Dance Venture
Teaching Staff
Administration
Renate Cumalkovs Judy Baumann Kerry Wheadon Hannah Leader
Teaching Staff
Renate Cumalkovs A.R.A.D - Principal
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After pursuing a professional dancing career in the eastern states, Renate returned to Perth and founded Dance Venture in 1980. Starting with only six students, the school has developed and grown over the past 21 years to become what it is today. Renate has assisted many young people in their endeavours and former students are working in choreographic, teaching and dancing careers throughout Australia and overseas. Renate has been employed for over 10 years at John Curtin College of Performing Arts as a specialist ballet teacher and choreographer. She is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance, contributing to R.A.D productions and adjudicating at ballet competitions. She has worked as ballet mistress for Perth City Ballet and choreographed for musical comedy and drama.
Kerry Wheadon - Classical Ballet teacher
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Kerry has taught ballet periodically for over 30 years, 15 of those years spent with Dance Venture. She is an experienced and proficient Royal Academy of Dance teacher holding the R.A.D. Advanced and Solo Seal Certificates. Kerry danced professionally for over 10 years, performing with Perth City Ballet and the West Australian Ballet Company and had the opportunity to work with, and learn from many internationally renowned dancers, choreographers and teachers. She performed extensively throughout Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory and Singapore and gained the rank of Principal dancer, giving her experience in a variety of roles and dance styles. Kerry also holds a Residential Child Care Certificate and a Certificate II Children's Services and has worked with children with special needs. 
Hannah Leeder - Jazz and Tap teacher
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Hannah has attended numerous dancing schools in the Perth metro area since the age of three and has completed both C.S.T.D. and R.A.D. dancing examinations. She graduated from John Curtin Senior High School in 1997 from the scholarship dance programme. In 1998 Hannah moved to Melbourne to attend Dance Factory's full time Certificate in Dance course, and the following year she was awarded a scholarship to continue at Dance Factory. Whilst in Melbourne Hannah worked as a professional dancer, with credits including the Channel Nine Logie Awards, Warner Brothers Pantomimes, Foxtel Promotions, 'Bachelor Girl' music videos and the 1999 Toyota awards night. Hannah has also worked overseas in Japan on a six-month contract with Dance Encore Productions. Upon returning to Perth Hannah turned her attention to the field of teaching and is currently completing her Teachers' Diploma with Dance Masters International.
Administration
Judy Baumann - Administrator
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A qualified librarian with over 25 years experience, Judy has worked in public, academic and special libraries and as a consultant librarian for the private health sector. She is now working for the State Government in the related field of records and information management. In her spare time she manages the ballet school, dealing with non teaching aspects of the business. She is the staff representative on the Friends of Dance Venture committee acting as a liaison between teaching staff and parents. 