SCCOD - Creative Team

Karen Manley commenced her classical Ballet training at the Ferraris/Draper School of Ballet-(Johannesburg South Africa). She successfully auditioned for and attended the Full time National School of the Arts and graduated year 12 in 1991. During this time she was also a member of the Johannesburg Youth Ballet Company dancing many Principal roles including the Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty and the Lead Sylph in La Sylphide. She also guest appeared on several occasions with the Senior Ballet Company (PACT Ballet) in Johannesburg.

In 1992 Karen completed a 12 month fulltime Dance Training course at the Pretoria Technikon and was awarded a National Certificate in Dance. It was during this time that she also gained the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance Advanced Certificate with Highly Commended which qualified her to participate in the highly regarded International Genee Ballet Competition.

In 1993 with plans already in motion to immigrate to Australia with her family, Karen decided to focus on her teacher training and went on to gain the RAD Teachers Certificate. Since arriving in Australia in 1994 she has taught at a number of respected Dance Schools both here on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane, specialising in teaching the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus (from Pre-Primary through to the prestigious Solo Seal Award). Karen has enjoyed tremendous success with student exam results maintaining a 100% pass rates with several high distinctions and many of her students have achieved prizes and major awards at Eisteddfods both in individual and group entries.

A number of Karen's past students have also successfully auditioned for the Qld Ballet Academy and the Australian Ballet Schools interstate Extension Program. In 1997 Karen was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Karen has also been appointed as an adjudicator with Get the Beat Dance Competition and regularly adjudicates nationally. Opening the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance is the realisation of a lifelong dream and one which Karen is thrilled to be able to share with you and your child.

Sunshine Coast born and raised mother of two Allison Bunney is a gifted and versatile teacher. Allison began dancing at the age of 4, studying Ballet, Tap and Jazz at Jill Peachey School of Dance. She completed all levels of examinations in Ballet, Tap and Jazz with top marks and achieved her Teaching Status with Education in Dance and Theatre Arts syllabus (EDTA) by the age of 16. When Allison was 17 she was selected to take part in the EDTA millennium celebrations in Sydney at the Opera House. Allison was appointed the head of Performance Team and eisteddfod work when she was 18 at Coolum Beach School of Dance where she continued to work for 13 years. She has choreographed winning routines for eisteddfods throughout QLD where most of her Musical Theatre and Song and Dance routines were undefeated.

During her mid 20's Allison decided to continue her professional development and studied to become a Royal Academy of Dance teacher, she was awarded the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with RAD in 2006. Several of Allison’s former students have been successful in their auditions for Brisbane City Youth Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Qld, Qld Ballet Academy and Australian Ballet interstate program.

Since starting her family Allison has been working at several coast schools specialising in the new RAD syllabus and still has a strong love for all genres of dance.

Kelly has been singing and dancing since she was eight years old, beginning her training in Jazz, Tap and Ballet at Maria Shanks Dance Centre. As the years went on, she expanded her repertoire to include Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Kelly appeared in her first Pro-Am Musical ‘Shout!’ at age 15, singing and dancing alongside Rowena Wallace and Dale Pengelly. Since completing high school and her CSTD exams, Kelly has performed at various charity events, sporting events, competitions, conventions and dance festivals.

In 2010, Kelly received a grant from Bond University to tour the U.S.A, training at prestigious dance studio ‘Millennium Dance Complex’ learning from some of the world’s best dancers/choreographers including Dave Scott (You Got Served, Step Up 2) and Dante7 (Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliott). She also had the opportunity to perform at Disneyland California and onboard Carnival cruise lines ‘Splendour’. Kelly's first professional contract was as one of Bindi Irwin’s backup dancers/singers ‘The Jungle Girls’.

She is very passionate about dance and acheived her Diploma in Musical Theatre Performance and Commercial Dance whilst studying at Conroy Performing Arts College. In 2013 Kelly was awarded her Full CSTD New Modern Jazz Teaching Diploma and in 2019 she was awarded National Choreographer of the year by "Get the Beat Dance Competition".

Sarah has been dancing since she was 3 years old, beginning her training in all styles at Dance Central Toowoomba. It was there she completed her RAD exams as well as SFD Jazz and Tap exams all with high distinction. From age 12 to 17, Sarah began weekly training in Queensland Ballet’s Junior Associate Program.

After graduating high school she trained full time with Sydney Dance Companies Pre-professional program working with world renowned artists weekly. Sarah has most recently completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with the RAD, under the prefessional guidance of Karen Manley A.R.A.D. (RTS) - Director of Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance. She has also completed her Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management with Transit Dance.

Emma began dancing at the age of 7 in Bundaberg where she trained at the Dianne McLellan Dance Academy where she studied Ballet, Tap & Jazz. She was a member of the Bundaberg Youth Performers who performed at various events including World Expo 88 and the Royal Gala for the Duchess of Kent.

Emma continued her RAD Ballet studies with the Anne Fraser School of Dance training to advanced Ballet gaining her full Teachers Diploma in CSTD Tap and CSTD Theatrical Performers Shield. She also recently gained her RAD Classical Ballet Teaching Qualification.

Throughout her dance journey, Emma performed in many Eisteddfods a;ong the East Coast of Australia recieving championship and aggregate awards accross Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Caberet and Song & Dance. A highlight of Emmas performing experience was playing the lead female role of 'Peggy Sawyer', singing and dancing in the Sunshine Coast Pro-Am production of 42nd Street.

With a passion for teaching rather than performing, Emma has pursued a prefessional dance teaching pathway and has taught in a number of prestigious Australian Dance Schools from Townsville to the Gold Coast. Her past students have been highly successful in RAD and Comdance Examinations and Dance Eisteddfods.

Dance and the performing arts have always been a part of Lauren’s life. She began her dance journey at the age of two and was performing in eisteddfods by the age of 7. In the years that followed Lauren continued her dance training, commenced singing lessons and successfully completed several examinations including RAD Advanced Foundation.

In 2021 Lauren was accepted into the renowned Conroy Performing Arts College, where she furthered her training in a variety of dance genres including commercial jazz, musical theatre, cabaret, heels, lyrical, contemporary, ballet and jazz tech. She also undertook intensive technical and industry training in singing, acting and performance, and in 2024 graduated with a Diploma of Musical Theatre and a Comdance Modern Jazz Teaching Diploma.

It was during her time at CPAC that Lauren honed her teaching skills working as an assistant teacher for their Comdance jazz syllabus classes and junior eisteddfod teams. She is described as an engaging teacher with an excellent ability to break down exercises and explain correct technique, and a real passion for what she does.

Lauren has enjoyed many opportunities to perform over the years, in dance and musical theatre, as a soloist and as part of a team. A highlight was being chosen for the performance team representing Australia at the Macau International Youth Dance Festival in 2024.

Lauren is looking forward to sharing her love of the performing arts and nurturing the next generation of dancers.

Miss Chloe spent her early years of training in various dance styles on the Sunshine Coast before heading to complete her full-time dance training on the Gold Coast with Dance Force. Since then Miss Chloe has worked for Celebrity Cruises as a production cast dancer, taking her to over 30 different countries!

Miss Chloe is also an Acrobatic Arts certified teacher as well having her Certificate Ill in Dance. She also loves to share her experiences and knowledge with all her students through dance.

Brooke has been dancing since she was 5 years old, training in multiple dance styles and eventually finding Hip Hop to be her passion.

She has trained at House of Sole under a number of amazing teachers including Taneikah Wescombe, while also performing and travelling in a number of crews. Brooke has studied many Hip Hops Styles and enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge with her students.

She has choreographed for a number of crews and taught classes of all ages. Brooke is currently dancing in a crew at the Zone studios and is looking forward to bringing fun and energy to her classes at SCCOD.

Emma began dancing at the age of 3 and has trained at the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance for 7 years. She has trained across all dance styles including completing CSTD Jazz and Tap exams to a high-level, RAD Ballet exams, and competing at eisteddfods in both solo and group competitions.

She studied dance part time during high-school gaining her Certificate III in Dance, before recently completing a Diploma in Educational Studies. Emma is now pursuing a Bachelor of Primary Education.

With years of experience as an assistant teacher, Emma is passionate about sharing her love of dance with her students and helping them find their second home at the Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance, just as she did.

Ella has been dancing since she was 4 years old completing her dance training at Sunshine Coast Conservatory of Dance until graduating last year. She has trained in a multitude of dance styles and has engaged in both CSTD (Jazz) and RAD ballet exams to a high standard.

Dancing is Ella’s passion and she strives to make her classes as fun and engaging as possible. She always enjoys seeing her students grow and can’t wait to watch them develop their love of dance in a positive and supportive environment.

With over 25 years of experience in the dance and theatre industry, Melissa’s work has been described by critics and reviewers as ‘beautiful, fluid and potent movement.’ ‘a gift for story-telling, masterful, impressive and relevant’. She has worked as an independent artist both in Australia and in the UK with the British Arts Council, Dance East, Henri Oguike, Bare Bones Birmingham with strong ties to dance in education; professional touring works and dance in development.

Melissa has served on the board of the Regional Arts Development Fund for several years and continues her involvement through speaking engagements as an advocacy for the Arts. In collaboration with Creative Spaces, Sunshine Coast Council and The Events Centre, Melissa instigated to the first Artist in Residency for Dance and Theatre Makers in the Region. The last four years has seen Melissa conceive and facilitate large scale but bespoke Youth Dance Projects of high production value with casts of approximately 100 in site specific locations and as of August 2019 the Queensland Curriculum Authority of Australia has selected an excerpt of ‘Vincent’(one of Melissa’s Professional and award winning touring works) as one of only two assessment works for Yr12 students across the state.

Melissa was commissioned by Horizon Festival to create ‘Poetical Inhabitants’ which had its official premiere in 2023 to rave reviews, this work is looking to tour regionally into 2025. As an Australia Day Award Nominee, she now works under the banner of LJ Projects which as of January 2020 has received Seed Funding for the next three years from RADF and Arts Qld. Her own studio was launched in 2021.

OUR CREATIVE TEAM