About Us
The Vanessa Lee Dance Academy offers dance classes, private tuition and experience performing and dancing as a soloist and in a troupe.
For boys and girls ages two and a half up specialties are:
- R.A.D Classical Ballet
- Jazz
- Glenn Wood Tap
- Modern Expressive
- Contemporary
Dance is in everyone. It is the basic human emotion of moving to music. Whether you want to live a full time professional career or get down and funky with great friends or simply enjoy getting fit rather than slogging it out in a gym you will be inspired by Vanessa Lee’s infectious love of dance.
We tried a few schools before Vanessa Lee. Some were well set up some were just hired halls. When we walked into the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy my daughter saw the mirrors and the polished stretch bars and said “I want to come here!”
— Sharon
In 2001 the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy was first opened in Dapto. Beginning with 20 students their success and enjoyment inspired others to become involved. Growth in 8 years has been phenomenal. Now with over 200 students, 4 teachers and a dozen student teachers the success of the school is a credit to the passion and talent that embodies all involved with the organisation.
Many just love to dance and are there purely to have fun, increase fitness levels and dance with friends. Others have truly been inspired to make dance their career. Their determination, drive, ambition and their growing success is a credit to their character and to the school’s determination to give everything they need.
The feeling is that all the teachers at the academy are genuinely interested in my children and what they are getting out of dancing. It’s so enjoyable and professional.
— Lee
Achievement, accomplishment and success
- Amber McCartney – winner, Australian Dance Idol 2004. Prize money, $5000.
- Acceptance into the Australian Ballet Interstate program
- All Vanessa Lee Dance Academy students have achieved a 100% success rate in passing all RAD examinations.
- First place - Entertainment Troupe, Wollongong Eisteddfod 2004 & 2007
In 2005 The Vanessa Lee Dance Academy took 15 students through America . In experiencing the international world of dance the students performed at Disneyland with dance schools from around the world. They also attended classes at the Edge Performing Arts Centre in Hollywood working with international teachers, choreographers and elite dancers. The tour has literally opened up a world of possibilities for students and the school is set to continue international projects.
Learning and performing – there is no experience like stage experience
Truly inspired dancers have etched through their very being a mix of the essential elements of technique, discipline, passion and the ability to communicate great things — to touch an audience.
With this philosophy and the intention to provide dance as a holistic experience the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy presents opportunities for live performance as often as possible. One of the highlights each year is a major performance at venues such as the IPAC . Along with valuable stage time students gain first hand experience of exactly what it is like to perform on stage in a professional production. Friends and relatives are given a great show and can see first hand how students are progressing.
In keeping with the true dance company feel of the performance Vanessa designs the costumes and the Academy has 2 qualified dressmakers to make them. Students have the experience of performing in professional costumes, the show presents as a glorious spectacle and parents are relieved the stress and struggle of sewing up complicated pieces.
I love seeing my work up there performing the passion and beauty that is dance.
— Vanessa Lee Corrie
Dedicated to working with the community The Vanessa Lee Dance Academy also presents dance productions for charities such as Kids Wish, Relay for Life and the Leukemia Foundation. Students and teachers also run in the Relay for Life.
It is often said by dancers that they live and breathe dance. It is rare though that someone so passionate for dance is equally as passionate about teaching. For the Academy Vanessa pours a huge amount of passion, energy, constant work, much understanding from her husband and close friends and little sleep. For her students it is an incredible support. It is inspiration, dedication, energy and the drive to achieve the best that dance can be.
Vanessa Corrie
Principle
Vanessa has lived dance from the age of 4. Her formative years were in Classical Ballet. At the age of 9 while still concentrating on the tradition of Classical Ballet she branched out into Jazz, Contemporary, Modern and National Character from pre primary to advanced II.
Being competitive by nature Vanessa performed in eisteddfods and competitions and completed examinations. Gaining considerable recognition both locally and the greater Sydney area Vanessa travelled to Vienna at the age of 14 and trained with the Vienna Ballet School. Her success led to a desire to share her experience with others and she first started teaching at the age of 16.
Formal training in teaching began at the age of 18. She studied for 3 years with the Royal Academy of Dance. Vanessa achieved the highest possible award of distinction. Vanessa decided to follow her life long dream of running her own school and in 2001 she opened the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy.
Building on her success with the school Vanessa gained her Advanced Teaching Certificate with Hillary Kaplin & Archibald Mackenzie from Alegria in 2008. The award was a rare opportunity for Vanessa to learn valuable techniques in teaching higher grades. The benefit for students is the resource and practical teaching expertise to take them further in their careers.
Jenna Cairney
Teacher
Dancing from the age of 4 Jenna has over 16 years experience in dance. Performing as a soloist and a member of dance troupes in eisteddfods from the age of 5 Jenna is proficient in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Modern and Contemporary.
Her dancing career took a profound transformation at the age of 13 when she enrolled in the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy . It was with the academy that she was introduced to teaching. Assigned as assistant teacher with younger Jazz dancers Jenna found the teaching environment inspiring and she flourished under Vanessa’s guidance. Recognition of her teaching ability came at the age of 16 being given the honor of teaching Jazz and Stretch for the academy.
Inspired through her experience her passion for teaching young children to dance grows with her ability. Her dedication to teaching has led her to study at the University of Wollongong where she is in her second year in a Bachelor of Education.
Laura James
Tap Teacher
Dancing consumes Laura and most of her time. And there is no other way that she would have it. Studying a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Physical Development, Health and Physical Education at the University of Western Sydney Laura is the essence of the physical and fitness benefits in dance.
Dancing from an early age Laura has been with the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy for virtually half her life. Combining her passion for dance with her aspiration to be a high school PD/H/PE teacher Laura understands the relation of technique and discipline to dance, fitness and fulfilment.
She is proficient in the British Dance Association Tap syllabus and is now focussing on the Glenn Wood syllabus levels 1 to 9. The Glenn Wood Tap syllabus is dynamic and compelling. Its modern technique opens up a whole new world of structure and variety that is enjoyable to teach and learn
Amber McCartney
Teacher
Dancing as a soloist Amber cites Vanessa Lee as the key to her success in winning many prestigious dance championships. A talented and devoted dancer Amber also won the celebrated Australian Dance Idol. Experienced in RAD Ballet Exams Amber has reached the level of advanced 2.
Under the guidance of the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy Amber’s devotion and ability led her to achieve 96 in her HSC Dance the fourth highest mark in the state. She was accepted into the Victorian College of Arts, The Queensland University and the Ev & Bow Full Time Dance Centre. As a dedicated and highly regarded teacher with Vanessa Lee, Amber continues to further her dance studies with the Ev & Bow Dance Centre.
Chantelle Watts
Teacher
A versatile dancer Chantelle has had much success at eisteddfods and competitions in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Demi-Character and Tap. Dancing with the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy since 2001, Chantelle is completing her RAD Advanced 2 vocational grade.
Passing her knowledge on to the beginner dance classes and the Junior Soloists of the academy Chantelle is continually developing as a teacher and dancer. She will further her studies in teaching dance through the RAD program. Dance is her life and she absolutely loves it.
