MEET OUR TUTORS
Extensive dance experience and a passion for teaching are hallmarks of our team of three dedicated teachers. They all have international professional dance company experience, bringing a wealth of knowledge to our dance community. All our faculty members take immense satisfaction in passing on their expertise to our students, ensuring a rich and inspiring learning environment.
HANNAH BAGSHAW
Co-Director
EKAITZ ESPINO
Co-Director
SELENA CROFT
Tutor
HANNAH BAGSHAW (BA,FIDTA)
Hannah began her dance training with Taisia Missevich in Christchurch where she trained in the R.A.D. syllabus up to Advanced level. She then went on to attend the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington, where she was awarded a Diploma in Dance Performance. During her career as a professional ballet dancer Hannah performed with the European Ballet in London, the Santamaria Compania de Danza in Madrid and the Nordharzer Stadtebundtheater Halberstadt (Halberstadt City Theatre) in Germany.
She began her dance teaching career at the resident ballet school of Ballet Pforzheim in Germany. Since returning to New Zealand, she has been teaching ballet, jazz and creative dance at the Garden City Dance Academy. Hannah is a Fellow and Ballet Examiner for the International Dance Teacher’s Association. She was awarded the Giles Bursary Award for Theatre for the best core subject Associate candidate in 2012 and the John Knight Award for the highest marks internationally in her Fellowship Ballet exam in 2019. She also has a Bachelor of Arts (1st Class Honours) in Childhood and Youth Studies from the Open University in England.
EKAITZ ESPINO
Ekaitz began his dance education at the Conservatory of Vitoria in his hometown in Spain. He then completed his training at the London Studio Centre in England, receiving a Diploma in Dance Performance. Ekaitz has had a long and successful career in dance including engagements with Gavina Ballet (Barcelona, Spain), the European Ballet (London, England), Santamaria Compania de Danza (Madrid, Spain), Halberstadt City Theatre (Germany) and Ballet Pforzheim (Germany). He has also produced several successful choreographies for Ballet Pforzheim.
Since moving to New Zealand Ekaitz has been teaching ballet and dance in Christchurch and is a registered teacher with BBODance and NZAMD. He has completed the Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching with BBODance and the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning with the University of Canterbury.
SELENA CROFT
Selena’s passion for dance began at Canterbury Ballet where she studied various dance genres including ballet, contemporary, American jazz and tap as well as choreography and teaching. Selena has completed RAD Ballet exams up to Advanced, NZAMD Intermediate Jazz, AJDA Intermediate 3 Jazz, BBO Ballet and has completed the BBO Teachers Associate 2 Exam, making her a fully qualified dance teacher.
Selena has performed for many companies over the years including Fresh Legs, Dance Corp, RASA, Showbiz and Canterbury Opera. She has danced and taught in Australia and England and on her return home in 2005 became Head Tutor at Movement Dance Centre until the premature arrival of her daughter in 2011. She is also a ballet and jazz competition adjudicator and has judged many competitions all around New Zealand. Selena believes in achieving results and learning whilst keeping a fun and positive environment to grow and nurture the dancers and teachers of tomorrow.