Meet Our Teachers
Meet our team of talented, professional and dedicated teachers
Melissa Prentice
PRINCIPAL/Dance Teacher (ARAD RTS)
Melissa is supported by her husband Mark and is mother to Edith and Patrick. Inspired by her ballet teachers and older sister, Melissa was quick to develop a love for dance and a desire to learn more and try different styles of dance. Having completed all Royal Academy of Dance Examinations with the amazing Jane Stanley and completing her HSC with marks in the top 10% of the state Melissa went on to achieve her Certificate IV in Performing Arts as a full time student at Brent Street Performing Arts school where she worked with renown teachers and choreographers, such as Jason Coloman, Jackie Howard, Roy Dudley, Kim Traynor, Jane Beckett, Cameron Mittchell, Daren Disney.On Completion of her Certificate Melissa danced professionally in Sydney with the Detour Performance Agency, whilst teaching the dance program for Manly Council and at Brigidine College at St Ives.
Melissa completed her Teachers Certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance London and became a registered teacher with the RAD and Glenn Wood Tap. After teaching baby ballet for Manly Council from 1999, Melissa established The Dance House in 2002 as a respected reputable Dance School on the Northern Beaches. Melissa believes she blessed with the ‘best job in the world’. She takes great pride in her school and her students and devotes her life to seeing the joy of dance in the eyes of others no matter their age. Melissa believes that dance is an expression of who we are and that there is a freedom within every form of dance.
Melissa Prentice
Carolina De Mattos Rocha
Dance Instructor
Carolina is originally from Brazil where she was taught by the fabulous Claudia Araujo before moving on to dance with the Municipal Theatre of Rio De Janeiro performing great ballets such at Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Le Corsaire. She then went on to teach Ballet at the WM dance School in and Julia Moreira Dance Centre, both in Rio. Since moving to Australia with her Husband, Carolina has taught ballet on Sydney ’s Northern beaches for a number of year as well as worked at a local child care centre. With Bachelor Degree in Physiotherapy and Certificate in Children’s Services Carolina brings with her a wealth of knowledge. Carolina ’s love for children and the wonderful experience she brings with her, gives the Dance House students a wonderfully caring and passionate ballet teacher.
Carolina De Mattos Rocha
Ashley Larsen
At age 2 and a half Ashley started ballet and fell in love with it immediately and danced all the way through till she was 18 gaining all the way to Advanced 2 RAD.
After completing her University Degree, she lived and travelled around Europe before she came back to her home turf (Manly) and began teaching ballet for The Dance House, sharing her joy of ballet and extensive knowledge to the students.
Ashley is also a qualified Pilates Mat Instructor, Xtend Barre Instructor and Personal Trainer specialising in Group Fitness.
Ashley Larsen
Emily Walker
Emily has taught and travelled extensively, gaining over 12 years of teaching experience over a multitude of dance styles and cultures.
She has been bringing her boundless energy to The Dance House for the past six years working with our Eisteddfod Teams and Jazz classes. Emily is also a senior Xtend Barre instructor, and studying to become an Teacher Trainer/Assessor.
As a teacher, Emily creates a safe and nurturing environment for our dancers to discover their potential. Her love and passion for dance fills the studio and you can’t help but leave her classes smiling!
Emily Walker
Lauren Thompson
I have been studying dance since the age of 4 years old, enjoying all styles. I have completed All RAD exams successfully from pre primary to Advanced 2. I attended Brigidine College St Ives and during my last year I was elected the Dance Club Captain which was a great honour. Since completing my HSC I have completed a Full-time Ballet/Contemporary Course at “Ev and Bow Full-time Training Centre” in the Sutherland Shire, run by “So You Think You Can Dance’s” Sarah Boulter and many other industry professionals. I am currently studying at the Australian College of Physical Education doing a Bachelor of Dance and Physical Education. I have worked on So You Think You Can Dance and many other professional photo shoots and dance jobs. I look forward to sharing my love of Dance with the students of the Dance House!
Lauren Thompson
Bianca Dent
Originally from the UK where Bianca trained in RAD ballet from the age of 4yrs old plus tap (a personal favourite of hers) & modern dance.
At 16 she was accepted into Theatre School in London (Laine Theatre Arts) on a 3yr intensive professional dance course.
In her third year she also completed her teacher training course in classical ballet, tap & modern all of which have proven to be extremely useful throughout her own professional career as a dancer.
The commercial dance world & caberet was the road that opened up for Bianca. This took her literally around the world in a variety of shows, extravagent costumes & genre’s. Highlights would have to be seasons in the south of France – Monte Carlo & Cannes plus performing at 2 Royal Variety performances for the Queen on home soil.
Ballet has always been Biancas foundation however & she confirms there has never been a moment where she hasn’t been thankful for the technique & discipline it taught her as a child. She owe’s everything to the ballet teacher who taught her for the first 12 years & is so excited to be able to pass that on to The Dance House students in her now home town Manly.
Bianca Dent
Jacqui Harvey
Jacqui Harvey
Ellie Copping
Ellie Copping
Grace Robinson
Grace trained in Sydney at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching before moving to London to take a place at The Royal Ballet School in London.
During her time at TRBS Grace was lucky enough and work and perform with choreographers including “Christopher Wheeldon”, “Liam Scarlett”, “Alexander Whitley” and works by “Jiri Kylian” among others.
After graduating, she joined The Northern Ballet as a company artist.. Since returning to Australia, Grace has been working with Opera Australia in Graeme Murphy’s recent production of The Merry Widow.
Grace Robinson
Billie Moffat
Billie has worked with multiple internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Christine Gouzulis and Paul Blackman in their work ‘ The Roaring Silence of a Never-ending story,’ and Balaz Busa and James O’Hara in their work ‘The roaring silence of a never ending story.’
Most recently Billie partook in a secondment with NDT2 and Batsheva Ensemble during her final year of university.
Billie Moffat
Billie Moffat
Billie has worked with multiple internationally acclaimed choreographers such as Christine Gouzulis and Paul Blackman in their work ‘ The Roaring Silence of a Never-ending story,’ and Balaz Busa and James O’Hara in their work ‘The roaring silence of a never ending story.’
Most recently Billie partook in a secondment with NDT2 and Batsheva Ensemble during her final year of university.
Billie Moffat