Andrea Briody

Why do you teach Dance? 

I love being in the dance studio with other people, be they children or adults, who also share a passion for dance. It feels good to pass on my dance knowledge to others and to watch them evolve. I also enjoy demonstrating as it is a way to keep the inner dancer in me alive.

 

Qualifications? 

Diploma in Dance- Australian Ballet School

Dance Teaching and Management- ATOD

Diploma in Remedial Massage (Anatomy and Physiology)- TAFE NSW

Bachelor of Arts- UNE

 

Professional Achievements? 

I danced professionally for 20 years in Sydney Dance Company, Opera Australia, State Theatre of Saarbrücken, State Theatre of Trier, State Theatre of Tyrol &London Ballet Theatre.

 

I was rehearsal director for Australiasian Dance Collective in Brisbane and I also taught and rehearsed dancers on the TV show Dance Academy. I've taught for Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, Ballet Preljocaj and Michael Clark Company. 

 

I've adjudicated numerous dance competitions nationally and internationally and I've been a guest teacher for Cecchettit Scholars and an adjudicator for the RAD Isobel Anderson Awards, the Joan and Monica Halliday Awards, the Betsy Sawyer Memorial Awards and for the RAD Solo Seal and Bursary Awards.

 

Training? 

My training commenced in the Cecchetti method, an Italian style of ballet at Carole Oliver School of Ballet in Ballarat where I also studied Graham technique. This was followed by 3 years at The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne where I trained in Vaganova, a Russian style of ballet. I also learnt dance notation, Cunningham technique and dance history. I consider every teacher that I have ever had to have contributed to my dance education and as a dancer you really need to be flexible in your approach to learning. Training is lifelong in dance. 

 

Favourite Style of Dance? 

To Do: Ballet and Contemporary. 

To Watch: All styles, I love them all. I had a secret longing to learn Tap as a child and finally got to learn it when I was a professional dancer in Sydney Dance Company for a production called Tivoli. 

 

Favourite Food? 

I'm not fussy. I do love asian foods and have a particular fondness for Japanese and Thai cuisine. I also love a buttery croissant and a roasted sweet potato.

 

Favourite Show? 

Stage: An American in Paris

 

Anything else we should know about you? 

I share my life with my partner Bernie who was also a beautiful dancer and our energetic kelpie border collie cross, Lola. I feel very fortunate to live in such lush and picturesque surroundings and to have some close friends and family nearby.