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OUR TEACHERS AND VALUES

iDance strives to provide students with teachers who are passionate, reliable, experienced and responsible.

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Vision and mission statement -The nature of idance is to promote a sensitive and nurturing family environment, working together toward the common goal of enjoyment, confidence, excellence and inclusion - from our once a week students to our pre-professional students.

 

All students will be nurtured and respected whilst sticking to our core values and beliefs - “to be honourable and honest with integrity,  kindness, and discipline, challenging yourself to reach your personal best”

 

Supporting and nurturing one another and growing together as members of the same special group aiming to improve, to grow and achieve together, just as families do!

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Teachers use effective teaching methods to create a productive learning environment for every student, whilst maintaining a strict, disciplined, and industry related environment.

 

Assistant teachers are also assigned to assist in younger classes.

 

We are also very excited to be able to offer some of our senior students 'Teacher Training', which really rounds off their dance education, enabling them to be able to teach classes when they are finished their Year 12 studies and off to further education or work.  

 

All staff members all hold a 'Working with Children Check' and at least one staff member on site at all times is First Aid qualified.

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Courtney Loader

Principal 

Courtney became the principal of i-Dance Echuca at the end of 2022 after much training and guidance from founder Jacqui Kornmann. Courtney has a passion for all styles of dance, however showed a particular interest in tap dance and ballroom throughout her years of training. 

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Courtney has taught at dance respected schools throughout the region including in Shepparton and Bendigo. She has experience teaching ballet, jazz, tap, acro, contemporary and ballroom. 

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Courtney has had over 20 years of dance training and over this time has been lucky enough to study with many industry leaders. Courtney was accepted into the bridging the gap program in 2022 which is run by the Australian Tap Dance Festival where she worked closely with Shane Preston who is a leader in the tap industry. She has also worked with Karida Griffith who runs a program designed for tap teachers. Karida is a large influence in the American tap dance scene with a large tap background including performing as a radio city rockette. 

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Courtney is a Southern Federation of Dance qualified teacher allowing her to submit students for exams. She is also a Keep Kids Safe in Dance registered studio owner. She stands very strongly with this program and this organisation guides everything we do at i-Dance. 

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Courtney is a student of Transit Dance where she has gained her certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management and is currently undertaking her diploma level qualification. Having a passion for all things stage she also holds a diploma of screen and media where she took a special interest in makeup for stage performances. 

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Courtney believes that a high level of dance training can be provided in a safe and nurturing environment that allows each child to reach their full potential. 

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Jacqui Kornmann B.Ed, ACBE

Founder and Teacher

Jacqueline Kornmann B.Ed

Echuca's much-loved, trusted and admired Jacqui Kornmann has had over 40 years teaching experience, along with 40 years of training, including professional dancing abroad with IM Co. Japan. 

 

Jacqui moved on to gain her Bachelor of Education, as she wanted to bring her love of dance into the education system where more students could have access to the Art of Dance. Jacqui became an assessor for VCE Dance Performance Examinations and an Ausdance SkillsSet Trainer for dance during this time.

Qualifications include B.Ed, Assoc.Dip., Cecchetti, Membership with Australian Teachers Of Dance and is registered to teach Australian Conservatoire of Ballet (Vaganova), Membership and Dance Skills set trainer (Ausdance), Certified Kinesiological Stretching coach, VET and VCE dance teacher, trained and qualified as a Teacher of Jeanette Liddell Modern Dance Education Syllabus, Cert.4 in training and assessment, First Aid Certificate, Echuca College Dance Teacher, VCE and VET dance teacher and Wakakirri and Rock Eisteddfod co-ordinator since 2005. Jacqui has been an assessor, examining for VCE Dance Performance examinations in Melbourne.  Jacqui is also a Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Examiner. Jacqui is former Director and Founder of iDance (Echuca) and Jacquelines School of Dance (Tongala and Kyabram).

As founder of iDance, Jacqui encourages a non-competitive environment in which the attainment of personal, creative, performance, physical and technical skills are just as important as having fun. 

Jacqui agree's that competitions are a wonderful opportunity and foundation in stage performance.  Children love to dress up and perform while meeting new friends and working in a team environment, for fun.  On a personal level this training allows students to deal with disappointment as well as success in a controlled and nurturing environment, strengthening that foundation for their lives to come.

 

Jacqui wishes for all of her students and their audience to truly express as well as experience that beautiful love of dance, that is inside us all!​
 

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Holly Kornmann B.Ed

Senior Teacher

Holly was training before she was even born - and has never missed one week of training in the art of dance. She has been learning to teach since such a youngster, as she was always 'with mum at ballet'!

 

Holly has successfully obtained her Batchelor of Education (primary teacher), VET Dance, Certificate 2 in Dance, VCE dance and First Aid certificate, Her qualifications include her Skills Set for Dance Teachers and Acrobatic Dance Association Teaching Certificate. She has also been examined in the Cecchetti method of classical ballet, Rock Eisteddfod Student leader participating in many Rock Eisteddfods and Wakakirri Story Dance Competitions, Royal South Street competitor.

 

Holly is happy that her choice of studying the Bachelor of Education has assisted her to understand student management, student issues, ethical behaviour and understanding young people and children through the continued study of child psychology and other elements, and apply's her knowledge to all classes and situations.

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Darcy Elliott

Performing Arts Teacher

Darcy has been involved in many aspects of the performing arts for over 15 years now.

 

Having experience and involvement in film & television, dance, vocal, comedy, ventriloquism, radio and musical theatre. He has a real passion for all things performance and loves to entertain and inspire kids to have the same love for performing.

 

Darcy's experience  comes from an array of mentors and inspirations from all aspects of the arts as well as his own personal achievements. These include working with industry professionals in New York on Broadway, Film and television experience on Neighbours, Home & Away and television commercials, multiple appearances on Australia’s got talent, comedy performances with some of Australia’s leading comics and being involved in over 20 productions with local theatre companies.

 

Bringing a wide range of knowledge on all things performing, Darcy loves to build confidence in performers and really tap into their full potential and help them shine on stage. Darcy is a qualified acro teacher and also holds his Keeps Kids Safe in Dance Training. 

 

An Australia Day awards recipient of young citizen of the year, Arts Person of the year and Arts person of the Campaspe shire Darcy knows what it takes to be a leader and role model to kids and young adults.
Darcy loves working with kids and young adults as he still considers himself a big kid at heart! He just wants kids to love performing and being on stage as much as he does and hopes he can bring fun, laughter and happiness into everyone’s day!


Darcy's day job sees him working at EDGE FM so you just might find his voice familiar as he often does voice over work for commercials. 

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Cassandra Gadsden

Dance Teacher

Cassandra started dancing at the age of 3 at EM Ballet studios under the tuition of Christine Rutherford.

Cass then began training at I-Dance in it’s founding year of 2011 where she was awarded the I-Dance Classical dancer of the year award.

 

Cass has since attended various events and competitions achieving a variety of awards as a soloist and troupe performer.

 

Cass has worked hard in her Cecchetti and Vaganova ballet classes to strive for personal excellence and achieved high marks in her Australian Conservatoire of Ballet level 3 and level 5 exams and scored a distinction in her ACB level 4 exam. 

 

Cass began as an assistant at a young age and has worked hard to progress through her training (including Acro for dancers and Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)) to gain a position as a teacher at I-Dance. After training with the Conservatoire of ballet earlier in the year as a teacher Cass has been awarded a provisional teacher membership, Cass is also a fully qualified acro teacher. 

 

Cass is very passionate about technique and also loves to share her creativity through dancing and choreography.

 

Cass is excited to share her experience and love for dance with present and future members of the I-Dance family.

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Brodi Maple

Dance Teacher

Brodi started dancing at the age of 3 at EM ballet Echuca, moving on to Hype dance, before joining I-Dance in 2016. During her time at I-Dance Brodi recieved the I-Dance Ballet award and overall improvement award. 

 

Teaching her first class at the age of 15, over the last 5 years Brodi's creativity and choreographic styles have developed alongside her passion for technique. Brodi is also a Acrobatic Dance Association qualified acro teacher.  

 

Striving for excellence in her own ACB exams Brodi received distinction in her level 2,4, and 5 exams with a result of Highly Commended in her senior level exam in 2023. Brodi's training has consisted of Acro. Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Hip-Hop, House Dance, Pilates and PBT. Later appearing in instructional DVDs for PBT (progressing ballet technique). 

 

Moving to Melbourne to dance full-time at the age of 16, Brodi trained under the guidance of Cristine Walsh AM at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet. Performing  'The Nutcracker'at the Arts Center with a live orchestra in front of over 2,000 people. 

 

Returning from a worldwide audition tour earlier this year where she danced in Belgium and France with scholarship offers from Canada, Brodi is ecstatic to re-join our team and bring her newfound knowledge home. 

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Molli Johns

Dance Teacher

Molli grew up in Echuca, dancing a variety of styles at I-Dance for a number of years before moving to Melbourne to pursue a Diploma in Dance (elite Performance) and Certificate in Dance Teaching and Management.

 

Teaching her first dance class at 16 she was able to develop a teaching philosophy "creating a dance environment where students are nurtured to develop their love for movement" 

 

Performing in a variety of shows, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical theatre Heels & Commercial work over her years in Melbourne she has been able to explore many aspects of the dance industry.

 

Also having completed her kids keep safe in dance acrobatics dance association certification. 

 

She works with local musical theatre companies, dance competitions and the Georgy awards to enhance her skills.

 

Now studying a Diploma in Dance teaching & management. Molli is looking forward to coming home to I-dance to pass on her knowledge & love for dance.

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Georgina Scurrah

Dance Teacher

Georgina commenced her dance journey at the age of 3 at a local dance school. At the age of 8 the opportunity arose to transfer to iDance Echuca, and she’s never left.

Georgina successfully completed year 12 in 2023 and decided to pursue her passion for dance and we are lucky to have her.

Georgina has undertaken all styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Acro and performed in all our showcase teams. She has completed ballet exams to Level 4 and Tap exams to Level 6.

Georgina has undergone and completed her Acro training through The Acrobatic Dance Association, Keep Kids Safe in Dance and has commenced her Certificate 4 in Dance Training and Management.

Georgina loves working within all our classes but is particularly passionate about our younger students, acro and tap, and loves to see our students reach their full potential.

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