Geraldine Inder QSM
RAD Life Member, RTS, ATCL, LISTD, AIDMA, ANATD, NZAMD Member, Civic Awa. Teaches Ballet, Tap, Ballroom, Speech and Drama.
Geraldine is the founder and co-director of the school.
A brief account of how Geraldine established the school can be read here. Although in her eighties, Geraldine retains the deepest passion for dance, her students and the school.
Geraldine is the hub of the school, orchestrating everything from production scripts, costume making, accounts and still finds time and energy to continue teaching ballet, tap, speech and drama.
In 2007 she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for her services to dance in the local community.
Nicola Madden
ARAD, RTS, FNZAMD Examiner, SPD, NZAMD RT, BBO Tap, Grad. NZSD Teaching Diploma, PACANZ Adjudicator, Dorothy Daniels Award. Artistic Director NZAMD
Nicola is a co-director of the school. She teaches Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, 'Stretch Leap Spin', Hip-Hop, Ballroom and Senior Adult fitness. Everything really.
'Miss Nicky' has a wealth of talent as a principal teacher, adjudicator and examiner. Tertiary trained at the NZ School of Dance, she has experienced dancing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company. Nicola's dance profile is extensive.
Nicola is an integral part of NZAMD. She is the Artistic Director as well as being on the on the executive committee, the examiners and technical panel and has developed syllabi and teaching programmes for the association.
Sian Palmer
BA, ARAD, SPD NZAMD. Teaches Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tutor for competition solos and groups at the studio.
Sian was just seven years old when she began as a student at the dance school. Jazz and ballet were an initial passion which grew to include contemporary, but Sian has a passion for all dance genres including speech and drama.
Sian has passed her NZAMD Solo Seal in Jazz and Contemporary as well as Level 9 tap and completed RAD Grade 8 Ballet. She completed her RAD Advanced 2 Vocational Ballet while studying at Victoria University of Wellington towards her BA in Classical Studies.
Sian considers a passion of dance to be when you can let out every emotion and feeling you have on the dance floor and let your dancing speak. Like Martha Graham says, “The body says what words cannot.”
Anna McBride
BA, LTCL (Piano), LNZAMD (Solo Seal Jazz, Contemporary, Tap), RAD Advanced 2. Anna Teaches Tap and Ballet, and is the ballet pianist.
Anna learnt dancing at the Geraldine Inder School of Dance from the age of five and began teaching tap in 2008 as a student teacher. While at university, she continued to teach ballet, jazz, and tap at various studios in Dunedin and also pursued her own dancing, performing in various musicals and reaching the semi-finals of PACANZ for tap. Anna lived in London for two years where she was exposed to a wealth of dance performances and opportunities to take classes with expert teachers.
Anna is passionate about the collaboration between music and dance and works as a ballet pianist at the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington. She has also played for RAD and Cecchetti syllabus ballet exams. Anna studied ballet accompaniment at the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan from 2018-2019 and often draws on her musical knowledge to help her dance students’ understanding of rhythm and musicality.
Jenny Tyre
Teaches Ballet, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Tap, Ballet Sculpt, Adult Ballet and Adult Fitness.
Jenny had fourteen years as a student at the school. Beginning as a Tiny Tot she progressed from student teacher to full teacher status via a dance scholarship to the NZ School of Dance.
Versatile, Jenny was a NZ representative at the 1997 Youth Conference in Japan, has been a group fitness instructor since 1993 and is currently Wairarapa Team Leader for media company NZME - as well being as a proud mum of her son Cameron.
Jenny says, "To dance is to breathe. There is no better feeling than dancing freely to a piece of music. It is my passion, and I am grateful to be able to pass my passion onto our wonderful students. It’s such a joy to watch them grow and progress on their dance journey".
Vynessa Smith
ARAD, RAD RTS, FNZAMD, BCA, GradDipAccy, GradDipTeach
Vynessa's love of dance began when she was three years old, learning ballet at Geraldine Inder School of Dance and Drama. A talented student gaining Distinction for NZAMD Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop and RAD Ballet. She represented the school at National level and was always selected as a finalist in every genre at the NZAMD Championships. A significant experience in her school years was being selected as a child performer with the RNZB for the season of La Sylphide. This opportunity enhanced her desire to be on the stage.
Vynessa continued her dance training in Sydney, where she completed a Cert IV in Performing Arts at Brent Street. While in Sydney she danced in music videos and TVC’s for Rikki Lee, Jason Derulo and Kelly Rowland.
Her love for the creative arts has allowed her to dance, audition and attend workshops and work with many high profile dance tutors at numerous studios in Sydney, New York, Los Angeles and London. Vynessa danced professionally as a Resident Entertainer for Warner Leisure Hotels in the UK and performed in West End tribute shows (such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, A Chorus Line, Me and My Girl), pantomimes and other dance performances.
Vynessa continues to share her love for dance with children of all ages, as a guest tutor and relief teacher in the dance studio (as well as a secondary school teacher too), bringing a wealth of knowledge of the latest choreography from abroad to enhance our students.
Mikaela ten Bolscher
Tap and Junior Ballet.
Mikaela is another fellow student who once completed all her dance examinations to the highest level with us, started to teach junior tap and ballet for the school.
A talented dancer who competed nationally at scholarship level, Mikaela has a keen eye and attention to detail and offers sound practical teaching style to our staff.
I feel privileged to be a small part of each child's journey, I love getting to see students grow - especially in confidence, while encouraging hard work and for each and every child to do their best. You've got to aim for the stars, even if you miss, you'll land on the moon.
