Our Team

We are fortunate to have a talented pool of dance teachers in Wanaka.  They each bring a wealth of knowledge from many corners of the world, and some have trained within our school to advanced levels & now enjoy sharing their skills.  Our staff gain a great deal of satisfaction teaching and working with our students.  They are passionate about dance, and love passing on their skills to other enthusiasts within our community.

Anna Thomas (Studio Director)

Anna (nee Yeates) has been the Studio Director & owner of Dance Wanaka since 2011. She has taught hundreds of Wanaka youth & adults, and loves sharing her passion for dance. Many local dancers started their dance journey in her popular Sparkles preschool classes. 

Her background originates back to the Waikato where her love for dance began.  She obtained her advanced ballet examinations (RAD & BBO) through the tuition of Louise Hurley, Margaret Fairhead, Valarie Lisette, Carol Speirs & Prue Gooch. She was a nominee at the National PACNZ Performing Arts Ballet Competitions (1990).  She obtained her Jazz Solo Seal (NZAMD) at Drury Lane (Hamilton) under the direction of Keri Davies & Advanced American Jazz at Directions (Hamilton). She learned tap, and was introduced to contemporary when it was in its infancy in NZ.

Anna began relief teaching for Margaret Fairhead School of Dance while studying BA Sport & Leisure Management (Waikato University) & performed with the Drury Lane Theatre Company & Hamilton Operatic Society. She was introduced & completed research projects in dance education which was in its infancy at MOE. She moved to Wellington to further her professional career in marketing & in evenings rehearsed & performed in Wellington Operatic Musical Shows - West End to Broadway, Ovation & Oklahoma. 

She moved to Wanaka in 2004 and worked at Treble Cone ski area as Marketing Manager for six seasons. While settling in the beautiful Southern Lakes, she reignited her interests in dance.  She now has 3 daughters who also love to dance.  

Anna is a member of BBO & APDA. She has achieved her Advanced Jazz Addict Teacher Qualifications, BBO Pre Associate Teacher Qualifications, Acrobatic Arts level 1, and regularly attends dance & teacher workshops/concourses to keep abreast with new techniques. 

Riki Young 

Riki is a senior Jazz & Ballet teacher and choreographer at Dance Wanaka. She coaches competitive dancers and also creates our stunning production posters with her graphic design skills.

Dancing and performing has been a passion of Riki's since she started ballet at the age of 3 with Joy Lewis then Glenys Scandrett School of Dance in Invercargill. She later moved to Auckland to study full time dance at the Auckland City Dance Centre under Valerie Murray & Allan Barry where she worked under the guidance of many high profile teachers. From there she moved to Brisbane for a year to continue & develop her dance skills before returning home. Classically trained to RAD advanced level & modern styles, her most recent stage performances have been with the Invercargill Musical Theatre Company.  She moved to Wanaka in 2011 & by day is an agent at Harcourts Real Estate.  

Bridget Owens

Bridget was drawn to dance by a love of movement and performing on stage. Performing in musicals and training in NZAMD during her school years, she attended the (then) Wellington Performing Arts Centre to gain her Diploma in Performing Arts - Commercial Dance, a memorable and rewarding period which introduced her to a number of dance techniques. Bridget assists with admin support, is a qualified Booty Barre teacher & has taught junior jazz classes at our Studios.

Jannette Santos

Our fabulous acro teacher. Bio coming soon.

Maria Hearle

Ballet Teacher. Bio coming soon.

Grace Thomas 

Grace is an accomplished senior all round dancer & performer.  She became a certified APDA Jazz Addict teacher in 2024, and enjoys teaching all dance styles at Dance Wanaka classes. She consistently achieves Honours with Distinction awards in Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, & Contemporary examinations. She was awarded APDA Top Tier awards (highest marks across Australasia) for Jazz Addict (2024), Urban Ignition, Lucidity examinations (2024 & 2021). She is a successful performer at regional competitions, and choreographs solos & troupe dances for younger dancers in the school.

Hannah Gillespie

Hannah is an accomplished senior dancer at Dance Wanaka.  She became a certified APDA Jazz Addict teacher in 2024, and teaches junior jazz & hip hop classes.  She has achieved her Advanced Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, & Intermediate Tap levels in the school. 

Elizabeth Pell

Elizabeth is an accomplished senior all round dancer & performer.  She will be teaching contemporary & tap classes this year. She consistently achieves Honours her Intermediate Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary & Tap examinations.  She has regularly performed in competitions from a young age.