Marina Bull
I came to Peta when I was 4 years old and the studio was still at Rohini St in Turramurra. I was never pressured to do exams but was always encouraged. Ballet became something that each year I committed a bit more of my time to doing. Peta inspired my love of ballet.
When I was about 16 I realised that maybe I wanted to make the leap from 'hobby' dancer to a professional, despite not having had so many of the natural physical attributes other than a really strong mind, determination and absolute passion for ballet.
From here I left Abbotsleigh and went to Tanya Pearson's Classical Coaching Academy as a full-time student while completing my academic education via Sydney Distance Education high School.
I auditioned overseas for vocational finishing schools and completed my training at Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, UK.
During my time at Elmhurst I learnt from so many reputable teachers in a seriously professional environment, under the direction of Desmond Kelly (Margot Fonteyn's last dance partner). I finished my HSC by correspondence, and had the opportunity to dance in Romeo and Juliet with Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The next step involved a lot of international travel for many company auditions. I then danced in the corps de ballet with the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in performances of Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Coppelia na Montmartre.
I spent six months in Berlin in 2012 performing in some independent projects and teaching ballet, while attending classes with amazing teachers.
Ballet has taken me to so many countries and given me so many unbelievable experiences. I'm currently doing more auditions and waiting on responses from companies overseas about future job offers.
It's all very stressful but extraordinary. Northern Ballet Studios was evidently where I developed a love for of what has grown to become my life endeavour and the reason I get out of bed every day.
…………………………….
Pearlie Fung
I started ballet with Northern Ballet Studios at the age of 3 and immediately fell in love with it, completing all my ADAP classical assessments in 2007. Being a shy child at that time, ballet has helped me grow into the person I am today. Commencing eisteddfods (solo and group) at the age of 8, my confidence improved and my love for dance developed further, being able to express feelings through movement and also to dance and perform from deep within my heart. The reason I continued eisteddfods was not about winning a place, but instead, to enjoy performing, persevering and striving for improvement in all dance steps (which also gave me the attitude I have towards life nowadays). I thank all my teachers at NBS throughout these 20 years, and especially Peta for shaping me into who I am today.
Being a teacher at NBS since 2009, my greatest reward has been to see students improve and grow a love for dance. Peta has been a great inspiration to me and I hope I can continue to pass the knowledge she passed onto me, down to my students so they can also develop a love for dance from deep within the heart.
I came to Peta when I was 4 years old and the studio was still at Rohini St in Turramurra. I was never pressured to do exams but was always encouraged. Ballet became something that each year I committed a bit more of my time to doing. Peta inspired my love of ballet.
When I was about 16 I realised that maybe I wanted to make the leap from 'hobby' dancer to a professional, despite not having had so many of the natural physical attributes other than a really strong mind, determination and absolute passion for ballet.
From here I left Abbotsleigh and went to Tanya Pearson's Classical Coaching Academy as a full-time student while completing my academic education via Sydney Distance Education high School.
I auditioned overseas for vocational finishing schools and completed my training at Elmhurst School for Dance in Birmingham, UK.
During my time at Elmhurst I learnt from so many reputable teachers in a seriously professional environment, under the direction of Desmond Kelly (Margot Fonteyn's last dance partner). I finished my HSC by correspondence, and had the opportunity to dance in Romeo and Juliet with Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The next step involved a lot of international travel for many company auditions. I then danced in the corps de ballet with the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb in performances of Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Coppelia na Montmartre.
I spent six months in Berlin in 2012 performing in some independent projects and teaching ballet, while attending classes with amazing teachers.
Ballet has taken me to so many countries and given me so many unbelievable experiences. I'm currently doing more auditions and waiting on responses from companies overseas about future job offers.
It's all very stressful but extraordinary. Northern Ballet Studios was evidently where I developed a love for of what has grown to become my life endeavour and the reason I get out of bed every day.
…………………………….
Pearlie Fung
I started ballet with Northern Ballet Studios at the age of 3 and immediately fell in love with it, completing all my ADAP classical assessments in 2007. Being a shy child at that time, ballet has helped me grow into the person I am today. Commencing eisteddfods (solo and group) at the age of 8, my confidence improved and my love for dance developed further, being able to express feelings through movement and also to dance and perform from deep within my heart. The reason I continued eisteddfods was not about winning a place, but instead, to enjoy performing, persevering and striving for improvement in all dance steps (which also gave me the attitude I have towards life nowadays). I thank all my teachers at NBS throughout these 20 years, and especially Peta for shaping me into who I am today.
Being a teacher at NBS since 2009, my greatest reward has been to see students improve and grow a love for dance. Peta has been a great inspiration to me and I hope I can continue to pass the knowledge she passed onto me, down to my students so they can also develop a love for dance from deep within the heart.