Our passion is dance

CM dance teachers are a wonderful group of passionate people who have danced most of their lives and share a common love for dance and teaching children. We are proud to have attracted some of Brisbane’s brightest and talented dance teaching professionals, who bring their shared experience of dance training, performance, and teaching to instil in every student a love of dance and a desire to express creatively through movement and music.

 

Our teaching team must meet our standards for dance and teaching qualifications, safety awareness, and care, and by providing a rewarding environment in which to work, we are able to keep teacher changes to a minimum, ensuring your child enjoys the stability and consistency needed to grow and develop. Teachers at CM Dance are also acutely aware of the need to encourage and support younger students who may experience anxiety, and will work with you to develop your child’s confidence in this regard.

 

At the heart of what we do is a conscious intention to nurture and develop talent, while also inspiring a love and appreciation of many dance styles. Recognising every child is different, we celebrate achievements at every level, from Little Dancers to our Irish dancers competing on the world stage. At CM Dance you will find a commitment to providing a safe and positive environment where all students can feel empowered, comfortable and free to express themselves.

All CM Dance teachers are:

Professionally qualified

Our teachers are professionally trained dancers and have teaching  experience qualifications. CM Dance Director, Clare Michelsen, carefully screens all teachers for their suitability, skills, and alignment with CM Dance teaching philosophy and values.

Child safety aware

All of our teachers and staff members have undergone official checks allowing them to work with children. They are also made aware of any child custody arrangements and maintain strict confidentiality in the interests of each child’s wellbeing.

Trained in first aid

Our staff members are trained in first aid. Additionally, we enforce a nut-free policy at the studio to ensure the safety of any students or parents with allergies to nuts or nut products. Gluten, dairy, and nut free foods are encouraged when involved in fundraisers or studio events.

Respectful and dedicated

CM Dance teachers are inspired to provide the very best environment for development of your child, taking a respectful and dedicated approach to classes. Feedback is welcomed, either directly to your child’s class teacher, or to Clare Michelsen, CM Dance director.

Meet the CM Dance Teachers

Our teachers are approachable, friendly, warm, and encouraging. If you are new to our school and would like to meet the teachers at CM Dance, take a few minutes to read their stories here. And if your child is interested in a career as a professional dancer or dance teacher, we encourage you to get in touch to learn more.

 

At the heart of what we do is a conscious intention to nurture and develop talent, while also inspiring a love and appreciation of many dance styles. Recognising every child is different, we celebrate achievements at every level, from Little Dancers to our Irish dancers competing on the world stage. At CM Dance you will find a commitment to providing a safe and positive environment where all students can feel empowered, comfortable and free to express themselves.

Clare Michelsen

Qualifications: Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Teaching | T.C.R.G. (Certified Irish dance teacher affiliated with An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, Ireland) | FBEAQ (Fellow Business Educators Association Qld)
Dance specialty: Irish Dancing
Clare brings a wealth of experience to Irish dance, with a distinguished career spanning over 30 years as a secondary school teacher, performing arts producer, director, and choreographer, as well as a year-level and subject coordinator. Under her expert tuition, Clare has guided young dancers to:

  • Win State Championships in both solo and team events.
  • Achieve top-five placements at national competitions.
  • Qualify for and secure medals at the World Championships.
  • Pursue professional dance careers, performing and traveling internationally.

Clare’s passion and dedication continues to inspire dancers to reach their full potential on and off the stage.

Scotty Cosslett

Dance specialty: Jazz & Contemporary Dance
Experience: Classical Ballet, Classic Jazz, Commercial Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Broadway, Acrobatic dance
Scotty is a highly experienced teacher, choreographer, and performer with over 15 years of industry expertise. Known for his bright personality and creative flair, he loves instructing and engaging with dancers of all ages and skill levels. Scotty specializes in a wide range of dance styles, including classical ballet, classic jazz, commercial jazz, hip hop, strut/heels, contemporary, lyrical, Broadway, acrobatic dance. He has taught at many of Australia’s top and most highly regarded dance schools. Scotty continuously seeks out cutting-edge choreography and techniques from the global dance scene, incorporating the latest trends into his routines in Australia.

Madison Wieland

Qualifications: Advanced Diploma in Classical and Contemporary Dance | Gold Star CSTD Tap | A.R.A.D (Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance)
Dance specialty: Ballet
Growing up in a dancing family, Mady’s love for dance has been a lifelong journey. With her mother and sister co-owning a dance school in Gladstone, Mady has been immersed in the world of dance from an early age. Currently, Mady is pursuing a degree in Exercise and Nutrition Science at the University of Queensland. Her academic background complements her passion for dance, as she prioritizes safe dance practices while striving to improve her students’ technique.

Nadia Siddans

Qualifications: Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) | Ready Set Dance Silver Award
Dance specialty: Little Dancers and Acro Dance
Nadia began her dance journey at the age of 4, mastering a variety of styles, including RAD Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, and Lyrical. In 2020, she relocated to Brisbane to follow her Musical Theatre dreams. Since then, Nadia has successfully completed a Diploma of Professional Dance and gained valuable experience working with the Ready Set Dance program for several years. As our Little Dancer expert, we’re thrilled to have her onboard, bringing her extensive knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to inspire and nurture our youngest dancers.

Emma-Kate Roma

Apprentice Teacher - Irish Dancing
Emma began her Irish dancing journey at a young age, excelling in the competitive field and achieving remarkable success at both State and National level. Her dance experience has taken her across Australia, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our studio.Currently, Emma is on an exciting path to becoming a qualified Irish dancing teacher, and we’re thrilled to have her passion and dedication as part of our team.

Nikita Van Heerdan

Apprentice Teacher - Irish Dancing
Starting her dance journey with CM Dance at the young age of 4, we have had the privilege of watching Nikita grow into a talented Irish dancer and an exceptional individual. Her Irish dance journey has brought her recognition on State, National, and even World stages. In 2025, Nikita joins our teaching team as she takes the next step in her journey to becoming a qualified Irish dancing teacher. We are beyond thrilled to have her passion, dedication, and expertise inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Get in touch

Many parents will ask Why should I choose CM Dance? We like to answer that question with total upfront honesty. CM Dance is a dance studio that does things differently, putting the overall development of your child front and centre of the way we teach.

 

Whole dancer focus – Every child is encouraged. Delivering pastoral care by focusing on the individual as a whole, we aim to bring out their best.

Quality of teachers – Our teachers  are dancers at heart,  , both as students and professionals. Together, they share a common passion for dance and teaching children.

Family friendly – Families are the heart of our business and we strive to make all welcome in the CM Dance family.

Affordable tuition – Classes are priced to make dancing affordable for families, including those with more than one child and/or taking multiple classes.

Beginner to professional level – All levels of ability and aspiration are encouraged and supported, including students who wish to pursue dance professionally.