The JBPS Teaching Philosophy

At the Janice Breen Performance Studio we pride ourselves on teaching the whole dancer. We teach with energy, investment and passion.

We work to instil in every student a love of dance, a sense of belonging to a strong and supportive community, along with the many other benefits of dance; self-discipline, goal setting, time management, team building, personal responsibility.

JBPS is a family. We work to create an inclusive and encouraging environment and strive to foster connections beyond the studio walls – connections between students, their families and the wider dance community.

At JBPS we strive to give ALL students as many performance opportunities as possible. Dance health is paramount. We take a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning and incorporate the latest research in health, fitness and somatic practice.

Our team of teachers are both tertiary and industry qualified and work to create the best learning experience they can for each and every student.

Alysia Jarvis

(BA Dance Ed., M Ed.Dance Teaching RAD RTS)

Head of Teaching

Alysia Jarvis has worked as a dancer, teacher and choreographer for the past 33 years. Alysia was taught and mentored by Janice Breen OAM and has been the Head of Teaching at the Janice Breen Performance Studio since 2017. Alysia has, for the past twelve years, lectured in technique, performance and pedagogy for the BA Dance degree programs at the Wesley Institute and the Academy of Music and Performing Arts (AMPA).

Alysia’s choreographic and production credits include: the Channel 7 Carols in the Domain, the NSW Premiers Gala Christmas Concerts, The 2015 Netball World Cup Opening ceremonies, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies 2000, the Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony 2003 , the NFL Superbowl 2003, as well as work for stage, television, advertising and corporate entertainment. Many of Alysia’s students have moved on to a professional career in the performing arts, appearing in major musical theatre productions, commercial and contemporary dance companies, theme parks and cruise lines, both locally and internationally.

In addition to her teaching portfolio, Alysia currently works as a dance and arts consultant within a variety of education settings. Alysia holds an honours degree in Dance Education and a Masters of Arts Education (Dance Teaching with Distinction) with the Royal Academy of Dance/ University of Bath UK. Alysia is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and also works for the RAD Faculty of Education as Practical Teaching Supervisor for the Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies and the Professional Dancers Postgraduate Teaching Certificate programs. Alysia is currently training on The Royal Ballet School’s Affiliate Training and Assessment Program.

Emma Murphy

(B. Comm, Certificate III Fitness)

Jazz, JFH, RAD Ballet, Pre Junior

Emma has trained with the Janice Breen Performance Studio in the styles of jazz, tap, ballet, and RAD examination since the age of 5. Emma joined the JBPS Teaching Staff in 2015. In 2019 she began teaching the Senior and Intermediate Dance Ensemble groups at South Coogee Public School. Her groups performed at In The Spotlight Dance Festival and were selected to perform as part of a showcase at the NSW Department of Education's State Dance Festival.

Emma holds a Certificate III in Fitness and is an instructor at KX Pilates. She is also a Quality Controller for the KX Pilates network across Australia. In 2022 Emma was Trainer of the Year at KX Pilates Randwick. Emma brings her skills as a fitness instructor to her dance teaching, focusing on training students in their strength and conditioning so as to create strong, well rounded performers. Emma loves working with kids and believes dance is more than just learning steps. She cares greatly for the development of each child and wishes to help guide them into becoming confident and kind individuals. She brings a great enthusiasm and love to each lesson she teaches. Emma loves her JBPS Family.

Emma has highly developed interpersonal communication skills which she developed during her studies of the Bachelor of Communications (UTS). She brings clear and effective communication into her teaching role at JBPS.

Greg Robinson

(BDA Teacher's Dip. Tap, Hip Hop)

JFH, Tap

Greg Robinson has been trained in tap, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, acrobatics and funk. He began his training at Janice Breen Performance Studio when he was 7 years old and is now a part of the team that he believes has made him the dancer he is today. Greg has a BDA Teachers Diploma in Tap and Hip-Hop and has achieved 100% examination scores on over ten occasions, whilst completing his BDA exams.

Greg was a member of the 'Lil Banditz Krew' that won the 2012 season of Young Talent Time. He has also performed at Carols in the Domain, the NSW Premiers Concerts, the 2015 Netball World Cup Ceremonies, and in Disneyland USA. He has also been privileged to work with artists including, Justice Crew, Stan Walker and Justine Clarke. Greg is a current performer with the tribute group The Vallies. He has performed with them throughout Australia and on various cruise ships.

Greg believes in the importance of tap dancing in creating an all round dancer. He enjoys the difficulty of tap dancing and teaching as he believes it is teaching two arts at once, dancing and music.

Mikayla Bayliss

(B. Dance, Adv. Dip. Performing Arts)

RAD Ballet, Lyrical

Mikayla began her classical ballet training aged 5 at a Ballet studio in Brisbane, where she completed RAD exams Primary- Advanced. Upon recommendation from a teacher at age 14 she successfully auditioned for Queensland National Ballet's part time program, soon after joining the full time cohort studying contemporary and classical dance. In the 4 years at QNB she completed ACB Level 4 examination and attained a Diploma in Performing Arts, Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts and a Diploma of Elite Performance awhile completing her QCS and High School Certificate. Mikayla also has experience with Vaganova and Borovanski Syllabuses alongside various Modern and Contemporary techniques. Following her graduation Mikayla moved to Sydney age 17 to study her Bachelor of Dance majoring in Contemporary with the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, which she completed at the end of 2017.

Currently Mikayla works as a dance teacher and is involved with choreographing works in various residencies around Sydney. Mikayla loves having the opportunity to inspire and encourage the students at Janice Breen Performance Studio in the pursuit of advancing their classical technique.

Judy Robinson

Tap

Judy Robinson has had a love for dancing for her entire life. Judy has been teaching for over 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge developing the dancing skills and individual qualities of young performers.

Judy is a fully qualified teacher in the styles of Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Hip Hop through the British Dancing Association. Judy is also an examiner with the BDA and enjoys seeing young dancers make continuous progression through the completion of their exams. Judy has danced in numerous shows touring Australia and overseas. Judy has a won numerous awards at eisteddfods, in all facets of dance.

Judy is a dedicated and passionate teacher and loves working on interesting routines and developing skills in young tappers.

Isabelle Menzies

(Adv. Dip. Dance (Elite Performance), Teaching Diploma with Australian Institute of Classical Ballet (AICD))

RAD Ballet

Isabelle commenced her ballet training in Wagga, NSW and then furthered her training as a full time student at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet in Melbourne under the direction of Christine Walsh and Ricardo Ella. Whilst at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet Isabelle completed an Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance), training in classical and contemporary techniques with a focus on the Vaganova method. Isabelle also holds an Associate Teaching Diploma with Australian Institute of Classical Ballet (AICD).

Isabelle has been teaching in Wagga for the past three years and is now living in Sydney to undertake studies in Bachelor of Exercise Science/Master of Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology at UNSW.

Isabelle is a passionate and experienced teacher and we are very excited to welcome her to the JBPS teaching staff in 2023!

Jade Charlton

(ARAD, Solo Seal)

RAD Ballet

Jade started ballet at age 3 in Wagga Wagga, and moved to Sydney when she was 7 years old. Commencing training at Sonja Dene Dance Studios, Jade joined the Australian Ballet Interstate Training Program at age 7 and was a part of the ITP for 8 years. During this time she performed with the Australian Ballet Company in The Nutcracker: Clara’s Story, Sleeping Beauty and La Sylphide Jade began full time ballet at Alegria Dance Studios at age 15. During her time at Alegria, she performed at the Sydney Opera House as Clara in the Nutcracker in Adrian Burnett’s Babies Prom. Jade was one of the first students in Australia to complete the new RAD syllabus. She completed her RAD Advanced Foundation, Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 with Distinction.

When Jade was 17, she continued her full time training at Sydney Ballet School in Mosman, where she studied RAD and Vaganova method. During this time, Jade was a quarter finalist in the Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Scholarship, and passed the RAD Solo Seal. Jade competed in the 2015 RAD Geneé in London as a semi finalist where she was the recipient of the Darcy Bussell bursary. During this time, Jade took classes at the Royal Ballet School and Hamburg Ballet School.

Jade was successful in auditioning for the Queensland Ballet’s Pre Professional Program in 2015 and joined the program in 2016, where she studied Vaganova under the eye of Li Cunxin and performed with the Queensland Ballet Company.

We are excited to welcome Jade to the JBPS teaching staff in 2023!

Olivia Causer

(B. Laws/Arts (Pols & IR, Global Dev. current)

Pre School Dance, Pre Junior Dance, JFH

Olivia has been a part of JBPS from age 6, and is honoured to have been a part of the teaching team since 2017. Training across styles including jazz, tap, and RAD ballet, Olivia has performed at a myriad of events as part of the JBPS Showgroup, from Carols in the Domain, the Premier's Concert, to the Grand Final of Netball World Cup, Channel 7’s Sunrise, and the Disneyland Parade. Moreover, Olivia has undertaken training in public speaking and debating, singing, and drama. After completing Trinity College of London Speech and Drama exams grades 5-8 with Distinction, Olivia went on to achieve a Distinction in the Trinity College’s ATCL in Performance, and further attained a Band 6 in HSC Drama. Developing her vocal skills both through JBPS and externally, Olivia is grateful for the opportunities she has been given to gain experience in performing with the studio. From 2020-2021 she led South Coogee Public School’s Dance Ensemble, whom were selected to perform at NSW’s ITSDF and the NSW State Dance Festival. Valuing the skills, confidence, and opportunities that dance can provide, Olivia is passionate about teaching and mentoring, and is truly grateful for all the students she has had the pleasure to teach.

Amy Kaplinksi

(B. Nursing)

Pre Junior Dance, Lyrical

Over a 10 year period at JBPS, Amy has had the opportunity to train in all styles of dance and performance including RAD ballet, tap, jazz, acrobatics and singing. Amy has had the wonderful opportunity to perform in numerous eisteddfods, Woolworths Carols in the Domain and the Opening and Closing ceremonies for the Netball World Cup 2015.

In 2018, Amy spent a year away from Australia receiving a Certificate in Leadership for young children and learning skills to ensure children are learning, encouraged and enriched. Following this Amy came back to Sydney to attend Notre Dame University and received her Bachelor of Nursing in 2021. Currently, Amy is privileged enough to be working as a paediatric nurse at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. Being a paediatric nurse, Amy is compassionate, patient and attentive to children in every path of life.

Amy began teaching at JBPS in 2022 and truly has a love and passion for dance. She holds a strong belief that dancing is a vital part of our children’s health, happiness and well-being. She sees dance as a place for children to come and learn but also to be in a safe place for them to express themselves. Amy is very grateful to be part of the JBPS family. Amy loves being on stage herself and is excited in sharing the joy of dance with the next generation

Erika Rees

Business Manager

My association with the Janice Breen Performance Studio began in 1978 when Wynn, my son, started his dancing experience. Amber, my daughter, followed in 1981. Both were very involved in every aspect of what the Studio offered until USA Wonderland Theme Park was introduced to Australia in 1985 and looked for professional dancers. Despite Wynn’s and Amber’s young age, (not the required 18 years), both were accepted which was mainly due to the excellent training the Janice Breen Performance Studio offered.

Many many years later, Wynn, now an Attorney for Worldwide Intellectual Property at Disney, LA, having passed the Californian Bar exam, living in LA, married in 2013, and Amber, having gained, as a ‘mature student’, her university degree in Pharmacy at Sydney Uni, married, has two boys and lives in the Inner West, I am grateful for the excellent grounding the Studio gave throughout their dancing years.
Thanks to the dancing discipline the Studio installed early into my children's lives, the snowball effect to succeed, combined with hard work, was, and still is, very rewarding.

I, in the meantime, started seriously supporting Miss Jan and the Studio around 1985 when the Studio needed a ‘front desk'. It’s been a rollercoaster of a job with no breaks to stop. Never a dull moment. Such is the business of the entertainment industry. Miss Jan and I were very much in tune with each other and the Janice Breen Performance Studio became more successful. The business also benefited greatly from my commercial background/training over many years, and we were sailing happily along.

Then came the time when the sailing stopped and dear Miss Jan was no more. Great energy and discipline to keep going was required, and I have to thank every staff member for their support and dedication making it possible to continue with business ‘as usual’. The mountain we climbed was higher than Mt Everest, but we did it. Being the major share holder and manager of the Janice Breen Performance Studio my guidance will never waver.

Over so many years, I have met families and their greatest treasures, their children, which was/is a very rewarding experience.