“Don’t just do it, Dance it!
“Hayley Johnson Dance” was set up in 1993, making this my 30th year of operating in Tawa. I spent 3 years dancing professionally in Auckland with the Northern Ballet Company dancing in Giselle & The Nutcracker. My "finishing education" included sitting 26 exams in NZAMD Jazz gaining my Solo Seal, BBO Ballet gaining my Solo Seal, ISTD National becoming an associate, RAD completing my teaching exams with "Distinction" including History & Anatomy papers.
The number of students I/we teach, & dance styles I/we offer, have grown over the years. Also expanding are our exam successes, promotion of students successfully dancing in the big wide world, & recognition at competitions with many success stories. Above all, we are a family & we care. We work very hard & we consistently rise to the top with our efforts.
If you join us you will enjoy your journey. No matter how long you remain with us - it's about fulfilling that dream to dance.
Our History
1993: Hayley Johnson Academy of Dance established in Tawa.
1995-1997: Pupils dancing with the Royal NZ Ballet in productions of ‘La Sylphide’, ‘The Nutcracker’, and ‘Swan Lake’.
1997-2000: Our first pupil trained in contemporary dance at the NZSD; later she danced in Japan for Walt Disney for 3 seasons. In 1996 this same pupil gained her Solo Seal NZAMD Diploma through the school.
1998: The school performed in the Tawa Music Festival dancing at the Michael Fowler Centre.
2000: I receive The Teachers Coreography cup for the most outstanding choreography at a competition.
2000: A student accepted for the Royal NZ Ballet accelerated training programme.
2001: A senior jazz student nominated for the NZAMD National Jazz awards becomes a finalist.
2001: A student competes in the prestigious Alana Haines Australasian Awards.
2002: Two students nominated for the national jazz awards. One placed 5th in New Zealand.
2003: A successful Solo Seal Jazz candidate and a successful National Jazz nominee.
2003: Four successful distinctions in RAD major ballet examinations with a top mark of 85%.
2004: A senior jazz student awarded “The New Zealand Association of Modern Dance Jazz Championship for 2004”.
2004: Highest mark achieved in RAD Grade ballet exam of 98%. This same student achieved 85% in her Major exam.
2005: A former pupil in full time training at prestigious Sydney Arts Centre. Top RAD Ballet mark of 98%.
2005: A former pupil accepted into the Royal NZ Ballet. Another pupil becomes a NZ Jazz finalist.
2005: Foundation pupil successfully completes her Advanced 2 RAD Ballet exam. Top mark achieved of 92%.
2006: A former pupil now dancing professionally in the UK. A former teacher now teaching in Boston, USA.
2007: A foundation pupil gains her Advanced 2 RAD Ballet exam and becomes a National Jazz finalist.
2008: Marks the beginning of Hayley Johnson’s 25th year of teaching.
2010: A student is accepted into the prestigious “Regional Associates” programme with the NZ School of Dance.
2010: A senior jazz student nominated for the NZAMD National Jazz Awards.
2010: Top marks awarded for Contemporary exams with 60% of students gaining distinction in their first exam.
2014: A winner at the Creative Achievement and Innovation Awards in NZ.
2015: A student training full time at The Wellington Performing Arts Centre.
2015: A former pupil dances a named role in the “Born to Dance” Movie screening worldwide.
2015: A student awarded the 2015 Naturally Autistic People “Performing Arts Youth Award”.
2015: A student accepted into the full time Performance and Screen Arts Diploma Course at Auckland University.
2015: Two students accepted into full time training at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy in NSW, Australia.
2015 & 2016: Five students nominated for nationals in contemporary and jazz.
2016: Our Junior Dance Troupe win a nomination to perform at the national PACANZ competition in Palmerston North.
2017: A student accepted into the Melbourne City Ballet Pre-Professional year.
2017: A further student begins at Te Auaha Performing Arts Centre to gain a
National Diploma in Dance
2018: A student dances in Europe with the NZ Dance Company.
2018: We receive a further nomination for the PACANZ National Troupes Competition.
2018: Three students dance with the Royal New Zealand Ballet in the Nutcracker Wellington season.
2018: A scholarship awarded to a student at the “KAIROS” dance convention in Wellington.
2018: 3 students receive their SOLO SEAL JAZZ award with the NZAMD
2016-2018: A student dancing on cruise ships all over the world.
2018: A student accepted into the Melbourne City Ballet, Australia.
2019: 2 Students dance in the prestigious Alaina Haines Australasian Awards in Wellington.
2011: A student gains a perfect 100% in her Grade 6 Ballet exam.
2011: Three students are selected for the National Jazz Awards with one being a finalist.
2012: Seven nominees for Nationals in Hip Hop and Jazz. One finalist places 5th in jazz in New Zealand.
2012: A student is selected to dance in the nationwide NZAMD DVD being produced for the new jazz syllabus work.
2013: A student becomes the National Jazz Champion of the NZAMD and gains 98% in her ballet exam.
2014: Three Foundation pupils receive their Solo Seal Jazz examination with a grade of over 97%.
2014: A student accepted into the NZSD in the contemporary majors programme.
2014: A student gains 2nd place in contemporary for the NZAMD national competition.
2014: A student completes her training with Wellington Performing Arts and heads to Turkey and India for dancing contracts.
2017: A 3rd year student dances in Seattle at a Worldwide Contemporary Conference.
2017: Two dance troupes win nominations to perform at the national PACANZ competition in Palmerston North.
2017: Two students are selected for the National Jazz Awards in Auckland.
2017: One student completes her third year of training with the NZSD in the Contemporary Majors Programme.
1993-2022: Competition students gaining consistent successes at local dancing competitions.
1993-2022: A proven track record of examination results with the RAD & NZAMD
& ISTD.
2002-2017: Our adult tap students have successfully completed levels of ISTD Tap examinations.
2005-2017: Our national students have danced in numerous venues performing folk dances from many countries.
2019: A former pupil travels to NZ with the Melbourne City Ballet & performs in
“Alice in Wonderland”.
2015-2022: I have attended professional development courses held at the Royal NZ
Ballet studios to enhance my teaching knowledge.
2019: 2 former pupils enter the NZSD to attend the full time dancers programme.
2019: We attend a course then commence classes for “SILVER SWANS”. This is a
dance class for any mum or retiree who wishes to dance. It has proved very successful
& empowering for the ladies attending.
2020: Neroli takes over the “Junior school” & we introduce the very popular “SHOOTING
STARS” classes for 3&4 year olds plus “DANCING DIAMONDS” classes for 5&6 year olds.
2020-2022: Our troupes continue to perform at competitions & get PACANZ nominations
& awards throughout the covid pandemic.
2022 : A former pupil is accepted into the Royal NZ Ballet for 2023 on the Friedlander scholarship.
2022: Pupils from our school lead & choreograph dances for the “DANCE NZMADE” schools competitions, performing at National level.
2022: We have 14 adults perform along side the students in our production of “The Nutcracker”. They danced ballet, Tap & Jazz, much to the delight of the audience.
2023: A foundation student becomes a teacher for us, specializing in the junior jazz & contemporary syllabi.
