Our Tutors
Greer Robertson | Director/Tutor
A.R.A.D. Solo Seal
Graduate NZSD
Former Dancer Royal NZ Ballet
Current Director/Tutor Greer Robertson formalised RAISE in 2012 attracting local, national and visiting international dancers.
Born in Dunedin, Greer graduated both as a dancer and teacher from the now NZ School of Dance, before dancing with the now Royal NZ Ballet. Then as Senior School Tutor and Ballet Mistress to the fulltime company at “Southern Ballet and Dance Theatre” Christchurch where Greer produced many nationally and internationally acclaimed dancers before founding her own studios DanceWorld.
Choreographing over a dozen operas for Canterbury Opera, as well as multiple television series, devising a dance module for N.A.S.D.A, Greer also became highly recognised in the sport arena creating Body Mechanics, a specialised strength and flexibility training programme for elite athletes. Years followed teaching at the High Performance Sports NZ, Lincoln University.
Within her events organisation, Greer choreographed and directed an enormous variety of styles of works including the Netball World Cup Opening and Closing ceremonies and Youth Variety Concert for HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Extensive global travel in the cruise industry, followed magazine feature writing, years as The Press reviewer and recently in Wellington, Theatreview.
Loughlan Prior | Guest Tutor
Described by Dance Aotearoa New Zealand as ‘a creative tour de force’, Loughlan is an award winning choreographer and film-maker. A distinguished graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance and a former soloist with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Loughlan is a Choreographer in Residence at the Royal New Zealand Ballet and the Creative Director of Prior Visual, a project based film collective. Loughlan directs Lo|Co Arts with composer Claire Cowan, a performance ensemble devoted to the seamless melding of choreographic and compositional practice and enjoys teaching, coaching and sharing his passion for dance with the community.
Shaun James Kelly | Guest Tutor
Shaun James Kelly is a Soloist and Choreographer in Residence with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. During his seven years in Aotearoa, Kelly has danced a wide range of classical and contemporary works including William Forsythe's 'In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated', Frederi in Roland Petit's 'L'Arlesienne' and Puck in 'A Midsummers Night Dream'. Kelly considers it a privilege to have danced works by George Balanchine, Alexander Ekman, Jiri Kylian, Ethan Stiefel and Johan Kobborg.
“Coming from Scotland and training at English National Ballet School, I had amazing opportunities performing and touring with English National Ballet in 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Swan Lake'. After graduating, I joined Tivoli Ballet Theatre in Copenhagen where I was immersed in the fantastic Bournonville repertoire, performing soloist roles in 'Napoli', 'Flower Festival at Genzano' and 'Le Conservatoire'. “
As the recipient of the 'Harry Haythorne Choreographic Award' 2016, this lead on to an appointment as Choreographer in Residence with the RNZB 2018. Many opportunities followed as he created works for the RNZB's main stage and regional tours with the most recent work titled 'The Ground Beneath Our Feet' for the RNZB's 'Choreographic Series' in 2019.
“Whether as a dancer in the space, or at the front of the room as a teacher or choreographer, I love sharing my passion for this art-form. I'm excited to share it with Raise.”