OUR TEACHERS & STAFF
KRISTEN APSEY
Founder & Principal teacher at KDS, Kristen was born and raised in Forbes and commenced classes at the age of 5 studying in many facets of dance including ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and contemporary. Kristen has very fond memories of her dance days while growing up in Forbes and is extremely grateful for the training and guidance she received under Ms Lia De Vries at Lia’s School of Dance, obtaining her Certificate IV in Dance Performance Studies for both Classical and Jazz.
Kristen’s passion for teaching began during her high school years and after completing her HSC she went on to obtain her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management. Kristen has also completed her Module One training with Acrobatic Arts and continues to look for ways to further develop herself and her team at KDS.
“I believe my dance teacher to be one of the most influential people in shaping who I am today and I hope to inspire, nurture and be a positive presence in my students lives also”
ELIZA WOODS
Eliza started dancing at four years of age in Ballet and Jazz under the guidance of Lia Devries and our very own Kristen Apsey. At age 14 Eliza was enamoured with pursuing the art of dance and musical theatre as a career. Eliza went on to study dance in Melbourne and graduated from Jason Colemans Ministry of Dance, with a Diploma in Musical Theatre and a Cert 4 in Dance Teaching and Management.
Miss Eliza is a versatile and exciting performing artist, teacher and choreographer. Dancing across Melbourne with the Entertainment Dance Company. Further dancing at Beyond Blue AFL Cup events at the MCG and at American NFL halftime events in Sydney at the ANZ Stadium.
Eliza brings to KDS a wealth of dance knowledge and experience. Her skills with performance and choreography offer her students subtle stage exposure from the outset. KDS is very lucky to have Miss Eliza as part of the teaching team.
EMILY ALLEGRI
Emily is an experienced teacher at KDS, she has been teaching dance at KDS since 2013. Emily loves to watch her young dancers take flight, she is committed to the health and happiness dance can offer her students.
Emily commenced her own dance journey at 4 years of age, commencing competitive dance in Eisteddfods from 8 years, completing her last Eisteddfod at 21 years! The reward of performance is most definitely not lost on Miss Emily, committed to ongoing learning and crafting her skills in dance. Emily holds training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop. She has a Cert 4 in Dance Teaching and Management, and has recently completed a Bachelor of Education.
As well as her dance teacher role, Emily works as an Educator in 0 - 1 year at Forbes Learning Ladder.
MATILDA CRAWLEY
Matilda, well known as Miss Tilly, is a respected member of the KDS family. Matilda graduated school in 2021. She is taking a gap year in 2022 before she attends University to study Social Work.
Matilda has been dancing since 6 years of age when she started with Jazz tuition. Recognising how movement and dance were positively impacting her, Matilda found great passion and love for dance as she trained and explored Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop and Contemporary genres.
Matilda has been an important member of the KDS Troupe, flourishing within this group dance initiative. She has represented KDS in events throughout the Central West, proud to dance both solo and group presentations. Dance is a huge health and lifestyle choice for Matilda.
Throughout 2022 Matilda will be studying her Cert 4 in dance teaching and dance business management at the Australian Dance Institute. The course has both theoretical and practical learning modules that will deliver Matilda qualifications as a dance teacher and the learning to run a Dance Practice in the future.
RACHEL WYTHES
ALICE DUNN
EMILY JACK
Emily became a dance student with KDS at 7 years of age and at 10 years she joined the KDS Performance Troupe, loving the energy and power that this performance platform offered to a group of enthusiastic dancers year in/year out. Emily has a deep background as a soloist as well, taking part in events and Eisteddfods throughout the Central West and beyond.
Emily has particularly strong skills in Jazz and Hip Hop, driven by her passion and incredible interest in these styles. Miss Emily is an experienced dance teacher in both Jazz and Hip Hop she loves to see the joy and development as her students learn new skills and routines in these genres.
Emily loves being a teacher she believes it is such a rewarding job to do.
LILLY HODGES
PAIGE THOMAS
Miss Paige has been dancing since she was 3 years of age, she joined KDS when she was 5 and has not looked back!
Paige has amassed strong skills and training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Hip Hop. Her preference is for Jazz and Hip Hop, focusing more on these genres most recently.
Miss Paige enjoys teaching young dancers, she is thrilled to watch their confidence build each and every week. Paige encourages the individual expression and creativity her students have to offer in class.
Paige graduated from Red Bend Catholic College in 2019. She has a full time job as a Business Concierge with Service NSW, supporting small business in our regional NSW.
GEORGIA WOODS
Georgia commenced her dance journey in jazz class at the age of 5, at Lia’s School of Dance. Over several years, Georgia’s confidence on stage and in the classroom grew dramatically and her passion for dance evolved, leading her to take up classes in modern, ballet and hip hop under the guidance of Kristen’s Dance Studio. Since the age of 9, Georgia has competed in troupe and solos at eisteddfods across the Central West region. In 2013 she started as an assistant teacher at KDS, until the end of 2014, when at the age of 16, she made the big step to relocate to Sydney for her final two years of schooling.
Whilst in Sydney, Georgia completed her HSC at the Australian Performing Arts Grammar School in Glebe, to continue pursuing her passion for dance. Through the school performing arts program, Georgia explored different and new styles of dance, musical theatre, acting and group singing. She also completed Dance and Drama for her HSC major works. When not at school, Georgia undertook dance training at the Village Performing Arts Centre, in various styles such as jazz, hip hop, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre, tap and jazz technique. Over these 2 years, Georgia was an active member of the Village performance team, attending various dance competitions, most notably the Sydney Eisteddfod finals at the Opera House, where her open jazz group gained 1st place.
Graduating her secondary schooling in 2016, Georgia returned to Forbes for a gap year and in 2018 became a head teacher at KDS. In 2019, she moved to Wollongong to complete her Bachelor of Communication and Media at the University of Wollongong.
Georgia enjoys exploring her creativity through dance teaching, and is inspired by the ability it has to improve the confidence of her students, both in the classroom and on stage. When not dancing, Georgia is progressing her communications career, working at Parkes Shire Council as a Corporate Communications and Media Officer.