Explore. Excel. Perform.
Our Philosophy
While excellence is our goal, we strive to provide a positive learning environment for all students to enjoy. Our intention is for everybody to achieve, have the opportunity to perform and to become an appreciative audience for others. We are extremely proud of our students both past and present for their achievements. Our hope is for each students life to be richer for the experience.
Founder & Director
Peta Spooner
My name is Peta Spooner. I have lived, breathed, and taught dance for more than 53 years…and today, I still feel very passionate about this wonderful performing art form. I was just three years old when I first began dancing, and after sitting exams and participating in competitions, by the tender age of 15, I had started to teach dance. Then I moved to Nelson and pursued my passion further, establishing Peta Spooner Academy of Dance. Over the past five decades, I have taught thousands of pupils, guiding, and preparing them for exams, competitions, and shows, and it’s been fabulous to see their progress. I am a qualified teacher of classical ballet and contemporary modern jazz; I have been an examiner throughout Australasia for the past 14 years, and I have taken dance groups overseas to Finland and Jamaica. Teacher training is an important aspect of my work, with many of my pupils having become teachers themselves, including Jane Pascoe who I work closely with today, especially in relation to our involvement in musical theatre.
‘Honesty, integrity, kindness, caring and giving – these are the kinds of the attributes I like to nurture in my students.’ – Peta Spooner
Valerie Roche
Valerie Roche
I live in sunny Nelson with my husband Alastair, our two children, Austin and Mackenzie, and Hunter the dog. I started teaching when I was a baby…ok, I was 16, but still pretty young, and since then I’ve dedicated myself to learning as a teacher and enriching others’ lives. I am eternally grateful for my teaching ‘apprenticeship’ with Peta Spooner, which turned into a lifetime partnership in dance, and friendship too. I am passionate about movement! I have been a dancer all my life. As a teenager, I chose to follow that passion into teaching, which over the last 20 years or more has evolved to many different movement modalities including yoga, barre and Pilates. Some of my greatest accomplishments in dance are achieving Fellowship qualifications in both ballet and modern jazz, along with building up my own dance studio in Stoke that works closely with PSAD. It’s also the lifetime friendships with students and their parents, whether it be seeing students go on to full time dance training, or success in other fields, there is so much they take with them from the studio into their lives. My passion has always been to share my love of movement far and wide and help others feel the joy that can be found in moving your body in creative ways. My goal is to provide incredible classes that are accessible to all regardless of age demographic or physical limitations.
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I live in sunny Nelson with my husband Alastair, our two children, Austin and Mackenzie, and Hunter the dog. I started teaching when I was a baby…ok, I was 16, but still pretty young, and since then I’ve dedicated myself to learning as a teacher and enriching others’ lives. I am eternally grateful for my teaching ‘apprenticeship’ with Peta Spooner, which turned into a lifetime partnership in dance, and friendship too. I am passionate about movement! I have been a dancer all my life. As a teenager, I chose to follow that passion into teaching, which over the last 20 years or more has evolved to many different movement modalities including yoga, barre and Pilates. Some of my greatest accomplishments in dance are achieving Fellowship qualifications in both ballet and modern jazz, along with building up my own dance studio in Stoke that works closely with PSAD. It’s also the lifetime friendships with students and their parents, whether it be seeing students go on to full time dance training, or success in other fields, there is so much they take with them from the studio into their lives. My passion has always been to share my love of movement far and wide and help others feel the joy that can be found in moving your body in creative ways. My goal is to provide incredible classes that are accessible to all regardless of age demographic or physical limitations.
I live in sunny Nelson with my husband Alastair, our two children, Austin and Mackenzie, and Hunter the dog. I started teaching when I was a baby…ok, I was 16, but still pretty young, and since then I’ve dedicated myself to learning as a teacher and enriching others’ lives. I am eternally grateful for my teaching ‘apprenticeship’ with Peta Spooner, which turned into a lifetime partnership in dance, and friendship too. I am passionate about movement! I have been a dancer all my life. As a teenager, I chose to follow that passion into teaching, which over the last 20 years or more has evolved to many different movement modalities including yoga, barre and Pilates. Some of my greatest accomplishments in dance are achieving Fellowship qualifications in both ballet and modern jazz, along with building up my own dance studio in Stoke that works closely with PSAD. It’s also the lifetime friendships with students and their parents, whether it be seeing students go on to full time dance training, or success in other fields, there is so much they take with them from the studio into their lives. My passion has always been to share my love of movement far and wide and help others feel the joy that can be found in moving your body in creative ways. My goal is to provide incredible classes that are accessible to all regardless of age demographic or physical limitations.
Teachers
Jane Pascoe
Ballet & Contemporary Modern Jazz Teacher
I live in sunny Nelson with my husband Alastair, our two children, Austin and Mackenzie, and Hunter the dog. I started teaching when I was a baby…ok, I was 16, but still pretty young, and since then I’ve dedicated myself to learning as a teacher and enriching others’ lives. I am eternally grateful for my teaching ‘apprenticeship’ with Peta Spooner, which turned into a lifetime partnership in dance, and friendship too. I am passionate about movement! I have been a dancer all my life. As a teenager, I chose to follow that passion into teaching, which over the last 20 years or more has evolved to many different movement modalities including yoga, barre and Pilates. Some of my greatest accomplishments in dance are achieving Fellowship qualifications in both ballet and modern jazz, along with building up my own dance studio in Stoke that works closely with PSAD. It’s also the lifetime friendships with students and their parents, whether it be seeing students go on to full time dance training, or success in other fields, there is so much they take with them from the studio into their lives. My passion has always been to share my love of movement far and wide and help others feel the joy that can be found in moving your body in creative ways. My goal is to provide incredible classes that are accessible to all regardless of age demographic or physical limitations.
Leonie Climo
Ballet & Contemporary Modern Jazz Teacher
Leonie brings over 10 yrs years of Teaching Experience to our studio Leonie’s dancing career began at the tender age of four with the Peta Spooner Academy of Dance. As she continued her passion into her teen years, Leonie became a student teacher with PSAD. Over the next four years Leonie gained her Associates Degree in both Ballet and Modern Jazz and a diploma in Dance Exercise. Leonie took some time away from teaching to raise her two gorgeous girls (who also have developed the love for dance). While making the most of being at home with her children, Leonie also studied in her other interest, Horticulture. She also has qualifications in Tourism and Business & Office Administration. Leonie is now back teaching at PSDA for 2 years and passed her Licentiate Ballet exam in June 2021
Valerie Roche
Classical Ballet & Repertoire Teacher
Valerie Roche has taught our senior ballet students for around 15 years. She teaches the RAD syllabus, along with open classes of pointe and repertoire. We are very lucky to have someone with such a wealth of knowledge to teach our girls not only sound technique but classical variations from some of the favourite ballets of all time. I'm sure there are many past students who have fond memories of their time in Valerie's classes as well as on stage performing under her guidance.
Kaitlyn Little
Ballet & Contemporary Modern Jazz Teacher
Kaitlyn began dancing at Peta Spooner Academy of Dance at the tender age of just 5 yrs old. Kaitlyn sat her very first exam, Grade 1 ballet at age 6. When Kaitlyn turned 8 she started learning Modern Jazz as well as Ballet. During 2023 & 2024, Kaitlyn has sat her Advanced 2 Ballet & Intermediate Contemporary Modern Jazz exams. With her years dancing with Peta Spooner Academy of Dance, Kaitlyn lives & breaths Peta’s philosophy, she has been a fabulous addition to the PSAD studio. Kaitlyn has been teaching with a qualification for the past 2 years (& 2 years previously teaching with assistance). From Kaitlyn: I have enjoyed my upbringing in an incredibly inclusive studio and I look forward to encouraging the younger students the Peta Spooner Academy of Dance philosophy, while moving forward and working hard to get my Ballet & Jazz Associates qualifications this year.
Kymberly Widley
Musical Theatre Teacher
Kia ora, I'm Kymberly, and I'm delighted to join the Peta Spooner Academy of Dance family. With a strong foundation in speech and drama, I've had the privilege of training through the NZ Speech Board and Trinity College. My journey began in Te Anau and Timaru, where I first discovered my passion for the performing arts. Later, I continued my training in Nelson, where I've had the opportunity to engage in various theatrical pursuits within the community. While having pursued life in other areas, my love for speech, drama, and musical theatre has remained a constant source of inspiration. I'm now thrilled to return to my roots. As a dedicated teacher, I'm excited to share my knowledge and experience with a new generation of students. I'm committed to helping my students build confidence, creativity, and essential life skills through the magic of musical theatre. On a personal note, I've had the joy of nurturing my own children's passion for music, drama, and dance. Our family shares a deep love for the theatre, and we've spent countless hours enjoying performances, attending workshops, and exploring the world of the arts together. I'm excited to inspire your children's love for the performing arts, believing that music, prose, and creativity have the power to enrich lives, foster empathy, and bring people together. I look forward to sharing my passion with your family. Further information please contact Kimberly direct Email: kymberlywidleyperformingarts@gmail.com
Amy Prestidge
Adult Ballet Teacher
Amy started dancing with Peta 35 years ago, and has loved it ever since. She continued with ballet through university and completed her associate ballet degree in teaching with Peta in her holiday breaks. In the intervening 20 years Amy continued enjoying ballet and picked up Salsa dancing. Upon returning to Nelson in 2023, she rejoined PSAD and this year will teach the Adult Beginner Ballet class on Wednesday nights. Amy's day job is as an engineer, but over the years she has taught Barre and adult ballet in Queenstown and danced Salsa competitively in Christchurch.
Cara Shepard
Adult Tap Teacher
Cara’s passion for dance started when she put on her first pair of taps shoes at 7yrs old and learnt tap through Helen Brown in Nelson. In the next 7yrs Cara competed in many local competitions and completed exams to a level just short of qualifying to sit her teacher’s exams. At this time Cara chose to focus on animals and getting into university to study them. The tap shoes were off and on went a lab coat. Upon completing a BSc, double major in Psychology and Zoology in 2005, Cara had returned to Nelson and started learning and doing performances in the Zenda Middle Eastern Dance Troupe with Gretchen Howard. Cara kept dancing until her daughter was born in 2016. Fast forward 5yrs and her daughter started learning Ballet and then CMJ with Jane Pascoe Movement. Seeing the joy dance gave her daughter it reminded Cara of her passion for dance. Being busy working at Nelson’s Cawthron Institute as the Aquaculture Groups Biosecurity, Quality and Assurance Administrator, and now a Mother of two, in 2020 Cara could not see how dance could fit into life for herself. However, in 2024, and old tap shoes found and put on to show her children she could still dance, Cara decided to have a conversation with Jane about finishing what she had started years ago. This year, Cara is starting an adult tap class at the Peta Spooner Academy of Dance’s Wakatu Studio, and through commencing Teacher Training with Jane, Cara aims to complete the Pre-Associate exam. When Cara is not wearing tap shoes, or a lab coat you will find her in her tramping boots on an adventure with her family.
Lily Cox
Teacher in Training
I started dancing at the age of 3. I joined Peta Spooner Academy of Dance when I was 6 and have loved it ever since. I have recently completed my first year of teacher training and look forward to the future milestones in my teaching and dancing career. I really enjoy the community this studio provides and the connections made between students and teachers. I find this environment very friendly and nurturing to all passionate young dancers.
Gabriella Climo-Banks
Teacher in Training
I started dancing at Peta Spooner Academy of Dance at the age of 3, I have really enjoyed my time dancing at the studio. In 2024 I completed one year of teacher training & I am looking forward to continue learning towards my dance career. The studio provides so much love and affection amongst its learning, and it is such a pleasure watching dancers of all ages thrive in this inclusive environment.
Claudia Packer
Teacher in Training
I began dancing at Peta Spooner Academy of Dance at the tender age of 3. I am very excited to begin my first year of teacher training this year. I will continue with Peta's philosophy - every child deserves to dance in an inclusive & supportive environment. Peta's studio has given me so many opportunities that I will cherish forever.