About The Dance Well Centre
Starting out as a blog in 2013, the Dance Well Centre has evolved to meet the needs of the community. Working with a wide range of students in the middle school years, Founding Director Brie Jessen-Vaughan recognised a need for a dance class beyond the traditional studio approach. Beginning in 2014 TDWC started with three classes and now offers a range of classes, with something for (almost) everyone.
Work Hard at Something you Love
At The Dance Well Centre we're passionate about helping young people develop their sense of self through dance.
We aim to provide a holistic dance experience that encompasses a range of styles, focusing on process and skill building, using students' own movement vocabularies and challenging their thinking about movement. We believe that there's nothing more rewarding than working hard at something you love! |
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Staff
Brie Jessen-Vaughan
Founder/Director
BA (Hons), MA (Distinction), Grad. Dip. Tchg (Primary), Registered Teacher - BBODance, Certified PBT and PCT Instructor
Brie is passionate about the role of dance in young people’s lives, and is an advocate for the importance of dance wellness education and arts education. Brie trained extensively in ballet , Jazz and contemporary dance as a teenager, but her real love is teaching. Brie is BBODance Registered Teacher and an NZ Registered Teacher (School). She is also a certified PBT and PCT Instructor, and is currently completing her Pilates certification. Outside of the studio Brie is a performing arts teacher at a local intermediate, having previously been a classroom teacher. Brie has been teaching for 15 years, and is particularly passionate about fostering student choreographic confidence and leadership skills through dance opportunities in the community.
Founder/Director
BA (Hons), MA (Distinction), Grad. Dip. Tchg (Primary), Registered Teacher - BBODance, Certified PBT and PCT Instructor
Brie is passionate about the role of dance in young people’s lives, and is an advocate for the importance of dance wellness education and arts education. Brie trained extensively in ballet , Jazz and contemporary dance as a teenager, but her real love is teaching. Brie is BBODance Registered Teacher and an NZ Registered Teacher (School). She is also a certified PBT and PCT Instructor, and is currently completing her Pilates certification. Outside of the studio Brie is a performing arts teacher at a local intermediate, having previously been a classroom teacher. Brie has been teaching for 15 years, and is particularly passionate about fostering student choreographic confidence and leadership skills through dance opportunities in the community.
Chloe Faulkner-Ball
Teacher
Dip. Perf. Arts - Musical Theatre, BCreativity (Performing Arts)
Teacher
Dip. Perf. Arts - Musical Theatre, BCreativity (Performing Arts)
Dancing since she was tiny, Chloe has been a student at The Dance Well Centre for the past 10 years. She has worked as a dance assistant, and a junior teacher with our youngest dancers, before moving into taking Evolve classes. This year she is taking on a bigger role within The Dance Well Centre teaching across the Junior, Evolve and Senior School. She has a passion for the performing arts and has trained in a range of dance styles including ballet, lyrical, jazz and contemporary. Chloe has a Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts) majoring in Musical Theatre from Te Auaha. Outside of teaching, she dances and models professionally.
Hannah Rowe
Teacher
BA (Education and Psychology)
Teacher
BA (Education and Psychology)
Hannah has trained in jazz, ballet and contemporary dance. After completing her assistant teacher training with The Dance Well Centre, she has been working first as an assistant teacher and more recently as a junior teacher in both our junior and evolve programmes. In 2025, she is teaching classes within the senior school as she completes her Masters of Primary Teaching qualification.
Jesica Clark
Teacher
Teacher
Jesi has trained in Jazz, lyrical and rhythmic gymnastics. After training at The Dance Well Centre for the past 7 years, and completing her assistant teacher training with The Dance Well Centre, she has joined the teaching team in 2024. Jesi is in her second year of paramedicine.
Brooke Newman
Teacher
BA, MTchLrn, NZAMD Solo Diploma - Jazz
Teacher
BA, MTchLrn, NZAMD Solo Diploma - Jazz
Brooke has been dancing since the age of 6, training in multiple genres including Jazz, Ballet and Contemporary. Over the past 8 years Brooke has been working and training first as an assistant teacher and now as a teacher. She enjoys working with students of all ages and opportunities to create new and interesting choreography. She is an experienced performer and enjoys teaching lyrical, jazz and contemporary classes. Brooke is an intermediate school teacher, and teaches occasional classes at The Dance Well Centre.