PRINCIPALS

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Elly began her dance teaching journey 48 years ago, opening her first dance school in England at just 17 years old. Dance has always been more than a career for Elly, it has been a lifelong calling.

After emigrating to Australia in 2000, she planned to step away from teaching to focus on being a full-time mum. However, her passion for dance (and for teaching)  was impossible to ignore. Just 18 months later, Desiree Dance Academy was born, and Elly is now in her 24th year of teaching in Perth.

Elly is highly experienced in teaching all genres of dance (except Hip Hop) and holds her teaching qualifications under the British M.A.S.D. syllabus. In England, her students undertook annual dance examinations; however, when establishing Desiree Dance Academy in Australia, Elly made the conscious decision to move away from a competitive model. Instead, she created a supportive, stress-free environment focused on nurturing confidence, individuality, and a genuine love of dance.

Alongside teaching, Elly also ran a successful dance costume-making business, creating costumes for dance schools across Australia. As Desiree Dance Academy continued to grow, she stepped back from external work and now exclusively designs and creates costumes for DDA, allowing the studio to maintain high-quality, custom-made costumes while keeping costs affordable for families.

Some of Elly’s proudest moments have been watching DDA dancers perform overseas on international tours, seeing students she has nurtured take the stage in iconic locations around the world, and achieving the dream of teaching from a two-storey, purpose-built dance studio designed specifically for the DDA family.

One of her greatest joys has also been teaching her daughter, Eleanor, from a young age and watching her grow into a highly respected teacher and choreographer. Today, Elly and Eleanor proudly run Desiree Dance Academy together, continuing a family legacy built on passion, inclusivity, and a lifelong love of dance.

Eleanor began dancing at just 2.5 years old under the guidance of her mother, Elly, and has truly grown up in the world of dance. Surrounded by dance from an early age, she began teaching her own classes at just 14 years old and is now heading into her 19th year of teaching.

She is the Principal Teacher and Director of Desiree Dance Academy, where she teaches all styles of dance, specialising in Acrobatics. Eleanor holds her Diploma of Dance Teaching (IDTS) along with teaching qualifications in Zumba, Zumbatomic for Kids, and Acrobatic Arts Modules 1 & 2. She is also currently expanding her skillset further by undertaking a Diploma of Counselling, strengthening her ability to support and connect with students both in and out of the studio.

She has choreographed and coordinated multiple dance tours, including to the Gold Coast, California, and Hong Kong, with performances at Dreamworld, Universal Studios, Hollywood Boulevard, and Disneyland. Her choreography has been proudly performed by DDA dancers in a parade down Main Street at Hong Kong Disneyland, a career highlight for both Eleanor and her students. Eleanor has also travelled to England to teach multiple acrobatic workshops to dance studios throughout the Midlands area, sharing her expertise internationally.

In addition to studio teaching, Eleanor has worked for a company that placed her in various primary and high schools, delivering dance programs across multiple school settings. This experience further developed her adaptability and teaching approach across a wide range of ages and abilities.

Alongside her dance qualifications, Eleanor holds a Certificate III & IV in Education Assistant (Special Needs) and spent eight years working in Education Support Centres in both primary and high schools before transitioning to teaching at DDA full time.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Eleanor strongly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to learn to dance and to be supported, valued, and treated equally, regardless of age, ability, or background. This philosophy sits at the heart of everything she does at Desiree Dance Academy.

Sharni began her dance training at Dance in Perspective at the age of 3 and will be celebrating her 21st year of dancing in 2025. She has trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical & Contemporary.

She has completed all levels of her Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D) Ballet examinations along with her C.S.T.D Modern Jazz and Theatrical examinations.

Sharni began assistant teaching at the age of 12 and began running a class at 17. She has also gained her C.S.T.D Modern Jazz Teaching Certificate in 2019 now teaching and choreographing all ages and levels for multiple studios and schools across Perth.

Sharni joined Desiree in 2020 and now teachers our Senior Hip Hop, Jazz and Lyrical classes on Monday nights. She has a passion for dancing and believes everyone should strive to do their very best when stepping into the classroom.

Outside of dance Sharni holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in Microbiology and Immunology. She currently works in the WA Health Department.

Phoebe began dancing at age 2 with Desiree Dance Academy as a tiny tot where her love for dance blossomed, the studio becoming her second home.

Over her time at Desiree Dance Academy, she has danced nationally and competed in various prestigious competitions, as well as completing workshops in WA and QLD based dance companies. Phoebe played a leading role in the community guiding a dance group to perform in productions and open nights.

She began student teaching in 2020, and slowly progressed to a teaching role, teaching a wide range of genres. Her goal is to continue to learn and grow as a teacher, creating a fun environment for children and to pass her knowledge and love for dance onto upcoming young dancers.

When her eldest daughter was identified as 2e, (Twice Exceptional), Brooke’s career in journalism and publishing suddenly shifted dramatically into advocacy, group programs and guiding educators. 

To better support her daughter’s evolving needs, Brooke undertook further qualifications in Counseling, Movement Therapy, Yoga, Cognitive Remapping, Play Therapy and Case Management. Her child focused sessions work on individual and group goals with a foundation in respectful therapeutic relationships.

Brooke began dancing at the age of 6 and has been a valued member of the Desiree Dance Academy family for almost 15 years, now entering her 10th year of teaching. Her strong technical foundation and creative eye have made her an integral part of the DDA teaching team.

Brooke has extensive performance experience, having danced on international and interstate tours including performances in the USA and the Gold Coast. She also played a key role in co-ordinating and choreographing the Hong Kong tour, including the opportunity for DDA dancers to perform her choreography in a Disneyland parade.

She completed Calisthenics examinations, building a strong base in technique, precision, and performance quality. Brooke has since expanded her qualifications, completing Acrobatic Arts Module 1, along with the Aerial and Back Handspring modules, and brings this technical expertise into her teaching and choreography.

Alongside her dance training, Brooke holds a Bachelor of Arts (Screen Production), which strongly influences her creative approach to choreography, musicality, and stage presence. She has competed in multiple competitions and has choreographed troupes, solos, and duos that have consistently placed at competitions.

Brooke’s passion, creativity, and long-standing connection to DDA make her a much-loved teacher and mentor, inspiring dancers to perform with confidence, artistry, and strength.