emily laughlin
co-founder/co-owner/director
Emily Laughlin has 20 years dance experience in various styles including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Funk, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop and Acrobatics. In 2007 she completed VCE Dance and received results that placed her within the top 1% of Victoria. In 2009, Emily completed a full time dance course which allowed her to work professionally in the dance industry. She worked as a Melbourne Storm Cheerleader, performed in various live shows such as the Winter Sound System, performed on The Footy Show, was a stand-in for Dancing with the Stars rehearsals, as well as numerous corporate gigs. Emily has trained with Andrew Hallsworth (choreographer for Pricilla Queen of the Desert), Yvette Lee (artistic director forSYTYCD and resident choreographer for Rock of Ages), Dana Jolley (artistic director and resident choreographer for The Producers), Paul Malek (choreographer for SYTYCD). She also undertook workshops with Britney Spears’ choreographer as well as Pink’s choreographer. Emily has also choreographed several musicals including Anything Goes, Hello Dolly, Beauty and the Beast and Footloose. Emily has 12 years dance teaching experience and is a qualified primary school teacher. She is also an affiliate teacher with the Australian Teachers of Dance.
jan growse
co-owner/director
Jan started at Citrus in 2015. She has a comprehensive knowledge of business, having owned and run numerous practices. She currently manages several companies and is also a registered BAS agent.
Jan's strength lies in her ability to grow a business. She enjoys working collaboratively to allow each team to reach its maximum potential. Jan has strong communication skills, developed throughout her 20 year career as a business manager.
Jan brings with her a passion for dance, having watched both her children perform on the stage in various shows. Jan loves musical theatre and has been to see innumerable stage shows internationally. She loves creating and designing costumes as well.
samantha dry
co-founder
Samantha Dry has a dance career spanning more than 30 years. Growing up in South Africa meant Samantha learnt dancing at the Therle Peterson Dance Studio for 20 years. There she trained in Modern/Jazz and Tap and completed the Advanced and Gold Higher exams respectively. Samantha received Honours with Distinction in both disciplines from the International Dance Teachers Association Examination Board. Since then, she has continued to be involved and promote dance on a number of levels. Dance formed part of her teaching qualifications where she ran Summer School Dance Clubs for various schools. She has also adjudicated university dance competitions as well as, most recently, introduced the annual, intra-school dance competition – Dansation, at a local high school. Samantha has also taught VCE Dance for the past 6 years and is an Affiliate Teacher of A.T.O.D. (the Australian Teachers of Dancing).
courtney
Courtney is a professional dancer, singer and actress. In 2014 she was a contestant on The Voice Australia. She has starred in 42nd Street, and also has professional commercial dance experience. Earlier this year she performed at White Night Melbourne.
Courtney is teaching our grade 5-6 classes, some 7-8 classes, and the Prep-grade 2 students for Popstars and Broadway.
azita
Azita teaches our kinder-grade 2 students ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop. Having trained in many dance genres from a young age, Azita brings with her a sound technical knowledge of dance and a vast performing background. She has trained extensively in ballet, jazz and tap, and has completed numerous exams with top results. Azita has performed in Moomba and was also selected through the audition process to demonstrate the exam sylabus for Southern Federation of Dance. Azita joined the Citrus team in 2015 and is really enjoying getting to know the wonderful students and parents we have at Citrus Dance.
dani
Dani has been a part of Citrus Dance since we opened in 2011, first as a student and now as a teacher. Dani began student teaching at Citrus in 2012 and has since then gradually developed her skills as a teacher and choreographer and is now taking several classes. Dani teaches the prep- grade 2 students ballet, jazz, hip hop and tap on a Saturday morning.
Dani has an extensive dance background, having trained in various styles of dance from the age of 3. She has completed numerous exams to a very high level and has received outstanding results. In the future, Dani plans to study primary teaching as well as continuing to teach dance.
chris
Chris trained at Patrick Studios Australia. Upon completed his Full time Course he was offered several international contracts. He spent years Dancing, Singing and Teaching in over 30 countries. He returned to Australia to focus on establishing himself and was offered a position to further his training with Robert Sturrock. Since graduating he has become one of Melbourne’s sought after dancers, performing in corporate events, TVC’S, film clips, promotions and major theatre productions. Theatre Credits include ‘A midsummer night’s dream’ (Opera Australia), ‘Le Grand Cirque (Sydney Opera House), ‘Dr who Symphonic Spectacular’ (BBC UK), Norwegian Cruise Lines, ‘Kismet’ (The Production company) and featured as Prince charming in ‘Snow White the Musical Show’ (Provalliant group- Indonesia). Recently Chris has choreographed for major brands, Productions, Exam Syllabuses, Cabarets and commercial/corporate events across Australia. Chris teaches our boys only hip hop classes on a Friday night.
natalie
Natalie began dancing at the age of 10. Since then, training in all types of dance, acting and voice, she graduated from Spectrum Performing Arts school which lead to working professionally for numerous corporate and commercial events, featuring in The Footy Show, music video clips for Justice Crew, Australian television commercials and playing extra roles in Neighbours and Underbelly. She made her musical theatre debut in 2010 in the Australian Tour of West Side Story playing on stage swing and covering Rosalia. She has just recently returned from travelling abroad as singer/dancer on luxury cruise line, Crystal Cruises. She is thrilled to be back home to continue performing and teaching on her home turf. Natalie teaches our Grades 5-7 students on a Monday and Tuesday for Jazz/Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical and Ballet.
elise
Elise recently returned to Melbourne for a dance contract with Opera Australia which she completed before Christmas. She has over 10 years dance teaching experience in Ballet (predominately RAD), contemporary, jazz, tiny tots, improvisation as well as choreography for concert and competition routines. Elise is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and the University Melbourne with a Bachelor of Dance. Elise is teaching our Prep-Grade 3 ballet students on a Wednesday, and our senior students on a Thursday.
jarrod
Jarrod is the Brain Train coach at Citrus. Over the last 5 years he has had extensive experience in running body and mind exercises within training programs at varying sporting clubs. Specifically, through his role as team captain or coach in sports including hockey, AFL, indoor soccer and more recently Quidditch. He is a strong advocate for holistic health and believes that the way we treat our body is an integral part of how we think.
robynne
Robynne has had years of experience teaching young children singing, dancing, and music. She runs a play group program and has also managed several school holiday programs over the last twenty years. Robynne also has experience working as a kinder assistant and is passionate about early years development and education. Robynne teaches our Toddler Music and Movement classes on a Friday and Saturday morning.
brooke
Brooke has recently joined the Citrus team as a receptionist. She works on a Friday and Saturday. Brooke danced when she was younger and has recently taken some time away from the workforce as she raised her two young children Lilly and Tyler. Brooke is excited to be working again and looks forward to meeting everyone at Citrus.
mel
Mel has recently joined the Citrus team as a receptionist. She works on a Tuesday and Wednesday night. Mel has worked as a personal assistant for executive companies and we are thrilled to have her expertise at Citrus. Mel has two young children and is looking forward to being involved with Citrus Dance.