Meet our team
It is with great pride that we present to you DanceWorks Studios amazing staff.
"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success."
Deborah and Shaun Woodroofe - Directors
Shaun loves being backstage and is often found helping out backstage for the local theatre shows, School Shows, Dance Shows or the touring shows including the RNZB.
Debbie also loves to help out backstage usually in the costume, make-up or hair areas.
While they remained friends for a number of years they only decided to start dating in 2004 and then married in 2006.
Shaun is a qualified Chef and has had many different roles within this industry which includes Staff Management, Account/Business Management and of course Executive Chef roles.
Debbie started out as an Office Administrator, Call Centre Operator, Workforce Administrator, Team Leader and Account Management.
Over this time they have also owned and managed a Palmerston North cafe.
Debbie and Shaun have 4 children, 2 boys Camden and Seeley and 2 girls Danika and Roshan, all of them have a passion for dance and dance with DanceWorks Studios. Camden and Danika are now teaching for then studio and Roshan is as Assistant Teacher.
When the opportunity to purchase the studio arose, there was really no question about it. With all of their children involved in dance and such an amazing studio to continue to grow, it was a no brainer. Their ties to the theatre community and arts community here and around New Zealand is strong and they hope to bring exciting new opportunities to the studio.
Shaun and Debbie wanted to keep the studio going, not only for their children, but all the amazing students they have watched grow and all the students yet to find their dance passion.
Deonne Wenman - Operations Manager
Deonne has been married for 33 years and has 5 wonderful children and 4 beautiful grand babies.
Deonne became involved in dance around 10 years ago when her daughter developed a passion for everything dance. Now her grand children have also developed a passion for dance with 3 of them dancing with Danceworks. Deonne also has a passion for anything crafty, and often can be seen at craft fairs selling all the goodies she has made.
Deonne has always had a passion for organising, it comes naturally when you have a large family that need organising. When the position came up as Administrator for Danceworks Deonne thought she could incorporate this job into the hours she was spending waiting around at the studio, and she has not looked back.
Deonne is fondly referred to by many as Admin Queen and is the one that can answer all your questions, if she can’t she will find out the answer for you. Deonne has a great attention to detail which makes this role perfect for her.
Deonne tells us that she loves meeting new people and seeing the love of dance and pure joy on the faces of the students at Danceworks. She loves being able to watch the students grow through their years of dance.
Brooke Roydhouse
APDA Teacher Certificate
Brooke has a long history with the stage. She danced professionally for over 10 years overseas performing in the United States, Europe, South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Brooke’s career begun with Maureen Ax in Palmerston North, from 18 she then crafted her dance career in Melbourne at Patrick Studios Australia.
Brooke has been a Singer/ Dancer with Princess Cruises and P&O Australia and Dance Captain at Resorts World Genting’s Casino in Malaysia. She has performed in the Countdown Arena Spectacular, Hairspray movie premiere in Australia and was in the top 100 in Australia’s first season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’. Other highlights include being a regular extra in the popular Australia TV soaps ‘Home and Away’ and ‘Neighbours’.
Brooke has performed in New Zealand-based musicals including ‘Wicked’, ’Chicago’, ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’, ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and Australian-based musicals - Jerry Herman’s ‘Milk & Honey’ and in Hugh Jackman's ‘The Boy from Oz’ at the Rod Laver Arena.
As well as performing, Brooke is the Jazz dance teacher at Dance Works Studios and Director of Ignite Dance Hub. She currently freelances as a dance tutor/ adjudicator in the New Zealand dance scene & in schools. She has worked with NZSD, Te Auaha, DanceNZmade, Kairos, National Youth Drama School, UCOL Performing Arts and SHE SHINES ON Dance tours as an assistant Tour manager in the USA as well as their team's coordinator.
Alison Pond
Alison holds top qualifications including the Royal Academy of Dance Advanced Teaching Diploma and is also an examiner and tutor for the Royal Academy of Dance. Alison is a Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance and a NZAMD Teaching Member and has over 40 years experience teaching on the Kapiti Coast. She teaches Classical Ballet, Jazz, Stretch & Strength and is also available for private coaching and choreography.
Shelley Easton
BSC (SpExSci)
NZAHND (Hons) Solo Seal
Shelley commenced Highland at age 3. She is a member of the NZ Academy of Highland and National Dancing (NZAHND) with Honours as a qualified teacher and adjudicator. Shelley is a 10-time NZ Highland Dancing Champion from age 14 to 25 and attained Solo Seal at age 21. She has also competed successfully overseas, and performed in many international shows. She completed a Bachelor of Science at Massey University, with a major in Sport and Exercise Science.
Sarsha Forbes
ARAD CBTS ANZAMD
Sarsha trained in many styles of dance with Alison Pond Dance Academy from the age of 3 until leaving for University, completing her exams through to RAD Advanced 2 Classical Ballet. At this time she took up a scholarship to attend La Salle College of the Arts in Singapore majoring in Musical Theatre. Sarsha has since completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching and is a Registered Teacher of the Royal Academy of Dance and NZAMD. Sarsha has always had a passion for theatre and performing, both on and off the stage. She has performed and choreographed many musicals throughout New Zealand and continues to be involved alongside teaching.
Nicola Morrison
Nicola began dance at the age of 6 taking ballet at Maureen Ax School of dance and soon after picked up Jazz and contemporary. After school, Nicola continued her dance training at Whitiriea Performing Arts in Wellington for two years earning a Diploma in Performing arts. Returning home to PN, she found a passion for teaching, and choreography at her original dance school, and was choreographer for the Musical "Hair"
In 2016 Nicola moved to Melbourne and continued to perform in musicals, including "Jesus Christ Superstar - ensemble", "A Chorus Line - Val", "A Chorus Line - Vicki/ensemble", and "Strictly Ballroom - Dancer".
Nicola is excited to have returned to PN to begin teaching at Danceworks and pass on her knowledge and love of dance to the younger generation.
Danika Woodroofe
I started dancing Jazz at the age of 5 and I was hooked.
From then I continued to slowly add more genres, first Tap then Ballet, Contemporary and Acro.
Dance has played a massive part in my life, there are many dancers that I have looked up to over the years who have now moved on in their dance lives.
My passion for teaching has developed over the last few years as an Assistant Teacher. I now want to share that passion with all of the students I teach. I hope to pass on, that someday, if you keep trying and don’t give up, you can be like the people you aspire to and achieve whatever you want.
I have always loved dance and I want to continue to dance no matter what happens. Dance makes me happy and the DanceWorks family is an amazing, supportive family.
Larina Hansen
Larina started Classical ballet at the age of 4yrs with Beverley Rowles in Wollongong, NSW. She trained through the RAD syllabus and completed all exams successfully including Advanced, gaining her ARAD. She also competed in many competitions growing up and had a wide range of performing opportunities.
At age 16yrs she moved to Melbourne to study full time at the National Theatre Ballet School and was fortunate to work with some amazing teachers. During this time she was invited to take classes with the Australian Ballet Company. After finishing her studies at the National, she travelled to London to compete in the RAD Genee Awards and travelled through Europe taking classes with many different schools and ballet companies including the English National Ballet. She was offered a 12 month scholarship at the Princess Grace Dance Academy in Monaco and studied the Russian Vaganova syllabus with Marika Besobrasova. During her time in Monaco performing highlights included dancing at the Prince's Palace of Monaco and with Les Ballets de Monaco. After returning to Australia she was inspired to move into teaching and discovered her new passion for helping to develop young dancers and train them through the RAD syllabus.
After teaching for a few years, Larina took up the opportunity to travel to Japan and danced professionally for 2 years on contract and performed as an extra with the ABT (American Ballet Theatre).
Her time overseas sparked a love of travel and once back in Australia she moved into studying travel and completed a Diploma in Travel and Tourism. Larina worked in travel and events management looking after international tours, including dance groups which kept her connection to dance. Now making a return to teaching, Larina is excited to continue her love of teaching and to help inspire the next generation of young dancers.
Charlotte Wenman
Meet Charlotte, a dance enthusiast since the age of 7, spinning her way through the world of ballet, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and Acro. She's not just a dancer; she's a dance teacher with a heart full of passion. Teaching is where Charlotte truly comes alive. Constantly seeking chances to grow and learn. She is looking forward to continuing to progress her skills in this area. Competitions are her thing, a space where she not only challenges herself but also revels in the thrill of dance. This year, she's all set to hit the competition floor again, sharing the excitement with her students. Charlotte's journey is all about progress – hers and her students'. Charlotte is also starting her Nursing journey through UCOL this year.
Grace Nemeth
Grace has been dancing since the age of 4 with Alison Pond at Kapiti Dance Centre where she completed her ballet grades up to RAD advanced 2. Grace started out doing RAD ballet for her first few years before discovering NZAMD contemporary and jazz. Grace was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance as a Contemporary Associate. Grace has also received nominations to attend the NZAMD Scholarship weekends where she participated in both Contemporary and Jazz sections in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2018 Grace was also selected as one of few to reach the finals of the scholarship weekend.
After years of competitions and discovering the love for choreography Grace received a modern PACANZ nomination before moving to Auckland after being accepted into Unitecs Bachelor in Performing and Screen Arts programme Majoring in contemporary dance.
Since then Grace has moved back to the Kapiti coast and is completing her RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies with mentoring from Alison Pond.
Ashleigh Shaw
I started my dance journey at 7 years old in Palmerston North. I loved modern and jazz and tried contemporary, and ballet.
I have done Irish dancing here in Palmerston North and also tried cheerleading and absolutely love all styles and am always willing to try anything!
I started coaching Gymnastics at 17, and never looked back.
In 2019 I was able to go to London and begin my OE. I managed to start a Gymnastics programme at a school I taught at and had big dreams to join a club and coach overseas. However, the pandemic meant that could not happen and I am back at home where I love to be.
Acro means that I can put my love for dance and gymnastics together.
I cannot wait to learn off my colleagues and students. I thrive on students achieving skills they didn't think possible. Production time is my favourite. I am so excited to be back in the studio.
Meghan Lagah
I started dance aged 4 with MacDonald’s school of dance in ballet, this progressed into many other genres including, Tap, Hip hop, Jazz and contemporary.
I finished dancing in 2021 after 14 years of dance stepping back for a gap year, yet quickly realising how boring life is without dance in the mix.
While also being in a dance school, outside of dance during my high school life I was fortunate to be a part of the Hip hop dance troupe, for my senior years which only added to my love for the activity.
Dancing helped me grow as a person and I am very excited to start a new journey teaching at Danceworks.
Sarah Rowe
NZAHND (Hons - Theory)
Sarah commenced Highland Dancing at age 5.
She is a member of the NZ Academy of Highland and National Dancing as a qualified teacher and adjudicator. Sarah danced competitively across NZ, achieving multiple top 10 places across various age groups. She has also danced internationally at many shows in the USA, China, Germany, France, Belgium and Scotland, with a career highlight, performing at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2014.
Sarah is excited to be at Danceworks and have the opportunity to give back to an art form that has given her so much.
Kate Martin
Former Director of KM Dance
L.I.D.T.A Classical Ballet
L.I.D.T.A Modern Jazz
B.P.S.A Contemporary Dance
Dip. Performing Arts
Qualified Acrobatic Arts
Dance Adjudicator
Kate Martin is the former Director of KM Dance in Levin (now Levin the Movement) where her dance school taught Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Acro Dance, HipHop, Adult Fitness & Pre-school Dance from 2012 to 2022.
Kate taught most genres over her 10 years as a studio owner, but her specialties are Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance, and Modern Jazz. Kate is very proud of the achievements of her dancers who consistently excelled in annual exams in Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary and whose competitive troupes and soloists performed well at dance competitions. Kate has also nurtured many dancers to continue to pursue tertiary dance studies and careers in dance as performers or teachers.
Kate is a qualified Ballet & Jazz teacher & Examiner of IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) and is a qualified Acro Dance teacher with Acrobatic Arts. She has a Diploma in Dance from Whitirea (Now Te Auhua) in Wellington majoring in Commercial Dance and a Contemporary Dance Degree from UNITEC in Auckland.
Whilst IDTA is the syllabi that Kate is qualified in, she has experience with teaching ISTD & RAD Ballet and believes that one of the most important attributes of a teacher is to understand how to teach correct dance technique no matter what the syllabus is.
Previous to opening her own dance school in 2012, Kate spent many years freelance teaching & choreographing and performing professionally in New Zealand and overseas. In her “youth” Kate completed IDTA Ballet and Modern Dance to Adv 2 with Distinction and has also completed Major exams with Distinction for for NZAMD Contemporary, ISTD Modern Dance and AJDA and represented Palmerston North for Modern Dance at PACANZ.
Since selling her dance school at the end of 2022 Kate has been able to spend more time raising her 3 sons and being a Freelance Dance Teacher, Choreographer and Dance Adjudicator.
Kate is looking forward to being a part of the Dance Works team and to continue to share her knowledge and passion of dance with young aspiring dancers.