Central School of Dance​

Karen Barker was born in Kurri Kurri in the Hunter Valley. Karen at 4years of age commenced ballet training at Toronto with Beverley Hepburn. The following four years, Karen trained in Cootamundra with Molly Windred before returning to Newcastle to continue her training for the next five years with Tessa Maunder. At 15years of age Karen was accepted into the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne, graduating at 17years of age and receiving her Diploma.

After several months with the Australian Ballet Company, Karen joined the Kolobok Dance Company, under the artistic direction of Madame Berezowsky, to tour extensively throughout Australia for 4 years as principal dancer. In 1978 Karen accepted an invitation as Principal Dancer with the London based Dance Company, Kasatka Cossacks. During her four years with the company they toured Canada, South East Asia, Europe, United Kingdom, and South Africa, also performing several Royal Gala Performances and performances on BBC Television.

During her world tours Karen was fortunate to study dance in Moscow and Leningrad and also to attend Master Classes in Canada, Europe and London with the opportunity to visit local ballet schools to study their teaching methods. In between tours Karen completed and obtained her Solo Seal at the London Royal 
Academy of Dance and later she was invited to conduct Solo Seal 
classes whilst touring in South East Asia.

In 1982 Miss Karen returned to Australia to dance with the Sydney City Ballet Company under the direction of Marilyn Jones.

In 1983, at 26 yrs of age Miss Karen returned to Newcastle and was the principal of the Newcastle Dance Centre for 5 years. During this period she was unable, due to teaching responsibilities, to accept an invitation to rejoin the Kasatka Cossacks on a tour of the U.S. however later rejoined the Company as guest artist to tour Ireland with her earlier Artistic Director, Madame Berezowsky as guest choreographer.

The next decade saw Miss Karen begin her own family and become a guest teacher and adjudicator throughout Australia. Miss Karen was also a principal teacher and examiner for the Character based syllabus "Khorobushka" and a regular guest teacher at the annual Peggy Sager Summer School in Queensland. After her parents retired, Karen owned and operated The Dancewear Centre in Central Newcastle for 6 years before opening schools in the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle suburbs for pre school children with her own unique programme to introduce children to classical ballet training. This programme now accommodates over 300 students.

Principal. Dip Aus Ballet. Dip Dance Teaching and Dance Management ATOD, ARAD

Katrina commenced dancing at the age of 3, beginning with RAD ballet, and then later Jazz and Contemporary. Her passion for dance was nurtured by Marie Walton-Mahon and Debbie Ellis (SYTYCD)

She has participated in a number of eisteddfods, Star Struck, School Spectacular, Australian Dance Awards, and had all dances for her HSC nominated for call back, performing in the Call Back Showcase in Sydney. 

Katrina completed her ballet studies to Advanced II, and is an ARAD member. She performed as a dancer in the ABC series "I Rock" in 2009. Miss Katrina then completed her Bachelor of Dance at VCA Melbourne University in 2012, which focused on Classical and Contemporary Dance, Choreography, and Dance Teaching. 

In 2011 she was the recipient of the Norma De Gruchy Scholarship for Classical Dance.

She has been fortunate enough to work with well known Choreographers such as Rebecca Hilton, Fiona Cameron, Ben Hancock and Prue lang, between 2011-2013

Miss Katrina is a well-respected and valued member of Staff at CSoD and has consistently choreographed successful dances for our students.

Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Conditioning, Jazz

Baby Ballet, Jazz & Tap

Miss Carly has been dancing ever since she could walk. 

For the past 16 years she has trained in all styles, including jazz, hip-hop, tap, ballet, cabaret, and Bollywood.

With a strong jazz focus, she has performed locally through the years at every opportunity she could grab. 

More recently she has performed internationally, touring the USA and Hawaii. She has also been featured in Bollywood Music Videos produced by International Producer Vikrant Rishore, film clips for comedian Anthony Lee, and been a regular performer and assistant alongside Super Hubert. Miss Carly has also been involved in creating workshops and flash mobs for local primary and high schools. 

Miss Carly has been teaching and sharing her love of dance for over 7 year. She believed that "with age comes wisdom" because she feels she has learnt a lot over the years, and her patience, and ability to adapt have improved greatly. 

She has always strived to be a role model for children of all ages, as she strongly believes it is important to always have someone to look up to, and she does her best to live up to her own expectations. 

Miss Carly looks forward to continuing to teach her students at CSoD. 

Jazz