Dance Teachers | carmel-amelia-dance

Carmel Amelia Horsfield

Managing Director & Principal Teacher

Carmel was trained at the highly respected Carole Oliver School of Ballet in Ballarat. After 16 years of training and performing with the school she began teacher training with Carole Oliver for the Cecchetti Associate qualification and later attained the Licenciate status. Carmel also completed her Diploma of Education at Ballarat University with a major in Physical Education. After a number of years teaching and training in Melbourne she opened the Carmel Amelia School of Dance in Woodend in 1991. The Carmel Amelia School of Dance now offers the best training in the region. Student successes and awards have been many, with students moving on to perform & train at various professional institutions and companies : The Australian Ballet Company, The Royal Ballet Company, The Australian Ballet School, English National Ballet School, The Victorian College of the Arts, New Zealand Ballet School. Many students have shown the benefit of their training by winning State and National Awards. Carmel is proud of the lifelong benefits that training with her school imparts to students, and many former students are now pursuing careers in dance and related industries. Costume design has also been an interest, with the school having gained a reputation for stunning costuming. Carmel has continued to further her dance teacher training with The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Vaganova method and is now registered to teach the full syllabus to senior level. Carmel has trained many students to also become teachers and many have gone on to be valued teachers in the school. She believes that professional development, self improvement and self evaluation should never stop if a teacher is to offer the best to their students. Imparting a sense of joy in dance is they key!

Lucy Brigg

Assistant Director & Teacher

Lucy has been a proud student of the Carmel Amelia School of Dance since the year 2000, with many years spent growing, learning and developing within the studio that has always felt like a second home. Lucy has danced for a total of 24 years, training across a wide range of genres including classical ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, lyrical and hip-hop.
Throughout her training Lucy completed Cecchetti examinations from Grade 1 through to Advanced 2, and also holds Part 1 Cecchetti Associate Diploma, along with Part 1 Australian Ballet Conservatoire Vaganova Syllabus.
From the age of seven, Lucy was heavily involved in troupe and solo competitions and performed annually in end-of-year concerts, experiences that shaped her technique and love of performance. Performance highlights include dancing with Expressions Dance Company in their Australian tour of Carmen Sweet in 2015, as well as participating in the Victorian Schools Spectacular at Hisense Arena in 2013.

Lucy has now been teaching for over 10 years at CASOD and cherishes the opportunity each year to meet new students and introduce them to the magic of dance.
Lucy : "I have always felt a strong sense of warmth and belonging within the studio, with teachers who encouraged my determination, nurtured my strengths, and guided me through my challenges. It is my hope to follow in their footsteps by passing on the knowledge, discipline and joy of dance to my own students. I strive to create a positive and supportive learning environment where classes are happy, encouraging and engaging. A place where students can build confidence, form friendships, and develop new skills while experiencing the pure pleasure that dance brings."
Lucy is now the Assistant Director for CASOD and is a wonderful asset to the CASOD team!

Kate White

Classical Ballet & Character

Kate started dance training at the age of 5, studying Cecchetti Classical Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary dance under Carmel Horsfield.
Kate studied VET dance and VCE dance at Secondary College. After completing her VCE, she attended the Christine Walsh Dance Centre (The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet) as a full time student then trained at The Dance Factory, studying commercial dance. She later went on to complete Certificate 3 & 4 in Fitness and Personal Training with Victoria University.
Kate has completed Cecchetti Classical Ballet from Grade One up to Advanced 2, and recently became a trainer of PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique)
In 2012, Kate obtained her Associate Teaching status with Cecchetti Classical Ballet passing with Honours and then added to her teaching qualifications with Associate Diploma Status and Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management under the highly respected Cecchetti Classical Ballet Examiner and mentor Miss Carole Oliver O.A.M.
Further training in The International Character Syllabus and Ballet Conservatoire (Vaganova) Syllabus have given Kate a wonderful expertise to impart to her students.
Kate hopes to pass on her love and passion of all things dance to all of her students. She wishes to teach her students that if they are dedicated and willing to work hard, whilst still having fun, they can achieve their goals.

Lucinda Worthing-Shore

Classical Ballet & Repertoire

Raised in a rural town on the Mid North Coast, Lucinda’s love for dance was first nurtured at Danae Cantwell School of Dance - her mother’s dance school - from the tender age of 2. At 13, Lucinda’s love for ballet lead to a successful invitation to join the Tanya Pearson Academy full time program under the direction of Lucinda Dunn OAM. Throughout her five years of full time, Lucinda completed her Cecchetti major examinations and her Cecchetti Diploma A. She also completed her Royal Academy of Dance major examinations, plus a successful Solo Seal. At 17, Lucinda was offered a corps de ballet contract with the Victorian State Ballet, and throughout her time there, she earned a Demi soloist promotion; going on to perform roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, and an Ugly Step Sister in Cinderella. In August 2024, she left the VSB to move into freelance performing, dance and yoga teaching.
Lucinda loves sharing her passion for the art of physical movement in her teachings, through a holistic and empowering lens. She endeavours to create a safe and collaborative environment for young dancers to engage with their bodies, refine their technique and creativity, and express themselves freely.

Amelia Eddy

Classical Ballet

Beginning dancing at three years old Amelia has always had a passion for dance. Throughout her time at Carmel Amelia School of Dance, Amelia has learnt ballet, jazz, hip hop, song and dance, and contemporary disciplines. Classical ballet is what Amelia enjoys most and she still attends senior classes and has completed her Cecchetti ballet exam levels from Grade 2 to Advanced 2, receiving Honours for all levels.

Amelia was selected for the Cecchetti Scholars Program held at the Ministry of Dance for several years learning from a variety of teachers including Colin Peasley.

Amelia has always loved sharing her passion for dance with the younger students through her lead roles in the concerts. Having taught for five years now, Amelia finds it extremely rewarding to see the students develop their technique and is reminded of how dance classes are such a fantastic way to enrich one's life through making friendships, applying discipline and focus and developing important life skills.

Isla McCarthy

Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap & Contemporary

Isla has been dancing at Carmel Amelia for 19 years and has completed all Cecchetti examinations through to Advanced 2, whilst also training across all styles. She began competing in solo and troupe competitions at the age of six, developing a deep love for performing and the excitement of competition.
Isla says that "Carmel Amelia has been a second home to me since the age of 2, shaping not only my dancing but who I am as a person. Being part of such a supportive and inspiring school has been incredibly special, and it is an honour to now give back to the place that gave me so much"
Isla is passionate about passing on my love of dance to the next generation, encouraging and challenging students to build confidence, strength and artistry, while reaching their full potential both in and out of the studio. Her goal as a teacher is to create a positive and motivating environment where dancers feel supported, challenged and proud of their progress, while developing a lifelong love for dance.
Isla is excited to continue her dance journey at Carmel Amelia as a teacher, sharing her knowledge and experiences while inspiring young dancers to believe in themselves and find joy in every step of their own dance journey.

Madeleine Moloney

Contemporary Dance & Acro

Maddie Moloney is a contemporary dance artist who has recently completed full-time training at Transit Dance, including the graduate program, obtaining a Diploma . She has had the privilege of training under esteemed artists including Kimball Wong, Jayden Hicks, Jo Lloyd, and Chimene Steele Prior. Prior to her studies at Transit Dance, Maddie trained for 15 years at Carmel Amelia School of Dance, with a strong foundation in classical ballet, jazz, tap, and acrobatics.
Her practice explores the nuances of movement dynamics and the unconventional possibilities of the body, informing both her choreographic and teaching approaches. Maddie has a strong focus on gestural movement and storytelling through the body, and is driven to integrate technique, physicality, and flow to cultivate freedom, authenticity, and individuality in movement, with a strong commitment to guiding dancers in developing presence, technique, confidence, and expression.

Stephanie Bertalmio

Fitness, Strength & Conditioning, Acro & Jazz

Stephanie began dancing in 1998 at the Carmel Amelia School of Dance. She has been a valued student for over 20 years taking classes in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and acrobatics. Stephanie joined the teaching staff in 2018 as the Strength and Conditioning and acrobatics teacher. Stephanie has a Masters in Secondary Health & Physical Education Teaching along with numerous other qualifications which demonstrate her passion for fitness. Stephanie loves kids to be challenged to be their best and knows that fitness is a valuable part of being a dancer.

Joseph Bough

Voice & Musical Theatre

Joseph is an award-winning Musical Theatre educator, director, and performer with degrees in Education, as well as further study in Society & Culture. He holds professional registration with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA). Recognised by Drama Victoria as one of the state’s leading Drama teachers, he is known for inspiring confidence, creativity, and excellence in young performers.
As a director, Joseph has led productions including Annie, Peter Pan, Sister Act, The Castle, and Pronoun, alongside large-scale original works. His productions are celebrated for their imagination, inclusivity, and strong ensemble storytelling, earning awards for Directing, Choreography, and Lighting Design.
Joseph’s performance credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Our House, The Addams Family, and Little Shop of Horrors. He has also collaborated on professional projects with the BBC and Amazon, bringing real-world industry insight into his teaching.
Joseph has coached students to professional and award-winning success, including film appearances and multiple National Entertainment Awards. His teaching philosophy is built on the belief that the arts develop confidence, empathy, and resilience. He is passionate about creating supportive, joyful learning environments where every student feels valued, empowered, and inspired to find their voice through performance.

Alba Romero

Acrobatics

Alba Romero is a professional dancer and gymnastics coach with over 10 years of experience teaching children and adults across Europe and Australia. She holds a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and a Diploma in Dance, gymnastics coach accreditation as well, and her background combines dance, rhythmic gymnastics and acro, allowing her to bring a dynamic, technical and well-rounded approach to every class. Alba is passionate about creating a positive, inclusive and supportive learning environment where students feel confident to move, explore and grow. In her classes, she focuses on strong foundations, flexibility, coordination, musicality and safe technique, while encouraging creativity and self-confidence. Whether teaching dance, rhythmic gymnastics or acro, Alba brings high energy, professionalism and genuine care for her students, helping each student progress at their own pace while enjoying the learning process.

Tyson Nunn

Hip Hop & Jazz

Tyson, originally from SA has been fortunate enough to share his knowledge and passion for teaching to many different studios and students in Adelaide and Victoria. Specialising in Hiphop and Commercial styles, he has also choreographed solo and duo competition pieces for students. No matter if there is 2 or 20 students in the class, Tyson brings the same energy in each class to his students as he believes how they feel in class is the most important part!

Danielle Whitfort

Guest Classical Ballet & Contemporary Teacher

Danielle began dancing at age 3 at Edwards Dance Studio, in her local town of Seymour, Victoria.
Over the years she has trained at the Carole Oliver School of Ballet, Carmel Amelia School of Dance, Jane Moore Academy of Ballet and the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Danielle graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 2015 and went on to further her training at the Melbourne City Ballet Company.
Danielle was a Junior Artist with Melbourne City Ballet Company and has danced leading roles in both classical and contemporary works with the company.
Some career highlights to date have been:
•representing Australia by competing in the Cecchetti International Ballet Competition in the USA in 2014
•training with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada on a scholarship in 2015.
•achieving the Gold medal at the Victorian Cecchetti Medals Awards 2015.
• completed her Advanced 2 Ceccehtti exam achieving 100% Honours.
Danielle hopes to inspire talented young dancers to also reach for their dreams.