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 and Debbie share a deep love for the performing arts and a strong commitment to their local community — values that sit at the heart of their studio.
Debbie’s love for the stage also extends backstage, where she enjoys working in costume, hair and make-up for productions. Professionally, Debbie’s background spans office administration, call centre operations, workforce administration, team leadership and account management. She is also the studio’s Creative Director, bringing her artistic vision to life through directing and producing four out of five of the last dance shows, shaping each production from concept to stage. In addition to this, Debbie loves writing and is just finishing writing her first book — with more creative projects in the works. Her true passion lies in the creative world of nails — she is a qualified Nail Technician who runs her own business from home, combining artistry with attention to detail and a strong eye for design.
Shaun has long been part of the theatre world and is often found backstage supporting local theatre productions, school shows, dance concerts and touring productions, including those by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. A qualified chef by trade, Shaun has built an extensive career in hospitality, holding roles in staff management, account and business management, and Executive Chef positions. His leadership experience and calm, practical approach bring strength and stability to the business behind the scenes.
Although they were friends for many years, Shaun and Debbie began dating in 2004 and married in 2006. Together they have four children — Camden, Seeley, Danika and Roshan — all of whom share a love of dance. Their family’s connection to dance runs deep. Camden is currently studying Marine Science in Otago, while still holding onto his passion for tap dance and music. Danika has finished school and now teaches at DanceWorks while pursuing her dream of becoming a tattoo artist. Roshan also supports the studio as an Assistant Teacher. Seeley is still attending classes at Danceworks with a passion for Highland and Hip hop.
When the opportunity arose to purchase the studio, the decision was easy. With their children immersed in dance and a strong connection to both the theatre and wider arts communities, they saw the potential to continue building something truly special.
Shaun and Debbie are passionate about providing a welcoming, supportive environment where students can grow not only as dancers, but as confident young people. Their vision is to continue nurturing the incredible community they have been part of for so many years — creating opportunities, encouraging creativity, and inspiring the next generation to discover their love of dance.
Brooke Roydhouse
APDA Advanced Teaching Certificate | RAD ADV 2 | NZAMD Solo Seal Jazz and Hiphop | Cert III Dance Performance
With over a decade of professional experience, Brooke has performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Originally from Palmerston North, Brooke began training with Maureen Ax before completing full-time training at Patrick Studios Australia. Her professional career includes contracts as a Singer/Dancer with Princess Cruises and P&O Australia, Dance Captain at Resorts World Genting in Malaysia, and appearances in productions including Countdown Arena Spectacular, the Hairspray movie premiere, and So You Think You Can Dance Australia (Top 100). She has also appeared in Home and Away, Neighbours, and performed in musicals including Wicked, Chicago, Rocky Horror, Milk & Honey, and The Boy from Oz starring Hugh Jackman.
Now in her 11th year teaching at Dance Works Studios, Brooke is passionate about developing well-rounded performers and supporting dancers pursuing both competitive and professional pathways. She is also Director of IGNITE Dance Hub, delivering dance intensives and mentorship programs nationwide, and regularly adjudicates competitions across New Zealand.
Brooke loves inspiring her Jazz students each week and helping dancers build confidence both on and off the stage.
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.
Danika Woodroofe
Danika began dancing at the age of five and quickly fell in love with the art form. Over the years she has trained extensively across a wide range of styles including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, acro, hip hop and even a little highland along the way.
After spending several years as an assistant teacher, Danika discovered her passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers — just as her own teachers once inspired her. Over the past 3–4 years she has taken on more classes across various ages and styles, continuing to grow as both a mentor and educator.
Danika has completed her final year of dance examinations in both APDA and RAD. Her achievements include Ballet Advanced 1, Contemporary Solo Seal (the highest level), Musical Theatre Level 10, Jazz Advanced 2 and Tap Advanced 2. She is now working towards completing her APDA Teaching Certificate.
A dedicated competitive dancer for most of her life, Danika has experienced both the highs and challenges of the stage — but she has always known it is where she belongs.
Danika is passionate about creating a positive, supportive and safe environment where students can grow in confidence, skill and love for dance — just as she did at Danceworks.
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.
Nicola Field
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.
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.
Olivia Watts
Olivia’s dance journey began at just two and a half years old, and her passion for dance has only grown since. She started with ballet, studying both the RAD and ISTD syllabi, before expanding her training across a range of styles. Over the years, Olivia has developed strong foundations in Jazz (ADJA), Modern (ISTD), Tap (ISTD), Contemporary (NZAMD), and, of course, Hip Hop.
She holds a Bachelor of Creativity (Commercial Dance) from Te Auaha and has gained valuable teaching experience at several studios in both Palmerston North and Wellington. Olivia also holds Bronze (Assistant Teacher) and Silver (Teacher) accreditations in Ready Set Dance, reflecting her commitment to high-quality dance education and continuous development.
In her final year of high school, Olivia was named Performing Arts Dux and received the Overall Dance Academy Award. She has led troupes at Dance NZ Made and performed as part of multiple award-winning groups, further establishing herself as a talented and accomplished performer.
Now, Olivia is thrilled to be teaching at Dance Works. She looks forward to sharing her passion, knowledge, and enthusiasm with her students and supporting their growth as dancers and performers.
Leah Hancy
Leah's dance journey began in 2000. In 2013, she achieved honors with distinction in the AJDA Advanced Level 2 and Advanced Solo Seal International Examinations, alongside NZAMD Contemporary qualifications. After high school, Leah pursued further studies at Massey University, earning a Bachelor of Communication and a Diploma in Teaching (Secondary). Throughout her academic years, she continued to teach syllabus exams and mentor competition students in Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Acro floor routines with Manawatū Gymsports.
Currently, Leah is the Head of Dance at Freyberg High School and the director of the Dance Academy. She brings experience in competition and choreography at both regional and national levels. Her choreographic efforts have earned her multiple nominations for the Nationals Young Performer PACANZ and, most recently, the Choreography Award at Central Fusion Dance Competitions, as well as the Dance NZ Made Teacher of the Year Award. Leah's expertise across a variety of dance genres reflects her passion for the art form and her dedication to nurturing the next generation of dancers.
Heidi Salverda
Heidi has been involved in dance for most of her life. Dancing is her passion, and with many years of experience she feels that she would add great value to DanceWorks Studios.
She grew up in South Africa and moved to New Zealand in 2016, with her family. She started teaching again at various dance studios in Auckland and loved getting back into the dance world. Heidi has now been in Palmerston North for 4 years and she is excited to get back into her passion of teaching.
In South Africa she owned and ran her own dance studio for 15 years. She taught under the umbrella of the South African Dance Teachers Association and offered lessons in tap, modern and hip hop. Her students performed in shows as well as competitions, and they also sat exams. Before she started her own studio, she was an assistant to her dance teacher, Gloria Fish. Gloria Fish was the head of the SADTA until she passed in 2001.
On a personal note, she represented South Africa at the Hip Hop World Championships in Bremen, Germany in 2002 and has also choreographed and performed in items at the Royal Albert Hall in London, representing the South African Fitness League in 2000 and 2010.
Cat Lister
Isabella Jones
Level 7 Diploma in Dance Performance and Level 6 Diploma in Dance
Isabella started dancing at Danceworks at the age of four. During her 12 years as a student, she competed in competitions across New Zealand, from Mosgiel and Dunedin through to Auckland, performing in both solos and group pieces. She received classical, modern, and group nominations for the National Young Performer Awards (NYPA).
Isabella frequently attended the Kiaros dance convention, where she received a scholarship to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (APDA) in New York and Los Angeles. She also travelled to Auckland weekly to attend the Mt Eden Ballet Academy (MEBA) Future Dancers Programme. She completed RAD ballet examinations, as well as AMDA jazz, hip hop, tap, and contemporary examinations.
At 16, Isabella was accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance as a contemporary major and moved to Wellington to study dance full time for the next three years. During her time at the New Zealand School of Dance, she had the opportunity to perform in the internationally renowned World of WearableArt (WOW) show as a backup dancer.
She has worked with leading New Zealand contemporary dance companies, including Footnote New Zealand Dance, New Zealand Dance Company, and Atamira Dance Company (Māori-based). Isabella has also worked with internationally recognised contemporary artists such as Tristan Carter (Hofesh Shechter Company, London) and Rebecca Bassett-Graham (Company Wayne McGregor, London).
Throughout her training, she has worked with choreographers and tutors from New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Cyprus, including Michael Parmenter, Matte Roffe, Ross McCormack, Kit Reilly, Jag Popham, Jeremy Beck, Holly Newsome, Chris Mills, Panos Malactos, Marion Castaillet, Joy Alpuerto Ritter, and Johnny McMillan.
Isabella choreographed and performed in the 2021–2023 performance seasons, including the 2023 choreographic season (Axis). She has also participated in Choreolab and the Pacific Dance Festival.
While living in Wellington, she taught jazz, hip hop, ballet, and contemporary dance at Fiona Haines Dance Academy and Wellington Ballet Studio.
After graduating at the end of 2023, Isabella gained opportunities to dance in Berlin, Germany; London, England; and Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, in 2024, followed by Vietnam in 2025. While completing the B12 workshop in Berlin, she worked closely with James Vu Anh Pham, one of Madonna’s backup dancers on her Celebration Tour and a choreographer and dancer for FKA twigs.
Isabella is passionate about passing on everything she has learned to the next generation. She aims to challenge the industry and inspire emerging dancers to think differently, continue exploring, and keep discovering. She enjoys choreographing and creating, stating:
“I enjoy working with lots of different people to create something we are proud of together — something fresh, unique, and that stands out.”