Meet Our Team
Karen Johnston – Principal
Karen trained at the London College of Dance in England for 3 years where she gained her ISTD Teachers diploma. She then furthered her training in England and gained her Associate Diploma in modern jazz and her RAD Ballet Teachers certificate. Since moving to Australia Karen has achieved her Licenciate Diploma in the Cecchetti method of Ballet and her CSTD Teachers Certificate. Karen is delighted to be able to pass on her knowledge and love of dance to all her dancers and strives to ensure the studio has a friendly and encouraging atmosphere.
Summer Clark– Teacher
Summer has been a dancer at the Jay school of dance for 10 years and has been teaching Jazz, Tap, Hip hop and Contemporary for 4 years. Throughout her dancing career Summer has gained her major exam levels in Cecchetti ballet, CSTD Jazz and CSTD tap, performed in the Hairspray arena spectacular Hairspray and has worked as a model parading Tutus. By the end of this year Summer is hoping to gain her CSTD Jazz teachers certificate and after this achievement work for her CSTD Tap teachers certificate. Summer enjoys watching her students grow and develop into dancers by sharing her knowledge. She aims for her students to grow in confidence and achieve new goals and skills throughout the year.
Leo Ashenden – Contemporary teacher
Leo is currently in his 3rd year at Flinders University, Adelaide College of the Arts studying to gain his Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance and his Certificate IV and advanced diploma in dance.
Clare Crittenden – Assistant Teacher
Clare started dancing when she was little at a studio in Willunga, before moving to The Jay School of Dance in 2016. She greatly enjoys taking classes in Hip hop, Contemporary and Jazz, and joining in on CanDance fun. Since coming to the Jay School, she believes that she has become a much better dancer and gained more confidence in her performances. Clare’s favourite part of teaching is seeing young dancers improve throughout the year and having fun while doing so.