Deborah Preece-Brocksom
CO-DIRECTOR
ARAD, ex-ballet company director, choreographer, first soloist
BA (Hons) First Class Degree in Dance, Durham University
Trained at Bush-Davies Vocational Ballet School and with Royal Ballet teachers, has a First Class Honours degree in Dance and is a registered RAD teacher with an ARAD. Deborah enjoyed a 20 year career as a professional ballet dancer rising swiftly to first soloist, dancing in more than 10 ballet companies in European State Theatres. Danced all the major classical ballet roles, many contemporary works as well as musicals and operetta. Employed as ballet company director to the State Theatre Ballet in Coburg Germany and The State Theatre Halberstadt and was choreographer and company trainer in ballet companies all over Europe.
Choreographed more than 50 full-length ballets, one acts and triple bills as well as contemporary works, musicals and opera work all regularly performed in state theatres. Retired from professional theatre and opened a Ballet Academy and Performing Arts Centre, became Head of Dance for the State Music and Dance Schools of Austria.
Directed the Junior Associate project ‘Dance and Young Dancers’ for the Austrian government and Vienna State Opera Ballet School and was classical ballet professor in the Anton Bruckner Dance University in Linz. Worked as senior ballet and dance teacher for a large vocational & recreational ballet school in Canberra and coached successful Australian Ballet School & New Zealand Ballet School entrants, English National Ballet & Vienna State Ballet School entrants, RAD Bursary finalists, McDonald’s and SODA winners and finalists. Deborah and Richard opened The Dance Centre Pty Ltd in June 2009.
Richard Leader
CO-DIRECTOR
Ex-professional soloist, choreographer, ballet company director, trainer & assistant
Trained at the prestigious Royal Ballet School and finished his final years at the contemporary college of dance, Rambert.
A classical ballet soloist and contemporary dancer engaged in European dance companies over a successful 15 year career in dance. After his career as a classical ballet dancer he became an internationally known company trainer, choreographer and assistant ballet company director. Worked in Broadway musical productions in the USA, and in the West End Berlin, as well as working in TV and film productions. Richard has a wide range of professional choreographies to his name and worked as a contemporary dancer for the renowned Jochen Ulrich.
When Richard retired from professional theatre he became a dance professor for various Dance Universities and schools including the State Music & Dance Schools of Austria and became senior teacher for the ‘Dance and Young Dancers Project’ for the Austrian government & Vienna State Opera Ballet school. Since emigrating to Australia in 2006 Richard has worked for many large dance schools in the ACT & NSW and is co-director of The Dance Centre Pty Ltd.
