Bays School of Dance, located in Auckland, has been a prominent dance school in the bays for approximately 40 years. It was founded by Mrs Draper, who began teaching in church halls after moving from Wellington. In 2002, the studio established its own stylish two-studio premises with sprung floors, mirrors, and even a dancewear shop. As of 2009, the school has relocated to a bigger three-studio location to accommodate its growing size and offer a wider range of dance styles.
Bays School of Dance is currently a thriving family business, with three daughters and four granddaughters among its 15 teachers. The school offers classes in tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acrobatics, Musical Theatre, character, and contemporary dance. Private lessons are also available for competition work in tap, jazz, and ballet. Many past and present students of the school have achieved great success, winning awards, championships, and scholarships.
Some have even gone on to pursue dance professionally, become cheerleaders for sports teams, or open their own dance studios.
The main goal of the studio is to ensure that all pupils enjoy dancing, while still upholding high standards. Students are encouraged to sit exams, enter scholarships, participate in competitions, and perform in recitals to reach these standards. Bays School of Dance welcomes students of all ages, from 2 years old to adults. Classes range from private lessons to exam classes and open hip-hop classes.
In addition to its excellent dance instruction, Bays School of Dance takes pride in its knowledgeable and passionate teachers. Anna Ellis, the current studio owner, has been involved in dance since she could walk. Coming from a dancing family, she took over the studio in 2017 and has since been teaching a variety of dance styles. Her love for tap dancing led her to become a qualified teacher in BAL tap, and she now teaches all the BAL tap exam work at the studio.
Anna's expertise in competition work has produced many successful students over the years.
Jan-Maree Baughan, another teacher at Bays School of Dance, is a professional vocalist who has performed in numerous operas. She has a background in Cecchetti Ballet and has appeared in leading roles in various musical theatre productions. Jan-Maree holds an LTCL diploma in Voice and offers private singing lessons.
In summary, Bays School of Dance is a well-established dance school in Auckland, offering a wide range of dance styles and catering to students of all ages. With its experienced and passionate teachers, the school strives to provide a nurturing environment where students can both enjoy dancing and achieve their full potential.