Our Talented Teachers
Principal- Miss Leanne Smithers
Miss Leanne is the school Principal and is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, having completed the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies in 2013. Miss Leanne has also completed a Junior Tap Teaching certificate with the Australian Tap Dancing Association as well as a Certificate IV in Performing Arts (Dance) with Mango Dance Studio, North Sydney in 2010.
Miss Leanne has successfully completed RAD ballet grades 1- Advanced 2 and ATDA Tap Grades 1-12 as well as ISTD Modern and Tap exams.
Miss Leanne grew up in Regional NSW before moving to Sydney and then the Central Coast. She began dance teaching in 2011 and has taught for a number of dance schools on the Central Coast and region, choreographing routines for soloist and groups to be performed at eisteddfods, concerts and performances.
At Centre Stage, Miss Leanne teaches all genres of dance, including Classical Ballet, Character, Pointe, Contemporary and Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Conditioning, Jazz and Tap. Miss Leanne has worked professionally as a dancer, performing at private and corporate events in Sydney and a local music video as well as been part of several musical productions with Orange Theatre Company and Gosford Musical Society from 2000-2014.
Miss Leanne has been the Secretary of Central Dance Company (Aus) since 2012 and toured with the Company to Japan in 2013, performing excerpts from Paquita and a Contemporary piece ‘In the Mangroves’. She has since been involved with rehearsals and all annual productions of Central Dance Company, receiving invaluable experience working alongside Company Artistic Director Patti Gleeson and Directors Margaret Zaia and Ramona Ratas.
Leanne completed Level 1 of Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) in 2020.
Miss Obelia Stevenson has been a professional dancer and dance teacher for many years, teaching ballet and tap, but specialising in classical ballet.
Having 42 years of teaching experience taking students of all ages through RAD exams, Miss Obelia has dedicated most of her teaching career to vigorously prepare students for a range of performances, exams, and competitions, largely with exceptional results and strong teacher-student connection.
Miss Obelia has a performance history of dancing overseas and around Australia's club scene in various contemporary and cabaret shows and on television, which truly shines through her inspirational teaching rapport.
Miss Misty Drady has trained within the school since 3 years of age. Miss Misty has taken part in solo and troupe eisteddfods for many years and has also undertaken RAD ballet and LGTDA tap exams.
Miss Misty is a strong dance technician and has performed as a senior dancer with Central Dance Company for over 5 years. Miss Misty started teaching in 2019 will continue teaching some our tap classes this year including working with students for tap exam preparation.
Miss Misty is a national champion winner in Cheer and has completed her Junior Teaching Certificate for Les Griffith Tap Dance Academy (LGTDA)..
Miss Patti Gleeson has had over 40 years’ experience as a respected Teacher, Choreographer and Adjudicator of dance in all genres. She is fully qualified with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) with former students having gone onto successful careers nationally and internationally. Renowned for her Classical Ballet knowledge and teaching skills as well as Character, National and Contemporary she has also had much success with Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Musical Theatre.
As a talented dancer, singer, actress, Patti has had Principal and supporting roles in multiple Musical Theatre Productions and has choreographed over 20 musicals and an opera for Gosford Musical Society since 1989.
Patti was co-founder of Central Dance Company (Aus) Incorporated in 1990 (Originally Laycock Dance Theatre). As Artistic Director and resident choreographer she has staged Classical Repertoire (Swan Lake Act II, Nutcracker Act II, Sleeping Beauty-Aurora’s Wedding, La Bayadere (shades), Paquita, Suite en Blanc) and over 13 classical/contemporary works providing professional performance opportunities for countless young, aspiring, regional dancers. Since 1997, she has taken dancers to Japan for Cultural Exchange Tours for the Sister City Project between Gosford and Edogawa (Tokyo).
Miss Patti was named as one of the ‘Significant Women of the Central Coast’ through the Multi Arts Confederation in 2004 for her dedication to Dance and services to Society.
In 2016, Patti was a Presenter for the RAD International Ballet Conference in Sydney.
Miss Rachel Sieders has been a student of Centre Stage School of Dance from 5 years of age and has recently graduated. She has trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Tap, National Character and Musical Theatre.
Miss Rachel has successfully completed RAD ballet exams from Grade 1-8 and Vocational levels Intermediate Foundation & Intermediate as well as many LGTDA tap exams. She has performed with Central Dance Company (Australia) Incorporated since 2016 ad has competed in many eisteddfods as a soloist and troupe member.
Miss Rachel has completed workshops with Sydney Dance Company and Sharyn Constable (RAD examiner).
Miss Rachel holds a first aid certificate.
Miss Rachel has enjoyed her past 4 years of assistant dance teaching, helping train our younger students and preparing them for exams and performances and is excited to continue this in her own classes this year.