Classical and Repertoire
Alina Kulikova; RAD RTS, PDPTC, Diploma of Classical Ballet
Alina Kulikova found her passion for dance growing up in Russia’s deep North – leaving home at the age of 11 to train at the Komi Republic Gymnasium and College of Arts. After graduating the Vaganova system with a Diploma of Classical Ballet she moved to Moscow to work professionally for the Russian National Ballet and the Imperial Russian Ballet as a soloist.
Although Classically trained, Miss Alina has also danced Contemporary, Neo-classical and folk choreography. A career highlight has been performing the Classical Masterpieces that have inspired her in theatres around Europe, America, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Miss Alina is proud to share her experience and love for Ballet with the students of En Pointe.
“Ballet has taught me freedom through discipline, it has taught me about my own culture, other peoples and how we connect through Art.”
Miss Alina completed her Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate (PDPTC) though RAD in 2019 to gain her RAD teacher registration.
Classical, Contemporary and Progressing Ballet Technique
Kathryn Crawford; B Kinesiology, PBT, Rambert RT
Born and raised in Vancouver, B.C. Kathryn Crawford has been dancing most of her life. Miss Kathryn trained at the Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts under John Ottmann, while attending various summer programs on scholarship, including the Goh Ballet Academy, Banff Centre of Fine Arts, and Ballet British Columbia Summer Intensive.
Upon graduating, Miss Kathryn was a part of the Ballet British Columbia Apprentice Program for 2 years, where she had the opportunity to perform featured roles in works by Emily Molnar, John Alleyne, Simone Orlando, and James Gnam among others. Following this she was offered and accepted a place in the company.
She has also worked with companies such as the plastic orchid factory, Judith Marcuse Projects and had the opportunity to work with Melanie Demers, Louise Bedard and Austin McCormick while participating in the Springboard Professional Project in Montreal. Miss Kathryn’s career has taken her across North America and to Asia, where she performed in the Bangkok International Festival with Move: the Company. Miss Kathryn also had a principal role in the short dance film, ‘Time Before the Light’, directed by Ryan Copple. Kathryn’s choreography has been featured in Vancouver at events such as Dances for a Small Stage, as well as winning awards at competitions throughout the greater Vancouver area. Kathryn recently completed a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at the University of British Columbia, focusing on injury prevention, anatomy and physiology. Miss Kathryn is currently her Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate (PDPTC) though RAD to gain her RAD teacher registration and is a passionate and engaging tutor who continues to dance and share her love of the art form with students.
Classical and Adult Ballet
Gina Reid; RAD RTS, DDTS, BSMT, MEd, DipASEHC
Gina Reid started dancing as soon as she could walk but only started ballet training at aged 18 with Tony Fabella and Eddie Elejar. Her continued jazz training was with Marissa Aboitiz. Miss Gina is a former principal with the Manila Metropolis Ballet and Fabella-Elejar Dancers, and traveled extensively as a member of the Philippine Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe. Prior to her shifting to Scotland, Miss Gina danced briefly with the Philippine Ballet Theatre.
Miss Gina has taught ballet and jazz for many years whilst living in Scotland, teaching child through to adults and continued to teach the RAD ballet syllabus from Primary to Vocational when she shifted to New Zealand.
Having been teaching for many years, Miss Gina decided to undertake and successfully complete the Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies (DDTS) offered by the RAD, London to become a qualified Registered RAD Teacher.
Miss Gina would love to share her passion and wealth of experience for dance with her students ensuring that each and every student develops to the best of their potential whilst also experiencing the enjoyment dance brings.
Classical and Adult Ballet
Photo credit: Stephen A’Court.
Kathiy Watson-Benseman; RAD RTS, IDTA
Kathiy Watson-Benseman has been a qualified RAD teacher for over 30 years, teaching students between age 3 and 73. She is one of New Zealand’s first Silver Swan licensee. Miss Kathiy also assesses NZ NCEA theatre qualifications and is internationally qualified as an IDTA examiner, examining dance qualifications.
Miss Kathiy performed as a freelance dancer with ballet, contemporary and theatre companies, including the RNZB and Opera, but her passion is in seeing students achieve their potential. Qualifying as a teacher with both RAD and IDTA, Kathiy was the Principal Teacher of the Silverstream School of Dance for five years. Since then she has been in high demand as a freelance teacher around the Wellington Region. She believes in teaching the joy as well as the techniques of dance.
Classical
Fleur Rodway; ARAD, RAD RTS, CBTS
Fleur Rodway began dancing in Invercargill at ageClassical and Adult Ballet five. At 16, she moved to Christchurch to study at the International Ballet Academy with Sherilyn Kennedy, Carl Myers, Russell Kerr and Sheryl Robinson. After three years of full-time study, Miss Fleur decided to direct her energy towards ballet teaching. She completed the Royal Academy of Dance’s Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies while studying towards a Bachelor of Arts at Canterbury University.
In 2012, Miss Fleur moved to Wellington to undertake further study at Victoria University. Her research at Victoria focused on the theatre, performance art and dance. She graduated in 2014 with a first class honours degree in Art History.
Miss Fleur has over 10 years of ballet teaching experience and is excited to be able to share her love of classical ballet and the intricacies of pointe technique with the students at En Pointe.
Classical
Sophie Arbuckle, Diploma in Dance Performance