinations and is an Associate Member of the Academy.
Miss Corynne was also trained in Pianoforte and Musicianship Examinations with the Australian Music Examination Board and is qualified to teach Piano.
Miss Corynne enjoyed success in numerous solo and troupe eisteddfods throughout NSW and was awarded many awards and certification. She is a registered teacher with LGTDA, ATOD, PBT, Acrobatics Arts and AASCF.
Miss Corynne’s first stage appearance in Musical Theatre was Metropolitan Player’s successful season of Singing in the Rain at the Griffith Duncan Theatre as a member of the dance ensemble. She also performed in 42nd Street.
Miss Corynne’s love of dance teaching was at first discovered through volunteering to teach primary school dance as an extra-curricular activity. She has trained groups for Wakakirri – The Australian Primary Schools Dance and Drama Eisteddfod, Croc Fest, The Hunter Schools Dance Festival and Roadshows. She is a member of the Hunter Schools Dance Festival committee and is a choreographer for STARSTRUCK in the Hunter Region
After graduating her Bachelor of Education degree with Honours she was awarded the title of “Supergrad” and gained Full Time Employment with the New South Wales Department of Education and Training. She is currently a a- omit Kindergarten teacher at Wirreanda Public School.
Miss Coryne first began dance teaching at 18 years of age and opened the Dance ‘N Dazzle Studio a year later after public demand. The studio has been operating since 1996 and boasts wonderful results in Jazz, Tap, National Character and Ballet Examinations with a 100% pass rate in all genres, and fantastic eisteddfod results for both Solos, Duos and Troupes with some students competing at the National Level. Miss Corynne prides herself on running a highly organised, efficient and professional Annual End of Year Dance Concert and mid year Mini-Concert. Inspiring students with a love of dance is one of Miss Corynne’s greatest achievements.
More recently, Miss Corynne expanded her skills, successfully completing qualifications in PBT – Progressing Ballet Technique, a program that helps students advance in all forms of dancing with muscle memory – focusing on core stablility, weight placement and alignment with the world renowned Marie Walton-Mahon. She also completed accreditation in Acrobatics Arts from Canada and is certified in correct and safe acrobatic practices.
Dance ‘N Dazzle Studio is very lucky to introduce some wonderful teachers with outstanding expertise, experience and qualifications. All Staff participate in workshops and master classes on a regular basis to continue to broaden their knowledge and keep up to date with the latest styles of dance
Miss Kyara Darcy
Tap, Jazz, Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acrobatics, Hip Hop,Musical Theatre, National Character
Miss Kyara has trained all her life with Dance ‘n Dazzle starting in our Dance with Me class when she was aged 1. She has been trained in all styles of dance and has completed all of her ATOD and LGTDA examinations. She has three National Titles in Tap Dancing, has trained at Brent Street and Lee Academy and has won many championships and Scholarships throughout Australia for her dancing. In 2024 Kyara was awarded first place for both the open age Tap section and Tap Championship at the Sydney City Eisteddfod winning an $800 Scholarship
Studying HSC Dance in 2023 at HSPA with “Callbacks” for both her Major Work and Core Performance, she also completed her Cert III in Dance. She was a member of the Dance Ensembles at HSPA, Hunter Dance Festival and Starstruck and has been part of the Student Direction Team for the past 3 years, choreographing routines for hundreds of students from schools across the Hunter region.
She has also completed her Senior Teachers Tap Diploma with LGTDA, is accredited in Acrobatic Arts and completed PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) certification with Marie Walton-Mahon.
She is vocally trained with Miss Alison Cox in Singing and Musical Theatre and completed both HSC Music and Drama where she also received an “onstage nomination”.
Miss Kyara was selected to travel to the USA in 2023 where she completed masterclasses at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Centre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Millenium Dance Complex, met with the Rockettes and completed workshops at Disneyland.
She is currently an undergraduate at Newcastle University studying a Bachelor of Secondary Education whilst also completing a Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management with Transit Dance in Melbourne.
Miss Hannah Ross
Jazz & Tap
Miss Hannah has completed all of her training (29 years) with Dance ‘N Dazzle Studio. She has been trained in Jazz, Tap, Classical ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary. She has enjoyed success in numerous troupe eisteddfods throughout NSW and has been awarded the Studio 20 years of Loyalty trophy. Hannah has completed examinations for Australian Teachers of Dancing in Jazz ballet and has assisted Miss Corynne with The Tiny Dazzlers for many years. Miss Hannah has a wonderful rapport with our younger students and her talent, skill, patience and careful guidance is sure to make every student feel extra special.
Miss Kristen Doonar
Acrobatics and Dance
Miss Kristen has completed all of her training (18 years) with Dance ‘n Dazzle Studio. She has been trained in acrobatics, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre and Lyrical styles. She has also had extensive vocal training and is an accomplished singer winning many competitions around NSW. She has enjoyed success in numerous solo and troupe eisteddfods throughout NSW and has been awarded many studio trophies for her efforts. Kristen has completed examinations for Australian Teachers of Dancing in Jazz ballet and in LGTDA Tap. Kristen is currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education at Newcastle University . Miss Kristen is sure to teach some amazing new tricks to our Acrobatics classes and we know how much our students enjoy these classes.
Miss Amber Elwes
Dance
Miss Amber has danced with Dance ‘n Dazzle Studio for 20 years and completed many ATOD examinations, concerts and eisteddfods in that time. She has been teaching for 6 years now and prides herself on being super organised, responsible and supporting all her dance students. She completed HSC dance in 2015 and was awarded the CAPA Scholarship at Irrawang High and has received many awards including the Exam Scholarship at Dance ’n Dazzle. She performed for 8 years at Starstruck both as a featured dancer and with her school as well as performing at Lakeside Learning Community Showcase, Hunter and State Dance Festivals. Miss Amber is currently studying a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering with Honours at the University of Newcastle.
Miss Rae-Lee Matthews
Dance
Miss Rae-Lee has been dancing for 33 years and studied with Wendy Peterson Dance Academy for many years completing all of her LGTDA Tap examinations including both her Junior & Senior Teaching Certificate. She was awarded a Scholarship to Sydney Dance company and frequently won both Tap and Jazz championships at both local and Sydney Eisteddfods. Miss Rae-Lee completed nearly all her RAD Classical Ballet examinations and has taught for many years, firstly as a Junior teacher at WPDA and then more recently in Sydney at Squire Dance Academy. She was fortunate enough to dance in both the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and Masters Games.
She completed HSC Drama in 2007 which saw her awarded with a Jnr NIDA Drama Scholarship. Her enthusiasm and joy for dance will be an asset to our dance family.
Miss Tahlia Raynor
Contemporary
Miss Tahlia is very passionate about dancing and creating choreography for contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She danced for 14 years training locally in jazz, tap, hip hop, Classical Ballet and Contemporary dancing at many eisteddfods and concerts. She has also been teaching for Coastal Dance Academy for 2 years. Miss Tahlia completed Glenn Wood Tap exams up to level 9 and studied HSC dance at Hunter School of Performing Arts receiving a callback for her composition piece, performing at her graduation in 2020. She also danced at Starstruck, State and Hunter Dance Festivals and Schools Spectacular as well as dance ensembles for several school musicals. She is a fully trained paramedic, who studied a Bachelor of Paramedicine at Charles Sturt University in Port Macquarie. Tahlia completed her training in 2022 before spending time working in the UK and travelling Europe and has now returned home to Port Stephens. She will commence her new appointment working as an ambulance officer for Nelson Bay station and is keen to continue her love for dance, teaching for Dance ‘n Dazzle.
