St Paul’s Dance Studio Staff
Strengthen the Passion to Dance
Excellence is not only a skill, it is an attitude and we surround ourselves with people whose heartbeat resonates with our values to create a space of harmony, trust and authenticity.
— Harrietanne Norman
Mrs Harrietanne Norman - Owner and Head Teacher
Harriet’s dancing career - from New Zealand to Australia to China to England
Ballet & Jazz & Contemporary.
Harriet is classically trained in RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) Ballet to Advanced 2 as well as NZAMD Jazz and Contemporary. She achieved distinction in all 29 exams and received 6 NZAMD scholarships.
Harriet was a Contemporary Junior Associate with the New Zealand School of Dance for 4 years.
She competed in many dance competitions around New Zealand including the RAD 14+ Scholarship and PACANZ for classical ballet.
Ballroom & Latin Dance
Harriet competed in many competitions around New Zealand and won the New Zealand Open Championship for both Ballroom and New Vogue.
She lived in Melbourne for two years to pursue her Ballroom dancing and trained under top international coaches
Harriet competed throughout Australia as well as China and at the world Championships in Blackpool, England
Teaching
Harriet has a Bachelor of Teaching - Primary at the University of Waikato
She also completed an additional directed study and research scholarship on Community Dance.
Harriet was awarded a University of Waikato Blues Award for Dance.
She has worked as a primary school teacher for 3 years and also taught ESOL for 1 year at St Paul’s Collegiate
In 2024 Harriet was a Teaching Fellow at the University of Waikato, teaching dance in the Arts paper of the Bachelor of Teaching (primary).
Mrs Harrietanne Norman
Previously Harrietanne Embling
Harrietanne is very passionate about creating a dance studio that accepts everyone and allows students to strengthen their passion for dance in an authentic and kind environment. She is an extremely enthusiastic and bubbly person, and she wakes up everyday inspired to make a difference.
Miss Lily
Lily began her dancing journey when she was 4 years old, starting with Ballet classes. She then picked up Jazz knowing she wanted to excel as a dancer.
Lily joined St Paul’s Dance Studio in 2021 and was one of the first students at the studio. She has completed many levels of Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary NZAMD exams, receiving high marks across all and in 2024 was awarded NZAMD scholarship nominations for Contemporary and Hip Hop for 97% or higher.
She is currently training in Intermediate & Advanced Ballet, Intermediate Jazz, Level 6 Contemporary, Level 7 Hip Hop, Acro Senior as well as competing at competitions around the North Island with seven solo dances. Lily also regularly attends workshops and conventions to further her learning and challenge herself to keep improving as well.
In 2023 Lily assisted Mrs Norman in some Ballet and Hip Hop classes, knowing that she would love to share the passion of dance she has to her peers and younger generations. In 2024 she took up teaching her own classes and really enjoyed the experience of passing on her knowledge and helping her students strengthen their passion for dance.
Lily is super excited to be part of the 2025 teaching team at St Paul’s Dance Studio, wanting to create a happy, safe and fun environment to help and inspire others to grow and reach their goals in their own dancing journeys.
Lily is very excited for what 2025 has in store. She can’t wait to meet her students and help them achieve and have a fantastic year!
Miss Imbi
Imbi started her dancing journey at four years old, when she started ballet classes. Later in her dance journey she picked up Jazz and Contemporary. Imbi was one of the first students at St Paul’s Dance Studio.
Imbi has finished training in Advanced Ballet, Advanced 2 Jazz and Level 6 Contemporary; she received exceptional results enabling her to sit the Solo Performance Diploma in all three styles. Imbi was previously a competition dancer and competed around the North Island in Classical Ballet and Lyrical solos. She was also a part of a St Paul’s dance studio duo in 2023.
Performing Arts has always been a strong aspect of Imbi’s life, she always auditions for her school production and for the past two years has landed speaking roles and in her schools 2025 production she has been cast as a lead role. Besides dancing, Imbi is in numerous singing/musical groups and has competed in Regionals and Nationals for singing in 2022, 2023 and 2024. In 2024, her singing group won bronze in their category and then 3rd overall in the country.
In the later weeks of term 4 2023, Imbi shadowed Mrs Norman in a few ballet classes. In 2024 Imbi began teaching her own classes where she was taking one ballet class, but by the end of the year Imbi was teaching 9 classes!
Imbi cannot wait for 2025, and is excited to meet all her students and share her passion.
Miss Gracie-May
Gracie-May has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She describes dancing as her happy place and a sport that she is extremely passionate about.
Gracie-May started her dancing journey at Auckland City School of Arts (ACSA) and trained in all dance styles. She started competing as a soloist and in dance troupes at 5 years old with Pink Cadillac being her very first Jazz solo.
Gracie-May then relocated to Hamilton and was one of the first students to dance at the St Paul’s Dance Studio when it opened. Gracie is currently training in Intermediate Ballet, Advanced 1 Jazz, Level 5 Contemporary, Senior Acro and Level 6 Tap. She is a competition dancer and competes around New Zealand with a jazz, lyrical, musical theatre, contemporary and tap solo as well as being a part of the St Pauls Dance Studio Trio.
Gracie-May has been an assistant teacher alongside Mrs Norman since the beginning of the St Paul’s Dance Studio and in 2023 she began teaching her own classes. She loves teaching dance, and especially enjoys passing on her passion for dance to her students, so that they can grow their love for movement and music. Gracie-May is wonderful at building relationships with the students, she is extremely hard working and is a great role model to inspire students to reach their full potential. She has a positive and enthusiastic personality and reflects the St Paul’s Dance Studio values in her classes.
Gracie-May cannot wait to start 2024, to meet all of her students and explore dance together.
Miss Chloe
Chloe is excited to return to teaching at St Paul’s Dance Studio in 2025. Throughout her time as a dancer, she was taking dance genres such as jazz, hiphop, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre, ballet, and acro. She begun her dancing journey with the Asia Pacific Dance Association, completing jazz and hiphop examinations. Chloe wanted to further her dance training, therefore completing BBO jazz exams, NZAMD contemporary and hiphop exams, and RAD ballet exams.
Chloe competed in dance competitions around New Zealand, with a jazz, contemporary and lyrical solo. She performed in duo’s and group dances as well. Throughout her intermediate and high school years, Chloe participated in local musicals which expanded her love for performing. Chloe assistant taught acro throughout her high school years, which provided her with foundation knowledge of acro, supporting her classes at St Pauls Dance Studio.
During the day, Chloe is an Occupational Therapist who supports people in our community to recover from injuries. She carries this knowledge over into her dancing life. After her working day, she is in the studio teaching jazz, acro and coaching competition dancers. Chloe is often occupied during weekends attending dance competitions. She explains the studio is her safe place to express her passion for dance by encouraging personal development and growth in each class.
Chloe is a bubbly person who enjoys getting to know new people, and building meaningful relationships. Her approach to teaching is about creating a fun and positive environment for students to feel comfortable and confident. She is excited to return to teaching her fourth year at St Pauls Dance Studio, to continue to strengthen her students passion for dance.
Miss Carol
Carol started dancing when she was 3 years old while living in Brazil.
She is currently studying Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary. Carol competes in competitions around New Zealand throughout the year and is extremely passionate about dancing. Her favourite style is Ballet, in 2023 Carol sat her Elementary Ballet exam and received Distinction as well as a NZAMD scholarship for gaining 97% or higher.
In 2023 Carol taught along side Mrs Norman and is very excited to be teaching the Intermediate technique class and grade 4 ballet this year. On top of Carol's weekly dance classes at home she follows a number of extension programs from international tutors and therefore has a wealth of knowledge to share with her students.
Carol is excited to support her students to develop the same love and passion for dance that she has.
Miss Kyla
Kyla begun dancing at the age of three, and throughout her dance journey has gained experience in most dance styles, but favours tap, along with cabaret/musical theatre and jazz.
She completed the tap TDI syllabuses, both traditional and beat it, where in the highest levels she passed with distinction and distinction plus and succeeded the solo seal exam. Kyla also completed the AJDA jazz syllabus and competed in dance competitions for many years.
Kyla found a love for teaching dance, through coaching and choreographing competition troupes for her high school for many years. This and many other teaching experiences inspired her to continue to pursue her passion for teaching through tertiary study, as Kyla is will be in her second year of study towards a bachelor of primary teaching in 2025.
Kyla strives to create a fun and positive environment where everyone feels supported and recognised. She’s excited to work with new and returning dancers and looks forward to a year of growth and learning!
Miss Danika
Danika is a passionate and a versatile dancer. She has been dancing for 12 years, mastering styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Afro-styles, Indian folk styles and more.
Danika moved to Hamilton from South Africa in 2022, and so far has done exams up to Advance Ballet and her Level 6 contemporary.
In 2021 Danika got promoted to be a member in a professional Indian Dance Company in South Africa, where she trained with talented dancers and choreographers in the industry from South Africa and overseas, for gigs and several dance productions.
Recently she has recently performed at Africa Day in Hamilton, partnering with Afroconnectnz, which then led to her hosting a few afro-styles workshops to share more about the style.
By training in many styles and techniques, Danika aims to create a dynamic fusion in her dancing, that’s both powerful and elegant! With a rich background of performances across theatre stages in both South Africa and New Zealand, she’s now on a mission to inspire and share her love for dance through teaching and helping students reach their full potential while having lots of fun.
Danika is determined and hard working and she and strives to create a positive environment. She is extremely excited to be teaching again in 2025 and to share her passion with the students.
Miss Spenceley
Jane is the Teacher in Charge of Chemistry, and Deputy Housemaster of Harington Day House at St Paul’s Collegiate School. She spent 12 years during primary and high school dancing Tap, Jazz and a brief stint of Contemporary. After reaching Level 7 in Tap she hung up her shoes to pursue her BSc and MSc at Waikato University before starting her teaching career in 2015. Tap has still remained in her life, making appearances on the Riverlea Theatre stage and at a fun adult class over the years. The best part about dance has always been performing for an audience, as well as the sparkly costumes!
When not teaching Jane enjoys baking and tramping. To celebrate the start of 2023 she walked the Abel Tasman Coat Track, her third Great Walk.
Jane is excited to be able to support the St Paul’s Dance Studio’s senior tap students and is thoroughly looking forward to making a lot of noise!
ENROL NOW
Follow the link below to Enrol for 2025