Faculty

Our school is very proud of the calibre of staff we attract. They are dedicated professionals drawn from a variety of International experiences with one goal in common; to guide students in experiencing the joy of dance. We are fortunate to utilise their combined experience and sound ethics to achieve outstanding results.

Michelle Hofmann

Principal, Ballet

Introduced to ballet as a child while living in Munich, Germany, Michelle Hofmann pursued her training in Australia despite there being no ballet schools nearby; with her parents driving a 300 km round trip to Whyalla to attend classes with Joyce Clothier.

Being so passionate about ballet, it was agreed that she would leave home at 14 years of age and move to Adelaide to access further training opportunities.

She trained full-time with Sheila Laing RAD Examiner who also mentored her as a teacher. Later she trained with and taught for Elayne Cherry, and was given the opportunity to take over a school in Tanunda while the teacher was on leave for a year.

In 1989 Michelle moved back to Munich, Germany and continued training at Dance Centre Iwanson where she had the opportunity of training with many different teachers and then worked as a professional dancer with Stadt Theatre St Poelton, Austria.

Teaching ballet was always a passion however, and not being satisfied teaching for others, Michelle decided to open Turning Point Dance upon her return to Adelaide in 1996 with an aim to give all students the opportunity to pursue a career in dance should they choose. This goal persists, insisting on great care in dancer’s training, staying current with changes in teaching methods and learning from other teachers, examiners and practitioners (physios, podiatrists, psychologists, pilates and yoga) She strives to provide students with excellent teachers in all genres of dance to give them an edge should they wish to pursue a career in dance or dance teaching.

Watching children grow and mature and generally being part of their lives has been an immense privilege for Michelle. Passing on her passion for dance, she finds that they in turn, inspire her to develop her teaching skills. Every student is unique and learn in different ways, and she enjoys the challenge of helping them all achieve their personal best.

Miki Rafinian

BAllet & Contemporary

Miki Rafinian was born and raised in Kanazawa City, Japan and started her training as a nine-year-old. After completing her secondary education, she moved to Melbourne and trained with Melbourne Dance Academy with principal Rex Reid and teachers Anne Jenner and Dale Baker. Miki went on to train at the Queensland University of Technology and gained her Associate Degree as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Miki has been teaching ballet and contemporary dance for seventeen years.

Miki has been with TPD for many years teaching Contemporary dance, Ballet, Limber, Pilates and continues to nurture and guide students towards their pathways in dance.

Jorselle Sison

Jazz &Tap

I discovered my love of dance in 2007 when I started training at Turning Point Dance. I have trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Contemporary, and participated in ACB (now BC) and RAD Ballet exams and CSTD Tap Exams with high distinctions. I enjoyed the thrill and team spirit when participating in regional competitions in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap troupes. My love for dance has never waned over the many years of coming to the studio. Inspired by the teachers, I became an assistant teacher and have chosen to follow a teaching career. I am studying Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) at the University of South Australia and Certificate IV in Assistant Dance teaching. I love teaching and am excited to pass on the skills and knowledge I have learned over the 15 years I have been learning. I love meeting new students and creating a positive and welcoming bond in my classroom. With the challenges that teaching comes with, I am determined to support my students in as many ways as possible; I love seeing them progress immensely and am proud of their achievements, big or small.

Phoebe Surman

Jazz

Phoebe Surman began training as a gymnast at the age of 4. When she was 8, she began studying classical ballet at Turning Point Dance with Michelle Hofmann and continued to participate in exams, eisteddfods, and performances throughout her 10 years at the school. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and has achieved her ARAD and completed her advanced silver CSTD tap exam. She is currently in her third and final year of the Bachelor of Music Theatre at Adelaide University Elder Conservatorium and is excited to see where this takes her. Phoebe is a highly experienced teacher, who holds an advanced gymnastics coaching accreditation including acrobatics and tumbling. She began teaching dance whilst at Turning Point, and since, has continued to teach jazz, contemporary and music theatre classes. Recently she has also made her professional stage debut, dancing with the Adelaide State Opera in their production of La Traviata. She couldn’t be more excited to return to Turning Point to teach both intermediate and advanced jazz this year.

Alexandra knox

contemporary dance

Alexandra grew up in Canberra and studied a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne. Alexandra had her ﬁrst opportunity to dance with Internationally acclaimed Australian choreographer Meryl Tankard in Canberra when she was four years old and was fortunate to dance alongside her mother, Jennifer Barry (ex Sydney Dance Company), who was then dancing with the company at that time. Alexandra has worked with contemporary companies in Australia and Europe.

Since living in Adelaide, Alexandra has received several grants from Arts SA for her Dance work “Cor” and a travel grant to present “Animus” at the “World Dance Alliance” in Angers, France, in 2015 with Melbourne Director and composer Cy Gorman. In 2015 performed in Dance Massive in Melbourne with Adelaide dance company Onepoint618. In 2015 she also performed in “A Delicate Situation” by Adelaide based choreographer Lina Limosani. She has taught contemporary dance classes at Australian Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company and teaches Pilates classes across Adelaide.

Recently, Alexandra presented the ﬁrst development of her work, “Unleashed”, at Australian Dance Theatre. Alexandra’s passion is to teach workshops and classes that have people fulﬁl their expression, conﬁdence and see what they are capable of achieving. Alexandra has worked with numerous high schools/primary.

Tony Bridgman

PAs de deux, Ballet, boys class

Anthony began his training in Melbourne with Kathleen Gorham and Martin Rubenstein, later continuing with and graduating from the Australian Ballet School. He then embarked on a 13 year professional career that took him to the Queensland Ballet, PACT Ballet, Johannesburg, Sth Africa, New London Ballet, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Dusseldorf and ballet mainz, Germany. During this time he performed as a soloist in all the classic full length ballets and many one act contemporary and event-garde works

Retiring from dance at the age of 32, Anthony completed full time studies in business management in Frankfurt, Germany and thereafter took up a position with Merrill Lynch in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1989 he returned to Australia with his wife and young daughter and took up engagements as a freelance teacher with the Victorian College of the Arts, Adelaide (later AC Arts) and 7 years teaching ballet with the University of Adelaide's dance course. During an 18 year absence from dance while Anthony was employed by the SA government in HR, he still taught for local ballet schools around Adelaide including SA Youth Ballet, Terry Simpson studios and Sheila Laing Ballet academy.

Anthony recently retired from his position from State Government and is returning to his love of dance and passion for passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of young talent.

JAnet Bridgman

guest teacher - Ballet / pilates

Janet has been teaching classical ballet, dance theatre, Pilates, repertoire and private coaching at Terry Simpson Studios for over 10 years. She was trained in Adelaide before beginning her ballet career with PACT Ballet, South Africa which provided the opportunity to dance with and learn from many famous names such as Anthony Dowell, Natalia Makarova, Eva Evdokimova, Istvan Nagy, and Merle Park. Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky. In 1976 Janet, and her Australian born husband, Anthony Bridgman, joined the London based New London Ballet, under the Directorship of Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky. In 1977 the pair joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Germany under the Directorship of Erich Walter. In 1980 Janet accepted a soloist contract with Ballett Frankfurt where she danced firstly under the Directorship of Egon Madsen and then William Forsythe. It was here that Janet danced principal roles in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle as well as appearing in many of Forsythe’s new works. On invitation from Uwe Scholz, Janet joined the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland and danced the final four years of her 18 year dancing career. On invitation from Meryl Tankard Janet became Rehearsal Director and Ballet Mistress of the Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre where she continued in this role for seven years.

Chylie Cooper

Guest teacher - Ballet

Chylie Cooper was born in Thailand and grew up in Adelaide studying ballet with Jaqueline Tucker, Christine Underdown and performing with the South Australian Children’s Ballet Company.

Her further studies were undertaken in Perth at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts , graduating with a Diploma of Dance. In 1996 she worked with Rex Reid at Dance Theatre Victoria, then danced with David Prudham’s Australian Dancers Company in Perth for its 1998/99 seasons and with West Australian Ballet.

In 1999, Chylie joined Australian Dance Theatre in Adelaide under the direction of Garry Stewart.

Chylie then moved to Sydney and joined Sydney Dance Company in 2000. She toured with the Company throughout Australia and to the United States, Mexico, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, China and the UK.

In 2011, Chylie joined MOD Dance Company for a season premiere at Star city.

During the the past seven years Chylie has performed independently and taught

in Sydney at Newtown High School of Performing Arts and Tutustudios. She is currently teaching at the Australian Dance Theatre.

Sydney Dance Company repertoire: Stephen Petronio’s Underland; Meryl Tankard’s INUK2; Graeme Murphy’s Mythologia, Berlin, Salome, Air and other invisible forces, Free Radicals, the role of Miss Evelyn Rose and “rue de Paris’ in Tivoli, Ellipse, Random Play, the Superstar in Shades of Gray, The Bathroom duo in Some Rooms, Grand, Hua Mulan, The Director’s Cut, Ever After Ever, (appearing in highlights from Air and other invisible forces, Ellipse and Berlin) and in the premiere of Short Stories. Rafael Bonachela’s 360o and we unfold and Aszure Barton’s Sid’s Waltzing Masquerade. Narelle Benjamin’s; Gossamer.

Other career credits: MOD Dance Company; Suite Synergy West Australian Ballet: Coppelia; Australian Dance Theatre: Plastic Space, Bird Brain; David Prudham’s Australian Dancers Company: Virtuosity, Split. Dance Theatre Victoria: Peter and the Wolf.

Film and Television credits: Mao’s Last Dancer; ABC Dance Academy

Daniela Di Fabio

Guest teacher - Ballet / Pilates

I have worked in both the dance and fitness industries for over 20 years as a performer, choreographer and teacher in Australia, Asia and Europe.

After graduating from university, I became a member of the Company for Performing Artists, Thailand, before returning to Sydney where I worked for the Australian Institute of Sport (Active After School Care Program), teaching dance to children with mental and physical disabilities. I also taught the RAD ballet syllabus and choreographed for DirtyFeet and various independent and commercial events before returning to Melbourne to complete further study whilst continuing to dance professionally and work collaboratively with artists including film makers, sound designers and theatre directors.

In 2006, I moved to Italy to teach classical ballet, contemporary dance, Pilates and yoga. In 2009, I founded and directed my own award-winning dance and fitness school in the Trentino Alto-Adige region.

After returning to Adelaide in 2014, I facilitated a conditioning program for the Adelaide United Youth Team and continued to teach dance, Pilates and yoga at various dance schools and fitness facilities. In 2021, I established a boutique Pilates studio in Henley Beach. My current focus is teaching ballet and Pilates to students of all ages. I am blessed to be working in these fields; there is so much a body can do if one puts their mind to it.

My qualifications include: Bachelor of Dance, University of Melbourne, Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), Post Graduate Diploma, VCA, Masters of Choreography, VCA, Yoga teacher (YTT 200-hours), Personal Trainer (Certificate III & IV in Fitness), Pilates Diploma (Mat and Studio and Rehabilitation, Polestar Education).

Community and volunteer engagement play an important role in my life: I host a weekly health and wellness program on Radio Italiana 531 (an Italian community radio station) and am a committee member of the Pilates Alliance of Australasia (PAA). Previous positions include Vice-Chairperson, Royal Academy of Dance South Australian Regional Advisory Panel.

jenni guest

Guest Teacher - physiotherapist, pilates and pointe assessment

Jenni has combined her formative years as a Classical Ballet Student/Amatuer performer with her academic years of pre and postgraduate Physiotherapy study resulting in a passionate focus on Dance Injury / Educationand Prevention. As a long standing member of The International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, Jenni remains up to date with the current research in Dance Medicine, treatment and preventative methodology. She works with junior dancers through their developmental years to achieve maximum potential, as well as following through with the tertiary students and professional performers in maintenance programs, specific rehabilitation and injury prevention protocols.

As a Senior Pilates Practitioner, Jenni actively focuses on current research in the practice of core stabilization. She is a Senior Educator and Examiner for Polestar Pilates Education. She is also the President of the Pilates Alliance of Australasia, Australia’s leading Industry Body for the Pilates Method.

oliver toth

guest teacher - Ballet

Oliver was born in Berlin and began his dance career training in the Hungarian Dance and Arts Academy in Budapest. During his nine years of full-time training in all aspects of performance, he performed with the Hungarian National Ballet and National Opera Company and at the age of thirteen was chosen from hundreds of hopefuls to star in a telemovie. After graduating with a Bachelor of Performance he joined the Hungarian National Ballet performing roles in classics such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Spartacus. He also danced modern pieces from world-renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans von Mannen and William Forsythe. With a guest contract with a company in Germany, Oliver began a new aspect of his career, in musical theatre, dancing in shows such as West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and Kiss Me Kate. In 1995, Oliver joined the cast of Cats in Hamburg, Germany and was part of the original cast of Cats in Belgium, working with Gillian Lynne and then toured Australia in the world premier version of Cats- Run Away with the Circus in the Big-Top. Oliver has had many highlights throughout his varied career including travelling the world performing in galas and festivals, which featured such companies as the Kirov and New York City Ballet, and in Budapest was honoured to perform with Rudolph Nureyev in Cristoforo. Oliver has taught dance at Sydney Dance Company and the Stella Academy Hamburg. Currently he teaches at ACArts Adelaide and Terry Simpson Studios, Turning Point Dance and runs a successful photography business, Accent Photography.