Welcome to our WSDA website! We are one of the most prestigious and sought after dance schools where we treat each student as an individual and love the fact that all children and parents are a part of our WSDA dance family! A place where your child can develop and nurture their dancing talents in a fun environment with highly trained and passionate teachers. We encourage each child to reach their full potential whilst making it an enjoyable experience along the way of becoming the best dancer that they can be. We provide tuition to children of all levels and ages with beginner tiny tots classes commencing from the age of 2 right up to pre-professional level.
Whitney Schofield
​
Artistic Director
L.C.B.A - C.I.C.B & Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management
​
Classical Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary/Lyrical, Private Lessons, Eisteddfod Work & Elite Training
​
Whitney was born with ballet slippers on. Starting dancing with her grandmother, Kerry Barends at the age of 2, Whitney took South African dance by storm. She won many awards throughout her dancing career in South Africa with her first being at the age of 3 years old. She took part in competitions all around South Africa and was chosen twice to represent her country in overseas dancing competitions, including the International Cecchetti Competition. She represented her state in their Youth Ballet Company and was chosen to be the soloist in her last two years in South Africa. She was privileged enough to dance in The Nutcracker and Coppelia with the company in Durban, NAPAC. Eisteddfods have always been a big part of her life as she has performed in them since the age of 3 years old. Whitney toured around America, visiting New York, Atlanta and Boston where she danced at Broadway and Alvin Ailey. Having been awarded the most Outstanding Dancer in Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Tap Dancing on more than one occasion she is one of very few candidates to receive the top mark of Honours in every Ballet exam and Honours with Distinction in every Jazz and Tap exam she has taken from 4 years of age until Graduating at the age of 17. Having immigrated from South Africa at the age of 16 Whitney continued her training at the Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy for 2 years where she was taught by world-wide highly regarded teachers and choreographers such as Miss Tanya Pearson herself, Julie Wells & Kim Trainor just to name a few . She then passed her Cecchetti Associate Teachers exam with flying colours and at the age of 18 and began her own dance school, WSDA. Whitney is very keen to instil her worldly knowledge to young up and coming ballerinas and dancers.
Demi Schofield
​
Co-Director
A.(Dip) C.B.A. - C.I.C.B & Bachelor of Business Management
​
​
Classical Ballet, Contemporary/Lyrical, Jazz, Private Lessons & Eisteddfod Work & Elite Training
​
Demi Schofield was born into a dancing family and has been dancing since the age of 3. Firstly, being taught by her grandmother Kerry Barends at the renowned Kerry Barends Academy of Dance in Durban South Africa, Demi completed all of her Ballet, Jazz & Tap exams with flying colours. She then went on to studying at the prestigious Jean M Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong where she took part in RAD ballet exams as well as Jazz & Tap classes taught by world renowned choreographers and dancers. Eisteddfods were a huge part of Demi's life having competed in them since the age of 4 and winning many titles. Demi has passed all of her major Cecchetti examinations with the highest distinction of Honours and has also passed her AIDT Tap exams with distinction. During her final year at Brigidine College St Ives, Demi lead her dance team to many Eisteddfod victories as well as winning the audience vote at the Dance of Champions and winning the most outstanding dancer award. After finishing her HSC, Demi went on to study at University and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management. She has since then decided to follow her passion and teach alongside her sister. Demi has always had a passion for teaching young dancers and equipping them with the necessary tools to make it in the dancing world so she is delighted to be passing on her love of dance to others.
Emma Dulvey​
RAD Teachers Diploma
​
Classical Ballet, Contemporary/Lyrical, Private Lessons, Eisteddfod Work & Elite Training
​
Emma Dulvey began dancing at the age of four at Ballet Academy Northside where she studied Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary and Tap.
At the age of 15 she started an intensive full time course at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy where she studied Classical Ballet and Contemporary, including The Martha Graham Technique under instruction of a large variety of highly regarded teachers including Julie Wells, Kim Trainer, Julia Regi, Paul Boyd and many more. In the duration of her Studies at TPCCA she performed soloist roles in three of the Sydney City Youth Ballet Productions choreographed by Paul Boyd who was Principal dancer with Oper der Stadt, Bonn, Germany, Basler Ballett, Basel, Switzerland and company coach and choreographer with The Queensland Ballet Company. In 2010, Emma Toured Europe with TPCCA, auditioning for Vocational Schools around Germany, Switzerland, Austria and The Netherlands. From The Schools she was selected for, she accepted a place in the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, In the Netherlands, Which was currently directed by Vim Broekx. At the Conservatoire, Emma was trained by ex soloist of the Paris Opera Ballet Pierre Darde, Ex soloist of Het National Ballet Esther Protzman, Ex Dancer of Nederlands Dans Theater Tessa Cook and once again, many more Prestigious Teachers and Guest Teachers. The School also offered Nederlands dans Theater Repertoire that was taught by Members of the company where Emma learnt work by World renound Choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans van Manen and Paul Lightfoot. At her time in the Netherlands she had the privilege of performing such pieces as Jewels by George Balanchine, Brahms- Schonberg, part 3 by George Balanchine, Over grown Path by Juri Kylian, she performed at Festival Classique dancing ‘Planets’ by Thom Stuart and performed with ‘De Dutch Don’t Dance Division’ in a soloist role performing their production of Abdullah.
Shayarne Matheson​
​
Contemporary, Lyrical, Classical Ballet, Private Lessons, Eisteddfod Work & Elite Training
Shayarne started dancing when she was 3 years old. She has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary and Acrobatics. In 2005, Shayarne was offered a half scholarship for the Classical Ballet Stream at The McDonald College of Performing Arts. During her 3 years at McDonald College she completed all of her R.A.D Major Classical Ballet Examinations with High Distinctions, Performed the principle roll of "The Sugar Plum Fairy" in The Premiere State Ballet's production of The Nutcracker and won the schools Robert and Elizabeth Albert award, which gave her a full scholarship. Shayarne was also part of The Australian Ballets Interstate Associates Program for 5 years.
In 2008 Shayarne was accepted into the full-time course at Tanya Pearsons Classical Coaching Academy. During her time there Shayarne performed in two of Sydney City Youth Ballet's productions. Performing soloist and principle rolls in "The Polar Express" and "The Nutcracker." Shayarne also went on Tanya Pearsons European Tour where she was accepted into the Pallucca Schule in Dresden, Germany and The Geneva Ballet Company. Shayarne also competed in the Genee Medals International Ballet Competition, where she was a Finalist. Shayarne was also a finalist in The Sydney Eisteddfods, McDonald’s Challenge Classical Ballet Scholarship. Shayarne was also the first place Scholarship winner of the Society of Dance Art Awards Australasian Competition. Shayarne has completed her Solo Seal which is the highest level of R.A.D Examinations.
In 2011, Shayarne travelled to New Zealand for the Alana Haines Awards where she was The Supreme Winner and also received a Full Scholarship for the Graduate Year to The Royal Ballet School in London. During Shayarne's year in London she performed in the Royal Ballets production of Paquita in Athens, Greece and also the Royal Ballets Production of Alice In Wonderland in London. Shayarne has also performed in The Queensland Ballets productions of La Sylphide and The Nutcracker. Once Shayarne finished her career as a ballet dancer she began training at Sydney Dance Companies Pre Professional Year to further her knowledge and education in contemporary dance.
Shayarne has trained and worked with Gailene Stock (Director of The Royal Ballet School), Gary Norman (Ex Principle Artiste of The Australian Ballet), James Tudor (Ex Dancer with The Rambert Company), Parish Maynard (San Fransisco Ballet Company), Vicki Attard (Ex Principle Artiste of The Australian Ballet), Amy Hollingsworth (Ex Dancer and assistant director of Sydney Dance Company) and Rafael Bonachela (Artistic Director of Sydney Dance Company, Li Cunxin (Director Queensland Ballet), Linda Gamblin (Ex Principle Royal Ballet Company) and many more.
Shayarne’s passion for teaching and choreography has had her award winning students and pieces performed all over Australia, New Zealand, America, Europe and Asia.
Bella Perry​
​​
Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical & Hip Hop
​
Bella began learning ballet at the age of 5, completing RAD exams up to and including Advanced Foundation at The Ballet Class Rose Bay. She then continued her studies at Village Nation, training in Jazz, Contemporary, Hiphop, Tap and Musical Theatre, and completed years 11 and 12 at Village College. Bella won a scholarship to study full-time dance in 2020 at Village Nation, completing her Certificate 4 and Dance. Since then, Bella has been signed with Presley Management, has performed for G-Flip at Mardi Gras 2021 as well as Todd McKenney at the Grace Gala. Bella has a passion for helping her students reach their goals in the Performing Arts.
Charlotte Dand​
​​
Jazz, Technique, Classical Ballet, Private Lessons, Eisteddfod Work & Elite Training
​
Charlotte is originally from London, United Kingdom she has had a varied career in Dance and Musical Theatre over the years.
Charlotte graduated from the prestigious ‘Laine Theatre Arts’ in 2012 with a National Trinity Diploma in dance alongside many other credits including her DDI ISTD Ballet teaching certificate.
Charlotte went on to train with Scintilla Dance Company in London and has worked on many pantomimes up and down the UK as a principal dancer and understudy to leading roles, she has also danced at Wembley Arena in the opening of the FA Cup Final.
Charlotte has worked on various cruise ships over the years including Cunard’s flagship ‘Queen Mary 2’ and Princess Cruises ‘Crown Princess’ and flagship ‘Regal Princess’ in which she was cast in Stephen Schwartz’s shows ‘Magic to Do’ and ‘Born to Dance’.
Charlotte’s film credits include ‘ The Muppets…Again’ and ‘Marvels Avengers, Age of Ultron’.
Charlotte has worked with many students over the years in both England and Australia sharing her love for dance.
Robyn Ross
​​
F.C.B.A – C.I.C.B (Dist), Life Member, Cecchetti Examiner, Maestro Cecchetti Diploma Holder (Dist),
ARAD, RAD RTS (Dist),
Certificate IV
​
Robyn trained with Audrey King and Lynne Fouche in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she successfully completed all her ballet examinations in the Cecchetti method.
After leaving school she danced as a Principal with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet Company, performing in Scotland, Israel, London and South Africa.
In 1974 Robyn gained her Associate Teaching qualification, and in 1979 she gained her Licentiate Certificate from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (London). In 1986 she completed her final Cecchetti Teacher’s Examination for which she was awarded Fellowship Status with Distintion.
In 1992 Robyn gained the prestigious Enrico Cecchetti Diploma with Distinction.
In 1999, under the training of Hilary Kaplan, she gained her RAD Teaching Certificate with Distinction and was appointed an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD).
In 2000 Robyn was appointed to the position of EXAMINER of Cecchetti Ballet Australia, examining both in Australia and overseas.
In 2003 and 2004 Robyn danced as Mrs Cratchett in the Sydney City Youth Ballet’s production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ at the Glen Street Theatre. In 2006 Robyn was once again a guest artist with the company, performing in ‘The Polar Express’.
Sophie Vilensky
​
Sophie has been a dedicated student at WSDA since the age of 4, training under the expert guidance of Kerry Barends, Whitney Schofield, Demi Schofield, Robyn Ross, and other distinguished faculty members. She has successfully completed all her Cecchetti ballet examinations, achieving the highest distinction of honours.
Over the course of her training, Sophie was a valued member of the WSDA representative eisteddfod teams, participating in a wide range of dance genres for over 10 years and contributing to their continued success.
In 2023, Sophie graduated from Brigidine College in St Ives, where she was recognised as a high achiever for her exceptional results in HSC Dance. Her 'Major Work' and 'Core Performance' pieces were nominated for Callback, an annual selection of the most outstanding major works by HSC Dance students.
Currently, Sophie is working toward her Cecchetti teacher's qualifications. She is passionate about sharing her love for dance and ballet with others, inspiring the next generation of dancers.
