Dianne Wallace School of Dance

Dianne Wallace School of Dance is a ballet school for children & adults
to learn to express themselves through the wonderful art of ballet

Students are taught the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and are entered for examinations or class awards annually; to date a 100% pass rate has been achieved. Students also perform a fun and exciting full-scale production; friends and family alike are able to come and appreciate the art of ballet.

Dianne Wallace has been teaching ballet for over 20 years. She is a Registered ballet teacher and holds the Royal Academy of Dance Teaching Diploma. Dianne trained under RAD examiners – Barbara Petty and Barbara Everson as well as Rowena Jackson, Phillip Chatfield and Russell Kerr who has been described as New Zealand’s greatest living theatrical artist.

As well as the many years evolved with ballet Dianne has also studied historical dance from the Renaissance and Baroque periods from teachers in Wellington, Australia and the USA.

During the 1980s she was a Dance Mistress of the ‘Kynges Companye’ and was co-founder of ‘The Companie of Early Danse’. In addition to dance, Dianne Wallace is a qualified kingergarten teacher and is supervisor of a community pre-school.

Exams give dancers the opportunity to test their knowledge of the RAD syllabus and their ability in executing and performing their work. The dancers exams are sat in group, and they perform all of their syllabus work in front of an RAD qualified examiner, without the teacher present. The students receive marks out of 10 in several different categories, including technique, musicality, knowledge of work and performance, which then yields a final grade. In sitting an exam, the dancer can feel a sense of achievement at having remembered and performed their work to the best of their ability, and aim to achieve higher for the following exam.

Class awards are an alternative to exams, in which the teacher takes the class as per usual, and each child receives a certificate from the examiner on the completion of the class.

Primary
3.45

Grade 1
4.30

Intermediate
6.30

Primary
4.30

Private lessons available
5.30

Adults beginner/Pilates
6.30

Advanced
7.30

Pre-Primary
4.30

Grade 4
5.15

Grade 6
6.15

Grade 8
7.30

Grade 1
4.30

Grade 2
5.30

Grade 7
6.30

Grade 8
7.30

Grade 4
8.30

Grade 6
9.30

Open / Pointe Class
10.30

Advanced
11.30

Term 2: 6th May - 13th July | Term 3: 29th July - 28th September | Term 4: 14th October - 14th December

Select a dancer to see uniform requirements…

Pre-Primary &
Primary

Sleeveless lilac leotard
Lilac chiffon wrap around skirt
Pink ribbed ankle socks
Pink leather ballet shoes with elastic
Hair must be pulled back off face in a bun
Wrap around cardigans can be worn in cooler weather

Grade 1

Sleeveless lilac leotard with waist elastic
Pink ribbed ankle socks
Pink leather ballet shoes with elastic
Character skirt and shoes with low heel
Hair must be pulled back off face in a bun
Wrap around cardigans can be worn in cooler weather

Grade 2-5

Sleeveless navy leotard with waist elastic
Flesh stockings
Pink leather ballet shoes with elastic (Grade 2-3) or ribbons (Grade 4-5)
Character skirt and shoes with low heel (Grade 2) or Cuban heel (Grade 3-5)
Hair must be pulled back off face in a bun
Wrap around cardigans can be worn in cooler weather

Grade 6-8

Sleeveless navy leotard (other colours will be accepted for classes)
Long chiffon skirt for centre work (provided by the school)
Optional short chiffon skirts for barre work will be accepted for classes
Flesh stockings
Pink leather ballet shoes with ribbons
Character skirt and shoes with Cuban heel
Hair must be pulled back off face in a bun
Wrap around cardigans can be worn in cooler weather

Vocational

Sleeveless navy or black leotard
Flesh stockings
Pink leather or satin ballet shoes with ribbons
Pointe shoes and toe protectors
Hair must be pulled back off face in a bun
Wrap around cardigans can be worn in cooler weather

Senior Boys

Sleeveless white leotard
Black or navy tights
White medium ribbed socks
Black or white leather ballet shoes
Black character shoes
Long hair must be pulled back off face
Tight fitting tops may be worn in cooler weather

Junior Boys

Sleeveless white leotard
Fitted navy shorts
White medium ribbed socks
Black or white leather ballet shoes
Black character shoes
Long hair must be pulled back off face
Tight fitting tops may be worn in cooler weather

Dancers are advised to being a drink bottle to class, as dancing can sometimes make the students thirsty, and especially in summer it helps to avoid dehydration.

For cooler weather, it is advisable for dancers to bring some warm clothing that can be pulled over their leotard for before and after class.

It is advised that dancers bring a hairbrush, hair ties and clips to class with them, especially if they are coming to class straight from school or another activity.

Dancers are advised to bring a drink bottle as dancing can make dancers thirsty, especially with the heat of the lights and being onstage.

Younger dancers should consider bringing something to do if they have gaps between dances. Laptops playing movies are a good idea, absolutely NO felt-tips or crayons.

Dancers should bring a top that can be worn for warmth and to wear over costumes ensuring they do not get dirty. Make sure this top does not pull over the head.

HANSEL & GRETEL // CLASSICAL VARIATIONS // 2012 // NORTHCROSS INTERMEDIATE THEATRE

12 DANCING PRINCESSES // 2011 // CENTRESTAGE THEATRE

SNOW WHITE // 2010 // CENTRESTAGE THEATRE

The 2013 concert will be La Fille Mal Gardee, a light hearted ballet about true love in the French countryside. The performance date(s) are yet to be confirmed however we advise that dancers and families keep early-mid december free for rehearsals and performances. Please let us know if you would like to volunteer to help out with the planning and preparation of the event - many hands make light work!

Dianne has just announced the introduction of a new class to be held on Tuesday evenings at 6.30pm. The class will be for parents, friends and members of the public to come along and learn beginners ballet and pilates. It will be a great way to stay in shape over winter! Classes will commence on the 7th of May at the Torbay Studio. Please let us know if you're interested in joining! We look forward to seeing you.

Waitoki Studio: Waitoki Hall, Kahikatea Flat Road, Waitoki • Torbay Studio: Trinity Methodist Hall, 864 Beach Road, Torbay

Find us on Facebook • Enrol Today