All of the Academy's teachers are highly qualified for the areas in which they teach. And our philosophy is simple - you learn best when you enjoy what you do. This philosophy carries through from pre-schoolers through to the Academy's most advanced students,  creating a unique and friendly atmosphere of which we are proud.

DANIELLE HINCKS - ACADEMY DIRECTOR
RAD Teaching Certificate - Royal Academy of Dance
Ex- Ballet Omaha USA

Danielle is the Academy Director and teaches ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, musical theatre and acrobatics.

Learning ballet from a young age under the guidance of her mother, Danielle took up a scholarship with the Victorian College of the Arts in her early teens, and then trained full-time at Halliday Dance Centre where she leant from  numerous international guest teachers. After further intensive solo training with Brett Morgan (rehearsal director with Sydney Dance Company) she was offered a contract with Ballet Omaha in the USA aged just 16.

Whilst overseas, in addition to dancing with Ballet Omaha,  Danielle continued to further her training at the Winnipeg Royal Ballet School (where she learnt from teachers from the Bolshoi) and then took up a scholarship to attend the Joffrey Ballet school, then based in New York City. During this time, Danielle was honoured to receive an award for 'Outstanding Achievement in the Arts' in the National Young  Achiever of the Year awards.

In 1993, after two years overseas, Danielle experienced the magnetic pull of Australia and returned home to Camden to begin teaching at the Academy, passing on the benefits of her international experience & love of the performing arts. 

It was here that the dream to build a performing arts centre founded on ENJOYMENT AND EXCELLENCE was born - a place which combined a friendly atmosphere with first-rate facilities and teaching.

With innovative new programs including 'Boys Only' and 'Tiny Tots' classes the Academy quickly outgrew it's Camden studios, moving into the current purpose-built premises in Narellan in 1998.

Under her guidance, the Academy has since developed into one of the top performing arts schools in Sydney, catering for pre-schoolers right through to professional level in dance, singing and theatre.

As testament to the emphasis placed on students at the Academy developing a love and appreciation for the arts, former students are now working professionally throughout the world in all areas of the performing arts - as performers, in administration, and in teaching. 

Danielle continues to teach a lot of classes at the Academy, with many students reaching the highest levels in all areas of the performing arts... always with an emphasis that enjoyment should be the basis of every student's learning.

ELOISE EVANS
Teaches Singing and Musical Theatre

Eloise Evans is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She is an accomplished opera singer, recitalist, session singer, voice over artist and a highly recommended singing and piano teacher.

For ten years Eloise has taught piano and coached talented young singers in both classical and contemporary styles for auditions, concerts and AMEB examinations. She currently holds principal voice and piano tutoring positions in several performing arts academies and secondary schools in Sydney.

Many of her voice students have auditioned successfully for the Newtown Performing Arts School, The Australian International Conservatorium of Music and Performing Arts High School; are prize winners in singing competitions; and perform in professional musical theatre productions including Billy Elliot, The Lion King and Opera Australia’s productions of La Boheme, The Magic Flute, Carmen and Billy Bud.

While growing up in Sydney Australia, Eloise’s love of music was first influenced by her training at a very early age in piano and violin at the Methodist Ladies College. In her final Higher School Certificate year at Kambala Church of England Girls School she was awarded for her services to music in voice, piano, ensemble performance and musical theatre.

Eloise went on to study a Business Degree in Tourism. After working in this field and traveling for several years she made the decision to return to her passion for singing and pursue a career in opera. She successfully auditioned for the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied Classical Voice and Opera and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2005.

During her studies Eloise was tutored under the expert guidance of Australia’s most celebrated vocal coaches including; Sharolyn Kimmorley OA, Maestro Simon Kenway and David Harper.

Eloise has performed a number of principal and chorus roles in opera and musical theatre. In July 2006 she was invited to Italy to perform the title role in the Rome Operaestate’s summer production of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, under the baton of Maestro Francesco Carotenuto and directed by Dr Judith Auer.

Other production performances include; Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking, State Theatre Sydney. Bizet’s Carmen, the Sydney Theatre Company (role of ‘Mercedes’ and ‘Carmen’ understudy; directed by Nigel Jamieson). ‘Sister Marthe’ in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites. ‘Lisa’ in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, ‘Third Lady’ in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, ‘Bloody Mary’ in Rogers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, Sondheim and Bernstein’s West Side Story and Schwartz’s Godspell.

Eloise featured in the 2004 Sydney Festival performing the principal soprano role in the premiere of Mirsad Jeleskovic’s Stone Sleeper, sung in Bosnian. In 2002 Eloise was a soloist at the Sydney Opera House for the Encore Concert Series. Her many oratorio performances have included Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Berlioz’s Childhood of Christ, Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Currently, Eloise performs in concert both here in Australia and abroad. Her performances encompass a large array of vocal repertoire ranging from opera, classical song, musical theatre, popular music and jazz. Concert and recital highlights include;

Guest artist with ‘Encore’ for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 concerts in Australia, Asia, the South Pacific, U.S.A and New Zealand. Featured artist for the Chiesa di S.Paolo 2006 Recital Series in Rome. Guest performer for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 Italian National Day Gala Opera Concert. Recital at the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy Canberra Australia (recorded live for ABC Classic FM). Guest performer for The Oxfam International Gala Fundraiser Ball in 2004 and 2005. Carols performance at the 2001 Darling Harbor Christmas Festival Concert from the floating pontoon. 2000 Sydney Olympics War Memorial Concert (in association with the Australian Beethoven Society).

Eloise has competed successfully in many singing competitions and eisteddfodau throughout Australia and New Zealand. She has twice been a quarter finalist in the prestigious McDonald’s Aria Award and in 2006 Eloise was the recipient of the Australian Opera Auditions Committee’s ‘Sheila Prior Memorial Study Grant’ and the winner of the ‘Grace Johnston Operatic Aria Award’. Her other awards include scholarships from the Dame Joan Sutherland Society, the Sports and Youth Tourism Foundation, the Opera and Arts Support Group and the Opus 50 Trust. Eloise has also received generous financial support from private patrons of the arts to assist her in further international opera performance and European language training.

Miss Abbey specialises in teaching the junoir school tap classes. She has completed all her levels in jazz and holds her Intermediate R.A.D Ballet Certificate.

Her passions for tap and jazz are evident in the classes she takes while her enthusiasm and outgoing nature help ensure her classes are lots of fun!

In 2007, still aged just 16, she began full time study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, (WAAPA), where she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. During her studies she worked with choreographers Nanette Hassall, Alice Lee Holland, Vicki Van Hout and Anton. In 2009 she performed in Sue Peacock’s The Tipping Point, and Lucy Guerin’s remount of Zero. In the same year she took part in secondments at Sydney Dance Company and Carte Blanche in Bergen, Norway.

Jessica obtained a short-term contract with Sydney Dance Company in March 2010 for the company’s New Creations Season, her first venture in professional dance.