JOANNE MICHEL
Répétiteur, Classical Teacher

Joanne graduated from The Australian Ballet School and danced with The Australian Ballet at the beginning of her career. Joanne’s first Principal role was performing the Swan Queen in Swan Lake opposite Alexander Godunov. 

She has also danced the lead or solo roles in Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Don Quixote and more during her time as a Principal Artist.

Before joining us in 2003, Joanne travelled overseas to work with Nederlands Dans Theatre under choreographer and director, Jiři Kylián. Our students are privileged to benefit from the tutelage of Joanne.

ANDREW MURPHY
Répétiteur, Classical Teacher

Andrew brings decades of experience to our students and learning environment. He began his career at The Australian Ballet where he danced as a Senior Soloist, before moving overseas to dance as a Principal with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Houston Ballet, where he performed until retiring from the stage. He has performed leading roles in major classical productions and a diverse range of contemporary works by choreographers such as Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Jiří Kylián, Twyla Tharp, and George Balanchine. Andrew has also worked directly with celebrated artists including David Bintley, Glen Tetley, Christopher Bruce, Stanton Welch, and Graeme Murphy AO.

Andrew was Principal Instructor and Men’s Program Coordinator at the Houston Ballet Academy before returning to Australia to join The Australian Ballet School.

NARELLE FORBES (MASTERS)
Conditioning Specialist

Narelle studied at the Australian Ballet School prior to accepting a 4-year scholarship in Monte Carlo at age 17. Upon returning to Australia she danced with the West Australian Ballet and the Australian Ballet Company.

Throughout her career in the Allied Health industry Narelle has worked with dancers from the Australian Ballet Company, Australian Ballet School, Victorian College of the Arts and many wonderful ballet students throughout Victoria and Sydney. Narelle is regularly approached to present at international and local dance conferences and workshops, including the 2018 Royal Academy of Dance Conference in Brisbane. These opportunities also create the perfect environment for Narelle to learn about new research, discoveries and strategies in dance education and training techniques that can be integrated into our students' daily practice.

KEVIN JACKSON
Classical Teacher

Kevin trained at The Australian Ballet School, graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Dance and a Corps De Ballet contract with The Australian Ballet. He progressed through the ranks, being promoted to Principal Artist. In addition, he completed a Vocational Graduate Diploma in Elite Dance Instruction. Kevin retired as a Principal Artist from The Australian Ballet in 2020 after a career spanning an incredible 17 years. His repertoire includes Romeo and Juliet, Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Onegin, Giselle and David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty. 

In 2017, Kevin received the Helpmann Award for his portrayal of John Neumeier’s Nijinsky. The following year, he was nominated for the Benois de la Danse Award and performed at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. In 2014, he guested with American Ballet Theatre in Manon. Today, he shares his artistry and experience as a respected faculty member.

LUCAS JERVIES
Contemporary Teacher

Lucas is a teacher, choreographer and director who works across ballet, contemporary dance, opera, and theatre. A graduate of The Australian Ballet School and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (Directing), he has performed classical and contemporary repertoire with The Australian Ballet, Dance Works and Scapino Ballet Rotterdam.

As a choreographer, Lucas has created work for Finnish National Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Singapore Ballet, and West Australian Ballet, among other companies and festivals. He has also choreographed memorable pieces for us at The Australian Ballet School, including A Dream Story and Butterfly. Lucas previously held positions as Artistic Director of Buzz Dance Theatre, Rehearsal Director at Sydney Dance Company, Resident Choreographer at Louisville Ballet, Affiliate Director at Griffin Theatre, and Co-Director of JACK Productions.

IRINA KONSTANTINOVA
Classical Teacher

Irina’s career is a rare blend of elite academic training and extraordinary performance achievement. She trained at the prestigious Perm Ballet School before joining the USSR State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre as a Principal Artist. She performed lead roles in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Don Quixote, and more. After receiving a Laureate at the Grand Prix International Competition in Baku, she joined the Kirov Ballet (now Mariinsky Ballet Theatre) in St Petersburg.

Irina later graduated from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet with a Bachelor Degree, qualifying her as a Ballet Mistress and Repetiteur of the Vaganova method. Since joining The Australian Ballet School in 2001, she has been instrumental in developing our vocational curriculum. While many of her fellow Vaganova graduates work with major ballet companies worldwide, we are privileged to have Irina dedicate her world-class expertise to nurturing the next generation here.

SERGEY KONSTANTINOV
Classical Teacher

Sergey studied ballet at the prestigious Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg and upon graduating, danced with the Ashkabad Opera and Ballet Theatre. Sergey was invited to join the Kirov Ballet (later Mariinsky Theatre) after winning second prize at the Grand Prix International Competition in Baku (USSR).

During his 11 years at The Mariinsky Theatre, Sergey performed soloist roles in famous ballets including Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet and more. Sergey joined the School in 2004 and has since contributed to the development and success of our young dancers.

SABRINA LENZI
Classical Teacher

Sabrina received her dance training at the Opera of Rome, and Academié de Dance Classique de Montecarlo with Marika Besobrasova. She danced professionally as a Principal Artist with Stuttgart Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet performing many John Cranko ballets and leading classical roles, as well as works by Asthon, Bintley and MacMillan.

After retiring from performing, Sabrina joined Houston Ballet Academy where she became Houston Ballet II Ballet Mistress and Principal of the Upper School, as well as teaching and rehearsing for Houston Ballet. Sabrina has also been a guest teacher for Stuttgart Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and Architanz in Tokyo. Sabrina joined The Australian Ballet School in 2017.

MELANIE MORAVSKI DECHNICZ
Character Teacher 

A graduate of a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Monash University), Melanie danced and trained with Virsky, Ukraine’s most prestigious dance company in Kyiv in 2001. In 2009 Melanie was awarded with the title Merited (Performing) Artist of Ukraine by the Ukrainian President.

She has choreographed many touring productions; most noted works are full length folk ballet Kazka, which received critical acclaim nationally and throughout North America and Canada, and Legend, Stories of a Nation.

JACQUELINE CLARK
Classical Teacher

Jacki trained at The Royal Ballet School in London before joining Ballet Ireland and later The Royal Ballet and The Australian Ballet. Her vibrant career encompassed broad Classical and Contemporary repertoire including featured roles in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments and Serenade, Stanton Welch’s Sylvia, Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella, Maina Gielgud’s Giselle, David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty, and Wayne McGregor’s Infra. 

Jacki brings a depth of experience across both classical and contemporary repertoire and has held key teaching and coaching roles at The Australian Ballet as Lead Rehabilitation Specialist and Assistant Corps de Ballet Repetiteur. Her unique blend of industry experience allows her to nurture both their technical excellence and long-term well-being.

LYNDELLE STEER
Specialist Coach and Classical Teacher

Lyndelle trained at The Australian Ballet School, graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Dance and a Graduate Diploma of Elite Dance Instruction. She danced professionally with The Australian Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, and English National Ballet, performing extensively in Australia and overseas. She has taught across multiple levels at The Australian Ballet School and served as an assessor on the School’s examination panel and is an experienced adjudicator and mentor.

As a Specialist Coach, Lyndelle offers unique training tailored to meet individual student needs, empowering students with personalised support that caters to rehabilitation, and nurtures individual talent development. Her coaching also provides holistic training, committed to excellence, and building connections between Health and Artistic teams.

BRADLEY SMITH
Strength and Conditioning  Coach

Bradley is a Physiotherapist and ASCA Level 1 Strength & Conditioning Coach. He has worked in various dance specific practices across Melbourne and has experience as a backstage Physiotherapist for musical theatre. 

Bradley danced from an early age, traversing his way up the Cecchetti syllabus to Advanced 1. Whilst training, he developed a flare for acrobatics and became a certified Acrobatics teacher with Canadian-based Acrobatic Arts. During his degree, Bradley spent time at the Australian Ballet growing his passion for dance related physiotherapy. 

A regular contributor to the Bodywise section of Dancetrain Magazine, Bradley was a finalist for the 2019 International Association for Dance Medicine and Science infographic competition for a piece titled ’Turning the tables on turnout’.

  

CHRISTINE VAVLADELLIS
Artistic Teacher (On leave 2025)

Christine Vavladellis began her journey with The Australian Ballet School in the year 2000 at the age of 10. She progressed through each year level and graduated in 2009 with an Advanced Diploma of Dance. Christine achieved her Bachelor of Health Sciences, with a major in Anatomy and Physiology, at La Trobe University in 2012 and went on to achieve a Master of Educational Leadership and Management, also at La Trobe University. Christine completed the Graduate Diploma in Elite Dance Instruction Course at The Australian Ballet School in 2014.

Before teaching, Christine had the opportunity to travel with The Australian Ballet Dancers Company regional tour four times, and enjoyed performing the role of young Clara in The Nutcracker: Gift of a Dream by Leigh Rowles on two of these tours. Another performance highlight for Christine was dancing as a Cygnet in Swan Lake Act 2 for the School’s 2009 Graduate Exhibition.

Christine started teaching at The Australian Ballet School in 2012 and currently teaches Early Learning Program students aged 3-10, and the After-School Program students in Levels 1-3. Christine also teaches conditioning classes for Level 1-3 students and additional Interstate Training Program classes. As an early learning specialist, Christine believes that learning in a fun, creative and engaging environment is vital for each child’s learning development. Christine believes the joy of dance should be nurtured, and the curiosity of each child fed with inspiration and the desire to keep learning.

NATALYA BOBENKO
Guest & Melbourne Community Access Teacher

Natalya has been teaching for over twenty years, participating in all Summer and Winter School programmes and guest teaching at the ABS since 2000.

Studying in many styles of dance, Natalya has had an extensive performing career in television, film and musical theatre. Natalya’s most recognised role was Maria in Saturday Night Fever, touring Australia, Asia and New Zealand – for which she received a Green Room Nomination. Dream Ballet Laurey in Oklahoma! (The Production Company) and dancing in front of Queen Elizabeth II at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester were career highlights.

For the past 20 years, Natalya has taught in prestigious schools around the country; and in the last 10 years, Natalya has played a major role in establishing the dance programme at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) for the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Musical Theatre). Natalya is thrilled to be a part of The Australian Ballet School’s faculty to assist, motivate and inspire our young budding participants.