Staff
Adele Mayhew
Having taken over the Jazz Factory management in 2009, Adele is committed to continuing the core fundamentals of the Jazz Factory. A mum of three, two of which have danced at the Jazz Factory since there were five and three respectively, she wants to create a happy, stable, learning environment where the students come and have fun whilst exploring their potential as dancers.
Kim Dresner
Artistic Director, Associate Teacher – ATOD
Kim has studied performing arts for over 20 years and in that time has had the opportunity to perform both in Australia and overseas on television and stage. Kim started classical ballet at 3 years old, but found her love for jazz dance a few years later. As a teenager she broadened her studies to include hip-hop and contemporary and in 2008 studied full time at Broadway Dance Centre, in New York City, covering all styles of dance. Kim has also studied at Pineapple Studios in London and Centre de Danse du Marais in Paris. In addition to dance, Kim is passionate about singing and acting. As a triple threat, Kim has had many performance opportunities but her favourite time was performing in the musical HAIR in Miami, Florida in 2004. In addition to performing arts, Kim has studied yoga in India as well as volunteered at an orphanage in Malaysia setting up a dance program. Kim has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an Associate Diploma in Dance and in 2010 completed her yoga teacher training to add to her qualifications.
Kim is no stranger to the Jazz Factory family, having been a student, assistant teacher, associate teacher and acting-principal. She is excited to be back and passionate about sharing her love of dance and performing arts with all the students. Kim is extremely committed to safe dance practice and conducts her classes to motivate and challenge students whilst ensuring that they are practicing safe dance technique to allow many, many years of dancing without injuries. She is focused on creating strong dance foundations while encouraging students to express themselves in a fun, pressure-free, safe and nurturing environment.
Kristy Prass
Associate Teacher
Kristy was introduced to the world of dance at the Jazz Factory, at age seven. She grew up learning with Hanne Larsen and competing in solo and group eisteddfods, scholarships and fundraisers. In 2002 and again in 2005, Kristy represented the NSW at the ATOD Australiasian competitions, receiving 1st and 2nd places respectively. In 2004, she was awarded The Jazz Factory’s Mary Jo Swanson Award, as our most promising dancer.
She has trained in classical ballet and contemporary at Ecole Ballet Studios, where she also learnt for her HSC in Dance in 2005.
Kristy has been an assistant teacher at The Jazz Factory since the age of 13, sharing her dance experience and passion with the students. She has also choreographed award-winning solos for eisteddfods and competitions both for herself and for other young Jazz Factory students.
Kristy spent all of 2007 studying dance full-time at Urban Dance Centre in Sydney. This course involves taking classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip hop, break dance, popping and krumping, as well as singing and acting. Her instructors have included world class choreographers such as Tovaris Wilson (So You Think You Can Dance), Chris Jones (You Got Served), Donyelle Jones (So You Think You Can Dance) and Kelly Abbey. Her recent performances include the Kerri-Anne Show and at the Opera House with the finalists of the Sydney Performing Arts Challenge.
Kristy is passionate and committed to her dancing both as a student and a teacher and is excited about sharing her passion with The Jazz Factory students in 2010.
Paul Bennett
Senior Jazz Teacher
Paul Bennett began his professional training at Paul McCartney’s university The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts where he gained a BA(Hons) degree in Dance. He received expert training in the dance genres of contemporary, jazz, classical, contact improvisation, release and Musical Theatre.
After completing his degree he was invited by former Ballet Rambert Soloist Jacqui Jones to join her company Jak-I, who are a dance and music interactive company. It was here he fine tuned his contemporary technique and choreographic skills later to become a choreographer and and director for the company, which led the company to international tours around the UK and Europe. As well as his love for contemporary dance Paul has also enjoyed success in the fields of commercial Jazz where he performed in Paul McCartney’s World Tour and choreographed and performed for UK music acts Ultra Beat, Resonance Q, Nazene and Kelly Lorenna.
As well as performing with various companies Paul also worked independently as a teacher and choreographer in the North West of England. He taught and lectured on subjects such as Injury Prevention in Dancers, teaching methods, choreography techniques, Healthy Issues and the development of contemporary Arts as well as choreographing for many universities and schools in the UK. He was also invited back to his university to help train students at the institution.
Since arriving in Australia he has taught at Mango Dance Studio, RGDance, Mosman Ballet Academy, Jazz Factory and lectured for UTS. He has set up a Contemporary Company Chimera Dance Company and has recently choreographed for Ricki-Lee for the closing ceremony of the V8 Race of Nations.
Oscar Wilson
PreSenior and Senior Hip Hop Teacher
Oscar started dancing in New Zealand at the age of 8. He was soon teaching hip hop at his local studio and being regularly selected to attend the NZAMD Hip Hop Nationals. This was where he was seen by renowned Australian dancer/choreographer JET, who upon judging the event singled him out and invited him to attend classes at her Sydney studio, Urban Dance Centre. Soon after visiting Sydney, Oscar decided to pursue dancing as a career and as he had already taken class at UDC, it was there that he chose to study full-time in 2008 under such teachers as: Jesse Rasmussen (So You Think You Can Dance), JET (SYTYCD), Nacho Pop (SYTYCD) and Rosa Aguis (SYTYCD). Since studying at UDC, Oscar has been seen on So You Think You Can Dance Top 100, performed alongside Rhys Bobridge (SYTYCD series 1 runner up) and has danced with his crew J-Town (Oz Hip Hop Champs 1st runner up) at many events including the prestigious Sydney Carnival Choreographers Ball.
Stephanie Hunter
Jazz Dance Teacher
Stephanie has grown up at the Jazz Factory, having started attending classes in 1997 as a six year old. She has spent years learning from Hanne Larsen, and was rewarded with the Mary-Jo Swanson Perpetual Trophy in 2001 in recognition of her outstanding ability and promise.
Over the past 12 years with the Jazz Factory Stephanie has competed in many solo and group eisteddfods, and has received numerous awards including ATOD NSW Junior Champion in 2006 and ATOD NSW Senior Champion in 2008. She has also completed all levels of the ATOD Jazz Exams, achieving Honour Plus every time.
2009 found Stephanie completing her HSC at Abbotsleigh and is focused on achieving her goal of becoming a professional dance teacher. For the past 4 years she has been an Assistant Teacher at the Jazz Factory, and in 2009 she began teaching her own class on a Saturday morning, and is thriving on the challenge that it offers her!
Brigitte Egan
Jazz Dance Teacher
Brigitte has been a part of the Jazz Factory family since she began her dance training at the age of 3. Since then, she has trained in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, musical theatre and contemporary at the Jazz Factory, Ecole Ballet Studios and Brent Street Studios.
Brigitte has completed all AToD jazz exams, up to and including Intermediate, achieving 3 Honours with Distinctions and an average mark of Honours Plus. She has also competed in eisteddfods for the Jazz Factory both as a soloist and in performance troupes. Brigitte’s love of dance continued into her school life where she was both Loreto Dance Troupe Leader and House Dance vice-Captain.
Brigitte loves sharing her knowledge of dance with her students and is passionate about developing their technique and individual personalities.
Jess Kerr
Jazz Teacher
Jess’s love for dance began at a very young age. Having being a member of the jazz factory for many years, jess’s training is varied from ballet, jazz and contemporary. Whilst at the Jazz Factory jess has completed her exams and has competed in various troupe eisteddfods. Jess’ also represented her school for 3 years in the school dance troupe and performed individual items in the school dance festival. Over the past 3 years Jess has been an assistant teacher for ranging age groups and in 2010 began teaching her own classes on a Tuesday afternoon. Completing her HSC in 2009, Jess has continued her studies in Primary Education to fulfil her dream of being a teacher.
Emee Dillon
Classical and Contemporary Dance Teacher
Emee trained at The Ballet Studio in Castlecrag and The Jazz Factory, Lindfield before commencing a full-time ballet course at Tanya Pearson's Classical Coaching Academy. From 2001-2002, Emee joined Bondi Ballet, performing in consecutive seasons of "Bondi Rocks", "Classic Bondi", and "Beyond Bondi". 2003 -2004 saw Emee perform in Opera Australia's "The Love For Three Oranges", and "The Garden Of Paradise", a work commissioned by TasDance, and choreographed by Graeme Murphy. Emee joined Sydney Dance Company from 2004-2008, performing in works including "Grande", "Hua Mulan", "Berlin", "Cut", choreographed by Graeme Murphy, "Underland" choreographed by Stephen Petronio, "INUK 2" choreographed by Meryl Tankard, "360 degrees" choreographed by Raphael Bonachela, "Sid's Waltzing Masquerade" choreographed by Aszure Barton, and other works choreographed by Narelle Benjamin and Shaun Parker. In 2009, Emee joined Australian Dance Theatre as a guest artist for "G", choreographed by Garry Stewart, and in early 2010, was a guest artist for the premiere of "Be Yourself", choreographed by Garry Stewart.
Hannah Lazarus
Jazz Teacher
The Jazz Factory has been Hannah’s second home since starting classes when she was 4 years old, with Hanne Larsen. Her passion for dance saw Hannah taking 10 classes each week, some years, as well as taking ballet classes at Ecole Ballet studios. She spent most school holidays attending workshops, dance and drama camps. As well as this, Hannah has enjoyed her role as Assistant Teacher over the past 4 years. Hannah has achieved Honours, Honours Plus and Honours with Distinction passes in the many ATOD Jazz Exams.
Hannah was very excited to have auditioned successfully for the full- time performing arts course 2012 at the new Village Performing Arts Centre. Here she is studying under world renowned professionals such as Kelly Abbey and Marco Panzic and she is looking forward to further developing her other love – drama. She is studying Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Tap, Drama and Singing.
Over the years, Hannah has been very successful in the numerous eisteddfods she competed in. Hannah was awarded the ATOD NSW Intermediate Champion in 2009, the ATOD NSW Senior Champion in 2010 and the ATOD Australasian Intermediate Champion in 2008! In 2009, Hannah was awarded The Mary-Jo Swanson Perpetual Trophy for the student showing outstanding ability and promise. This has been Hannah’s proudest achievement and what she dreamed of since starting dance classes as a young girl. Hannah looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion with her Saturday students in 2012.
Hanne Larsen BA(Hons) AISTD AMusA LMusA
Founding Principal, Associate Teacher – ATOD
Hanne is currently based in New York City where she has opened up a Sister School to the Jazz Factory, called Downtown Dance Factory. The whole Jazz Factory family wishes Hanne and her team the very best of luck with her new venture.
Assistant Teachers for 2012
Gemma Anderson, Morgan Carroll, Martha Dixon, Claudia Harris, Maddy Harsanyi, Emily Leijer, Bronte Liddell Chloe Parker, Sophie Parker, Alice Rapee, Emily Rich, Bella Snelson, Lucy Stock.