Elly-Ann Pritchard (Head Judge)
Elly-Ann has been learning, teaching and performing in all styles of dance for her whole life and has a passion for seeing dancers at all levels achieve their best. Currently she teaches Ceroc, Ballroom, New Vogue, Latin American and Classical Sequence in group classes and does private coaching and workshops. She will be looking for timing, togetherness and fun and wants to see couples dancing together – not doing moves while holding hands. She is also very particular about the clean execution of aerials, wanting them to be unreadable and elegant both in lift and dismount. Elly’s other dancing passion is making beautiful costumes for men and women that enhances their dancing and masks any potential body faults.
Adam Nathanson
Adam is one of Ceroc’s most experienced coaches and teachers, having taught for over 20 years in both the UK (the home of Ceroc as we know it) and now in Wellington. Adam looks for musicality and connection between lead and follow. He will mark down choreography in freestyle events in favour of true musicality. His style has been hugely influenced by the crowded London dance floors where there is no room for big moves and musicality becomes everything.
Alanagh Stone
Alanagh began Ceroc over 5 years ago and was instantly addicted, going to as many classes as possible. Her dancing is influenced by Salsa, Bachata, Argentine Tango and ballroom styles. Alanagh is looking for a sense of fun and enjoyment with timing and connection. She believes a sense of humor and creativity in costume and moves helps dancers stand out.
Angela Gainsford
Angela is the Principal Director at North Shore Dance Centre, Auckland. She started dancing at a young age and has studied ballet, jazz and Dancesport. With her husband Kingsley, she has represented NZ internationally throughout Australia, Europe and North America. She is looking for timing, technique, artistic interpretation and competitive performance.
Brian Jones
Brian is based in Auckland teaching Ballroom & Latin, both International and American Style and Jazz Dance. He also worked on all 5 series of “Dancing With the Stars” from partnering Beatrice Faumuina to Assistant Dance Adviser and has taught in the Dance degree at The University of Auckland, AUT and drama courses at UNITEC. Brian is looking for good technique, strong, clean style and on floor personality. For Brian, couples need a good connection both for lead and follow as well as performance. He wants teams to demonstrate a good use of floor space with interesting formations and dynamics.
Catherine Wilson
Catherine teaches Ceroc classes, private lessons and workshops at Kapi-Hutt and all over New Zealand. She is clear that timing comes first and expects you to feel the music, use it, enjoy it, connect with your partner and smile. She knows you are nervous but wants to be convinced that you are having a good time out there!
Claire Andrews
Claire teaches Ceroc in Rotorua and Whakatane while also running a successful dance shoe business. Ceroc found her 14 years ago and she hasn’t looked back. She is looking for connection between the dancers and the music. She likes to see the story danced not just dancing a series of moves and is looking forward to an amazing high level of competition.
Christine Berridge
Christine teaches Ceroc in New Plymouth. She is looking for the natural ‘togetherness’ of the couple, good timing, and a nice flow of moves danced well, showing a shared understanding of what’s happening within the music. She wants to see both partners connecting and enjoying themselves. Christine also appreciates the effort that goes into good costumes. She is looking forward to seeing what the competitors are bringing to the dance floor this year and wishes all of you every success at these NZ Champs.
Colin Flood
Colin teaches both for his own branch in Whangarei and freelances all over Auckland. Colin is looking for couples dancing together and not as individuals. He also believes in competitors following the competition criteria as set out. Colin loves bringing the fun that is Ceroc to people particularly those who have never seen it or danced it before.
Iosefa Enari
Sefa is the Director for Pacific Dance NZ. PDNZ is a developmental service that delivers artist in residence projects, choreographic labs, professional productions, dance workshops and symposiums. These projects range from Pacific heritage dance to street dance and everything in between including contemporary dance. His dance career started over twenty five years ago. He was originally trained as a contemporary dancer at UNITEC then completed a master’s degree in Dance Studies at University of Auckland. He has choreographed works for TV and stage and is still heavily involved in dance in his role as a director of the Pacific Dance NZ. As a producer and director, Sefa is looking for talent that is exciting, engaging, and unique that has that important X factor. He wants to see musicality, flow of movements and performance.
John Flower
John teaches Salsa & Argentine Tango at the Auckland University and at his home studio in Onehunga. He has over 35 years of dance experience that began with ice-skating where he was a Gold Level Ice Dance Champion. He went on to specialise in South American dance, winning national titles, teaching and performing in the styles of Lambada, Salsa and Argentine Tango. Along with his wife Felicity they hold the title of New Zealand Stage Tango Champions (after winning the national competition for the last 3 consecutive years it has run). This has given them the privilege of representing New Zealand 3 times in the Semi Finals of the prestigious World Stage Tango Championships held annually in Buenos Aires, Argentina. John is looking for couples to keep it real i.e. not “Posey” and expects partner connections which includes aspects of leading/following, interaction between each other and musical interpretation.
Kingsley Gainsford
Kingsley is Principal Director at North Shore Dance Centre, Auckland and an examiner for the Society of Australasian Teachers of Dancing. He started dancing at a young age and, with his wife Angela, has represented NZ internationally throughout Australia, Europe and North America. Kingsley is looking for timing, technique, artistic interpretation and competitive performance.
Liesa Orr
Liesa was introduced to Ceroc at a work function – being spun, lead and twirled around the dance floor by a work colleague. Her first ever class was in 1998 and not too long after she was given the opportunity to assist and then teach. When judging, whether it be couples, teams or individuals there are elements she is looking for: timing, good lead and/or follow, correct technique and execution of moves for the level of dance; musical interpretation and expression, partner connection, energy and the “X” or “fun” factor! Bringing all those elements together… and there is the whole package.
Lisa Dorreen
Lisa started dance at a young age, training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap & Lyrical Dance. She did her first Ceroc class in 1997 and started teaching in 2001. Lisa and her husband Anton set up Ceroc Kohi -(Cityside Dance Studio) however they have moved on to being parents of Jemma. When judging the most important things to Lisa are musical interpretation, timing and that competitors look like they are loving every second of their dancing.
Marcus Wong
Marcus got into Ceroc just before he finished University. Latin American and Ballroom had a great influence on his dancing when he started and still does. Marcus is looking for cleanliness throughout the moves, decisive interpretation and a feel for the music. He is still looking for that friend he can dance and compete with.
Matt Tatton-Brown
Matt is a teacher at Limelight Dance Studios, teaching Ballroom, Latin American, New Vogue & American Smooth Dancing. He has been dancing for 16 years and been a professional and teaching for 4. He toured the U.S and U.K for a year as part of a ballroom dancing stageshow and taught in England and California before coming back to New Zealand. He has won many amateur national titles in Ballroom, Latin and New Vogue and is the current Closed NZ Professional New Vogue Champion along with his partner Rebecca Nicholson. Matt is looking for fluidity of movement, performance and connection.
Michael Nicolas
Dancing has been Michael’s passion for most of his life, having spent many years in the competitive arena and now as a professional teacher and examiner. He has won a number of national amateur and professional titles and represented New Zealand at international events including the World Championships. Michael and his dance partner Sonia own and run the successful Stepz Dance Studio in Auckland established in 1987, where they specialise in Latin American and Modern Ballroom Dancing for social and competitive couples of all ages. Their couples have also achieved NZ and International titles.
Miriam Hutchings
Miriam came to Ceroc because, like a lot of us, a friend said she would enjoy it. It coordinated her two left feet and introduced her to her now life partner. Her approach to judging is to look for an overall consistent delivery of a great performance. She wants to see contact maintained between the partners that compels the audience to share the dance with conviction. She says “Dance for me is not a destination – it is a journey in which we constantly have the opportunity to improve and develop ourselves.”
Naomi Hall
Naomi started with Ballet and Modern Dance, then Rock’n'roll, now Ceroc and the odd bit of Salsa. She believes in the passion that is dancing, not just the technical body movements. For Naomi, dancing must always come from the heart. She will be looking for couples and individuals having fun, showing off polished moves and fabulous costumes.
Nikita Grindle
Nikita started Ceroc 5 and a half years ago, “.. because I had seen how much fun my brother was having at Ceroc evenings and haven’t looked back since”. Nikita is looking for the 3 t’s: TIMING – the relationship the dancer is having with the music – are they in time and using the music to their advantage. TECHNIQUE – The level of difficulty the move might be and how well its executed. Whether its a beginners move done with style or an advanced move that she cant take her eyes off. TEAMWORK – dancing DWAS or as a couple, she looks at how the dancers are working with each other to compliment and get the most from their dance together.
Paulina Tarry
Paulina started at a young age with classical ballet, cabaret tap dancing, and operatic society shows until early adulthood. Dancing has been a huge part of her life and she now teaches Ceroc in Tauranga. At the higher levels she is looking for couple synchronisation and musicality as much as technique. Adaptability of moves to the music, finish, polish and individual flair. Timing is very important. With our newer Ceroc dancers, she wants to see a couple dancing in time, looking relaxed and having fun. Paulina loves sharing her passion for dance with newcomers and love helping people get started on their dance journey. Ceroc dance has given Paulina a freedom in dance like nothing else. It is extremely social, and can dramatically changes many people’s lives for the better.
Peter Jacobsen
Peter enjoys teaching Ceroc as much as dancing and gets great satisfaction from seeing his students do well. He started in 2002 reluctantly but soon discovered how much he enjoyed Ceroc. He teaches at Lorne street regularly on Mondays and fills in for other beginner and intermediate classes as required. Peter will be looking for timing, connection with your partner and musicality as dance is a visual representation of what we hear and feel.
Rebecca Lausberg
Rebecca brings to her Ceroc teaching 10 years competitive ballroom experience and currently teaches in Tauranga. Her Ceroc career highlights are winning Advanced A at the East and South Champs three times in 2006, 2009 and 2010. When judging couples, teams or individuals Rebecca is looking for consistent timing and musicality. For her it is more about how you dance the move i.e with style, technique and musicality, rather than what the move actually is. Simple moves are sometimes the best! Also a sense of enjoyment, energy and connection between the dancers is important.
Rob Pearce
Rob is a highly experienced competitor and Ceroc teacher PLUS the organiser for the East and South Competition which had its 10th anniversary this year. This experience has given him a great insight in to competitions, competing and judging. When judging he is looking for couples who stick to the competition criteria and give him no opportunity to disqualify them.
Ross Craigie
Ross has been dancing for approximately 4 and half years, and in that time has competed and placed at many regional competitions which has fuelled his desire to teach and pass on “the passion of dance” to others. The criteria he uses for judging involves timing of the move to music, the technique of the move, partner connection/interaction, musicality and fun factor. With Beginner Couples he is looking for how much fun they are having when dancing followed by timing, technique and connection. Intermediate is the same but with emphasis on timing, technique and connection. Advanced Couples need all these elements plus musicality. For judging individuals Ross looks for how well the man leads the move, and how well a woman follows these moves. Styling and individuality within the move is also looked out for when strangers dance together for the first time. Catching the attention of a judge and making them smile is not a bad thing.
Royce Lovelock
Royce teaches Ceroc classes, private lessons and workshops in Kapi-Hutt and all over New Zealand. He (with Catherine Wilson) is well acknowledged as one of New Zealand best coaches in the art and science of aerials. For Royce, dancing in its simplest form is moving to music, therefore timing is key and he expects movements to match the style of music played. He has been dancing since he was 10 and started with Rock’n'roll, did far too much white boy two step and is now hooked on Ceroc and its flexibility. His cheeseiest dance moment was learning the Baby Lift off Dirty Dancing, in a lake at an American summer camp just like the movie.
Saione Greer
Saione teaches all of the Latin Dance Styles in particular Salsa and Zouk. Saione is the Director of Viva Latino and his own dance career started with Ceroc and then he moved to Salsa. He has been trained by some of the best Salsa dancers and instructors in the world and has taught hundreds of people with no dance experience how to step on to the dance floor with confidence. When judging he will be looking for musicality and the couple telling a story together.
Suzi Wallis
Suzi has been dancing Ceroc for over 10 years after starting dance as a child. What she loves about Ceroc is its versatility. She is looking for connection, timing and fun – if the competitors aren’t enjoying themselves, it’s not fun to watch either. With teams and showcases, she enjoys watching a story, rather than just a series of moves.
Tina Heynen
Tina teaches West Coast Swing in Auckland. She started dancing in her teens with ballroom dancing which was great for learning technique, then when living in London, she discovered Ceroc & really enjoyed the fun social atmosphere. After that she explored a number of different dance styles before discovering West Coast Swing which has the technique that she really enjoyed in the ballroom dancing & the fun, social aspects she enjoyed in Ceroc. Tina is looking for Timing, Technique & Team work. If you are a beginner she also wants to see you having fun & enjoying yourself.
Tony Hutchings
Tony was drawn into the world of dance by the beat of Rock “n” Roll and Jive and won a couple of small dance competitions, but it wasn’t until his 30’s that he joined a dance school to learn Modern and Tap Dancing and successfully passed some British Theatre Dance Association exams. After emigrating to New Zealand in 2004, he discovered Ceroc and from the opening night for Ceroc Tauranga in 2005, has never looked back. Ceroc offers him the freedom and style of dance to interpret and express himself in the rhythm and beat of so many different music styles. When judging he is looking for “The Spark”, which is where the connection and synchronicity between the dancers and the music ignites the dance floor and sets them apart from their peers, whether individuals, couples or teams.
Vanroe Stone
Vanroe got into Ceroc through his mother who danced. He has been dancing Ceroc for 17 years and teaching Ceroc for 10 years. He is big on musicality and interpretation of the song as well as showing and projecting that X-factor on the competition dance floor. In judging individuals, Vanroe is looking for a person’s ability to adopt to their dance partner and being able to make them feel at ease and having fun. For couples, a solid connection in all aspects of their dancing, including musical interpretation, conveying a strong presence on the floor and being able to get the crowd going with their personality catches Vanroes eye. In teams he looks for fun, timing, working the floor and making sure that a good number of the team get their moment to shine in the choreography.
Wayne Griffiths
Wayne came to dance and Ceroc via a professional competitive sport background. He is always looking for something different to inspire his students. Wayne wants to see clean execution of moves, with men ensuring that their partners are balanced before moving onto another move while maintaining musicality and timing.
William Karl
William is the organiser of this years inaugural Waikato Champs held in Te Awamutu. He teaches both Ceroc and West Coast Swing in the Waikato. William will be looking for freestyle events to be truly freestyled.