Our Teachers

Mary Bernadette

As a young girl I desperately wanted to dance but my family life didn’t allow it, so when my daughter was six years old, I put her into ballet class and asked the teacher if it was too late for me, to which the teacher replied “never too late to dance”, so at age 30 I started my dance career. I have gone on to do many dance genres which include ballet, cabaret, contemporary, flamenco, tap and creative and I’m currently teaching a women’s cabaret/creative class in Bellingen. I love to dance so when I was invited to voluntarily teach a community member to perform for the upcoming fund raiser Gala night, my head immediately went into choosing a piece of music and then putting chorography to it and after speaking with Brittany and being assured that most of the money raised would go towards helping Bellingen families that were in desperate need of financial help and support during a very difficult time, I knew wanted to be involved.

Michele Warman

Michele grew up dancing on the Coffs Coast and then moved to the Gold Coast where she was an entertainer at movie world, before starting her own successful dance school in the Gold Coast hinterland. Michele moved home 3 years ago to be closer to family and continuing to teach dance in Bellingen and Coffs Harbour. Michele now also teaches dance to adults with disabilities and has furthered her career and is now a Disability support worker. Michele is incredibly excited to be involved with the first Stars of Bellingen Shire Dance for Cancer and to be able to give back to her local community.

Celeste Abell

I have trained and taught for over 25 years in contemporary, flamenco, ballet, improvisation and hip hop. I originally trained at Bellingen Rivers Ballet Studio with the founder, Antonia Erskine, and at Stamping Ground Dance Festival with Peter Stock. Then I completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts - Dance, at Deakin University Melbourne. While studying and since then I have collaborated on a number of works performing in Melbourne, Christchurch, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Bellingen. The Cancer Council is a longstanding, reputable organisation that does wonderful work for the individuals in our communities. It was clear that I would love to be involved in this wonderful event because it supports the Cancer Council plus it creates an opportunity for members of the Shire to dance, who may not otherwise. It will be a festive way of bringing people together around a worthy cause.

Debbie Sense

Debbie grew up in Gippsland east of Melbourne with her family who all played musical instruments. Debbie’s love of ballroom started when she was 17 years old and has now been teaching Ballroom, Old Time and New Vogue dances for 25 years this year. Debbie’s Social Dancer’s and Friends is your opportunity to learn to dance, meet new friends and have fun learning a variety of dance styles. Dancing at any level improves your health, enhances your social skills and is fun! I am a big fan of Dancing with the Stars and to do something I love as participation to help support cancer is a good deed. Some of my family have passed away with cancer and friends have cancer too. It is a disease I wish they would find an answer to.

Alinta Woulfe

I have been doing pole for 2.5 years and teaching for 1 year. I started doing pole for fitness and quickly fell in love with it. I have trained with numerous international instructors and have learnt the elegant dance side of pole along with other styles.

I love seeing my students grow and achieve things they never thought would be possible. The sense of accomplishment and reward that comes with seeing my students reach their goals and progress is why I am so passionate about what I do.

Wolfire Pole brings a fun and unique form of exercise and movement in a safe and supportive environment. We build people up and help them unlock their own abilities of strength and resilience, while encouraging them with confidence and perseverance. Our passion for Pole Dance Fitness ignites inspiration.

Cancer has had a huge impact on my life after I lost my father to Multiple Myeloma almost 4 years ago. I also have a good friend who is currently battling cancer. Helping raise funds for research is something that is very important to me.

Tehani Vicario

Tehani Carmen Vicario or “T” has lived her life submerged in dance & creativity. She has been teaching Urban & Contemporary dance for 16 years. Through this artform T has found a true purpose, passion & consistent inspiration from the evolving nature of this sport. She loves sharing this passion with her students.

Tehani especially loves the freedom dance allows her to tell stories through unique movement and creative pathways. River Dance Centre 86 has been offering the Bellinger Community the opportunity to dance since 1986! We offer recreational classes in Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet & Urban Dance. Come in and check out our studio right in the heart of Bellingen.

Tehani Carmen Vicario or “T” is excited to share her passion with another Bellingen community member in a shared journey through dance to bring joy, creativity and entertainment to Cancer Councils event. .

Our Top Stars

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