Our Teachers

The Ashfield Ballet School prides itself on employing teachers who have been trained at nationally recognised institutions and have current and up to date knowledge of the dance industry. We also are proud to employ former students who have completed full time or tertiary studies and have been trained by our ballet school to ensure the quality of dance tuition provided is consistent and of the highest calibre. The teachers at Ashfield Ballet School have also been awarded numerous teaching awards for dance teaching excellence.

‘Our dance teachers pass on something very special; it’s a passion that dances from one soul to the next. And once it’s there, it’s there for life.’

Principal & Artistic Director - Hayley Ashfield-Predl 
B.A.Dance, Licentiate & Examiner A.T.O.D.

• Bachelor of Arts (Dance), QUT
• Examiner and Licentiate, Australian Teachers of Dancing Ltd
• Senior First Aid Certificate
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
• Certification in Progressing Ballet Technique

Hayley Ashfield-Predl was originally trained by her mother, Nicole Ashfield. She successfully auditioned for the Bachelor of Arts (Dance) degree at the Queensland University of Technology in 1990 and graduated in 1993. At university, Hayley trained under Susan Caufield-Le Clerq, Janet Donald, Graeme Collins, Shaaron Boughen and Jean Tally. She majored in Choreographic Studies and Dance Analysis and as a freelance choreographer she went to high schools, private colleges and dance studios facilitating workshops and choreographing routines for various projects. Her dance career has included working in the commercial dance industry performing at Jupiters Casino and other corporate events, performing with Bellder Ballet Theatre and as an extra with The Australian Ballet.

Hayley commenced teaching full time at the Ashfield Ballet School in 1995 and has been a committed and dedicated teacher at the school ever since. In 1996, Hayley was also invited as a guest teacher at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence and in the same year she was awarded a teachers scholarship by the Australian Institute of Classical Dance, directed by Marilyn Jones O.B.E. to study ballet teaching at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. In 2004, Hayley was appointed as an examiner for the Australian Teachers of Dancing. She was also a member of the ATOD Classical Ballet Syllabus Committee revising the new classical ballet syllabus.  Hayley is a third generation dance teacher and is passionate about inspiring students to always dance to the very best of their ability.

Founding Principal & Teacher - Nicole Ashfield 
Dip ABS, RAD, Licentiate A.T.O.D.

• Graduate Diploma, The Australian Ballet School 1969
• Life Member & Licentiate, Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD)
• Life Member and Registered Teacher, Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
• Examiner, Australian Teachers of Dancing (ATOD) - retired

Nicole Ashfield was originally trained by her mother, Avril Binzer, and then later with Paul Hammond in Melbourne. She successfully auditioned for the Australian Ballet School in 1967 and graduated in 1969. At the ballet school, she trained under such luminaries as Dame Margaret Scott, Dame Peggy Van Praagh and Sir Leon Kellaway to name a few. Her dance career has been diverse including dancing in musicals/operas, winning the World Amateur Latin American championship in 1967 and being involved in the production of Nureyev's version of 'Don Quixote' in 1970. She then began teaching in partnership with her mother at the Binzer Schools of Ballet and Modern Dance in Glen Waverley, Melbourne until moving to Queensland with her family in 1977. 

In 1979 she opened her own school, Ashfield Ballet School, in Cleveland which very quickly grew into one of the largest and most successful ballet schools in the Redlands area of Brisbane. Nicole has been an examiner for the Australian Teachers of Dancing since its inception in 1991 and was also made a life member in 2006. Nicole was also invited to be a life member of the Royal Academy of Dance in 2007. In 2006, she was awarded the Avril Binzer Memorial Award for her service and dedication to the A.T.O.D. Ltd. She has also been an integral member of the core committee for the new A.T.O.D. Classical Ballet Syllabus as well as the National Character Syllabus. As founder and artistic director of the school and as a kind and dedicated teacher her students continue to grow and flourish.

Senior Teacher - Anastasia Vogelsang

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance Performance) - QUT
• Advanced Ballet A.T.O.D; Advanced Jazz A.T.O.D.
• R.A.D. Intermediate Ballet - Distinction
• Australasian Senior Tap Champion 2018
• Independent artist
• Dancer, Wind of Wall Street - Anywhere Festival 2022; IndepenDance 2022, 2023

Teacher - Katie Plakas

• Advanced Ballet A.T.O.D.; Advanced Jazz A.T.O.D.
• R.A.D. Advanced 1
• Studied fulltime at Ransleys, Gold Coast and ADPI
• Professional dancer - 4 international contracts, Tokyo Disney
• Australia's Got Talent with Michael Boyd
• Star Casino - 'Bon Voyage'
• Aerialist & Aerial Instructor/Specialist

Teacher - Lisa Verstraten

• Advanced Ballet A.T.O.D.; Advanced Jazz A.T.O.D.
• R.A.D. Intermediate Ballet - Distinction
• Level 8 Contemporary A.T.O.D.
• Successfully auditioned for the inaugural Expressions (ADC) Contemporary Youth Ensemble 2018
• Successfully auditioned Diploma of Dance - Queensland College of Dance (QCD) 2020 - graduated first year 2021
• Graduated 2022 - Queensland College of Dance (QCD)

Acrobatics Coach - Kianna Dunn

• currently studying 2nd year Bachelor of Physiotherapy
• Gymnastics Qld Beginner Gymnastic Coaching Accreditation
• Gymnastics Qld Beginner & Intermediate Acrobatics Coaching Accreditation
• Gymnastics Qld Beginner & Intermediate Judging Accreditation
• 2019 National Gymnast of the Year Award
• Qld Representative at Nationals - 2018, 2019
• Senior First Aid Certificate

Guest Teachers

Guest Teachers are regularly invited to teach at the school to enrich our students' dance experience and training.
The following industry professionals, teachers and guest artists have been invited to teach classes at Ashfield Ballet School:

• Maryanne Nucifora
• Greta Gilby
• Rachel Dowse
• Katherine Jarowicki
• Taylah Brady
• Joshua Horner                     
• Kate Ripley Joubert
• Gina-Marie Leathem
• Justine Summers
• Lucy Chambers
• Kiana Gallop-Angeles
• Tracey Carrodus
• Taneikah Wescombe aka 'T'
• Shaheem Kabamba
• Samuel O'Brien
• Josef Brown
• Alyssa Morgan
• Jane McPhie
• Hillary Stowers
• Jason Weiland
• Leo Woodfield
• Glen Reyes
• Matt Browning
• Perri Aherns
• Danika Sayce
• Adam Robins
• Azaria Nuttall
• Zac Brazenas