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.
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 Dance 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.
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, Martha Dixon, Charlotte Elliott, Claudia Harris, Maddy Harsanyi, Bronte Liddell, Libby Marrison, Chloe Parker, Alice Rapee, Emily Rich, Bella Snelson,