Our Teachers
Kym vickery
Kym started dancing at 7 years of age training at Sharon Statham School of Dance (which was later renamed Auckland West Dance Academy). Right from a young age she knew that she wanted to be a dance teacher when she grew up. The exams she completed as a student included NZAMD Solo Seal Diploma in Jazz, JDNZ Advanced (Hons with Distinction), RAD Ballet, BAL Ballet, Jazz & Tap (Adv. Hons). During her dancing career she competed in dance competitions winning various awards in New Zealand and Australia, including the Lisa Kelly Ballet Award in Sydney in 1997. Kym was a New Zealand Jazz Nationals finalist in 1994 and New Zealand Tap Nationals finalist in 1995. She was a member of the Northern Ballet Company, NBC Danceforce for many years. She has been involved with musical theatre shows including choreography for Grease, Les Misérables and The Pirates of the Penzance for the Glen Eden Playhouse Theatre. She has now been teaching dance for over 25 years and is a fully trained and qualified teacher in ballet, jazz, and tap dancing. She has gained her RAD RTS, Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management, BAL Ballet Teaching Certificate, BAL Tap Teaching Certificate (Adv.). Kym is the Dance Educator for Jazz Dance New Zealand (JDNZ). She has past dance pupils who are dancing professionally and trained at top dance companies overseas. Kym loves to teach to share her passion and knowledge for dance with her pupils. She is thrilled to be the owner of AWDA and have such amazing dance teachers and students.


brandon lewis
Brandon has been dancing since the ripe age of two starting off in contemporary and ballet classes and continuing those through his 20 years of dance, at the age of 8 Brandon picked up every other style such as hip hop, ballroom, tap, lyrical, jazz and musical theatre. From there his journey through danced progress leading him to audition and be apart of Identity dance company traveling around the world with Identity competing and performing, Brandon has also been apart of the New Zealand school of dance performing around Auckland and teaching around Auckland with them, Brandon has also worked with the New Zealand school of dance in Wellington under their ballet and contemporary classes learning more to offer to students as well. Brandon is also an actor working on movies such as avatar way of water being an extra and a stunt double taking his unique skills of dance into those roles. Brandon has also now been teaching for 9 years and is really wanting to bring back the foundations of styles of dance back into the community
sonia hems
Dancing since the age of 3, Sonia trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, musical theatre and vocal. During her training she achieved TDI Major Solo in Jazz and Tap, BBO Scholar status and RAD Solo Seal. While a training dancer, she placed multiple times in the Ora Burnett jazz and tap awards, the Sir John Logan Campbell Award for classical variations, and won multiple variation awards and championships.
She trained at the New Zealand School of Dance as a Classical Ballet Major, completing her tuition at the International Ballet Academy under Sherilyn Kennedy, Carl Myers and Russell Kerr QSM – dancing a soloist role choreographed for her by Russell Kerr at her graduation.
After her training she pursued a professional career in dance spanning multiple dance styles over 20 years. This included contracts and touring in China, England, Germany, Wales, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand and some singular event contracts across Europe.
On her return to NZ she performed as a professional dancer for professional entertainment companies in NZ, performing as a cheerleader, skycity dancer, and at corporate events. She also featured in multiple New Zealand music videos, which she also choreographed.
Sonia has been a choreographer for the last 15 years, choreographing floor shows, performances and events for Skycity corporate functions, Skycity feature theme shows, Sky TV and Good Morning as well as singular corporate events. Sonia is considered a technical specialist and has also been sought out to run workshops with training dancers in NZ on heels technique, dance technique, performance enhancement, preparation for audition, advanced dance technique and performance artistry.
Sonia loves working with youth in dance, and to encourage them to reach their best potential as well as fostering love and enjoyment of the craft through teaching and judging dance competitions.


Katherine avery
Katherine’s initial training is in RAD and ISTD ballet to Advanced with Joan Irvine QSM in Dannevirke NZ, a Royal Ballet School trained teacher and RAD examiner. She then completed 2 years of professional training at the National Theatre Ballet School, Melbourne under the directorship of Ann Jenner a former Royal Ballet Principal.
From Melbourne, Katherine travelled to Europe where she danced with the Vienna Festival Ballet over a period of 4 years. Roles performed included, Clara – The Nutcracker, Pas de trois, Cygnet, Neapolitan – Swan Lake, Fairy of Grace, Aurora’s friend, White Cat – Sleeping Beauty. Other ballets performed include Cinderella, Giselle and Coppelia. Katherine has also performed Les Sylphides and Don Quixote.
The pull of New Zealand as home was always present for Katherine, on returning in the mid 1990’s she continued to dance here as a performer, a student, and a teacher.
Other significant teachers Katherine has trained with are John Prinz – Principal of NYCB and ABT and Timothy Gordon.
Katherine is a registered PBT – Progressing Ballet Technique teacher and loves to guide dancers of all ages through their journey in ballet, dance and the art of performance.
Kristel Davies
Kristel started dancing at 3 in her hometown of Warkworth, completing all NZAMD exams in contemporary jazz, tap, and RAD ballet. Growing up, Kristel participated in solo and duo competitions across the North Island and gained performance opportunities, including halftime performances for the All Blacks and the Breakers. In Kristel’s years of teaching, she has taught various styles, including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, ballet, musical theatre, and tap. She has worked with students across Auckland towards NCEAS credits by creating specialized choreography for assessments and extracurricular activities such as school productions. Kristel is currently an international competitor in Latin American and ballroom dancing and training with New Zealand professionals Jonny Williams and Kirsten Spyvie
In 2024, kristel graduated with a bachelor of dance studies from the University of Auckland. To further solidify her expertise in the field of dance, Kristel is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Dance Education.
Kristel loves to share her passion for dance with the next up-and-coming generations while creating a positive and welcoming environment where students can express themselves and learn the wonder of dance!


brooklyn davies
Brooklyn has been dancing since pre-school age and currently does ballet, jazz, and Tap, contemporary, competition duo and senior competition level troupe dancing. She has successfully passed many exams including intermediate JDNZ jazz, advanced foundation RAD ballet and BAL Ballet up to Elementary level as well has completed exams in BAL Jazz. To pursue her dance journey further, Brooklyn is currently in her 3rd year of study for the Bachelors of dance degree at Auckland University, which has a focus on expanding both technical ability and choreographic processes. Brooklyn loves being able to work with younger dancers and is excited to be teaching and sharing her love of dance with them.
bronte sorby
Bronte has been dancing since she was two and a half years old with Rhythm ‘n’ Steps taking RAD ballet, NZAMD Jazz and later taking APDA encore Theatre and Lucidity. Bronte has gained high marks in all her exams including up to Advanced Foundation in RAD ballet. She has been assistant teaching with ages from three to eight in ballet, jazz, tap, encore theatre and hip hop for three years and has independently taught encore theatre. Bronte has competed in squad, trio and solo dance competitions across Auckland for many years gaining several first and second places. Bronte also has taken dance at NCEA achieving not only top of class in every year but also achieving overall NCEA excellence in the subject. Bronte also works for the Green Bay Community holiday program supervising children of all ages. Bronte is looking forward to starting a new chapter with a new studio and inspiring many more young children.
