Avie Cleaver-Wilkinson, Principal of Swan River Ballet – Event, Competition & Exam Co-ordinator.
Avie began dancing at Estelle’s Dance & Performance Academy in Karratha at the age of two. Being taught RAD Ballet, CSTD Tap and Jazz Avie found a love of performing, examinations and choreography at a very young age.
Moving to Perth (Boorloo) in 2010, Avie soon began training at Silhouette Dance studio participating in many classes including Ballet, Contemporary, Singing, HipHop, Lyrical, Tap and Jazz. During this time they also began their teaching journey and also found a love of acting and musical theatre.
Their passion for dance led them into accepting a place at Transit Dance in the contemporary pre-professional course in 2017. During this year Avie performed in six dance productions including; Falling in Reverse by Jayden Hicks, Dada by Paul Malek and Lachlan Hall, Follow by Nic Eva and Charlie Pratt-White (as part of Melbourne Fringe festival), Young choreographed for UNDRGRND, People Rant choreographed by Adam Wheeler and Aeon by Dominique Cowden (a finalist in Dance Architect) as well as completing her Certificate IV in Contemporary Dance.
Since moving back to Perth in 2018, Avie has had many opportunities in dance, Musical Theatre, Screen and Stage Acting and circus. Some of their credits include musicals such as We Will Rock You, Jesus Christ Superstar and having a Principal role “Victoria” in CATS the musical in 2019. Since 2020, Avie has also found a love of circus and aerials joining the Kinetica Circus Senior Performance Group in 2022. They can be found in some of the Kinetica shows and gigs including recently performing at Perth Fringe 2024 in Hall of Fame & 2 Outrageous. Through all their incredible experiences, Avie loves to share their passion of performing and all they learn in their opportunities to all the students and in 2026 has been newly appointed Principal of Swan River Ballet.
Michele Cleaver-Wilkinson, RAD Ballet Teacher & Financial Director
Michele commenced dancing at the age of 5 with Audrey Nicholls & Eve King School of Ballet in Melbourne. She completed her RAD graded exams with Honours, then studied Russian ballet in England for 3 years. Upon returning to Melbourne she continued with RAD Vocational studies.
In Karratha she founded Estelle’s Dance & Performance Academy with her daughter, Estelle, in response to the community desire for a RAD ballet school. The school operated from 2000–2009 and trained students in Ballet, Character, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Contemporary. Yearly exam sessions in RAD and CSTD syllabi and the substantial end of year production at the Walkington Theatre were the school’s main focus.
As a registered RAD teacher, Michele enter students for the first RAD exam sessions in the Pilbara. Over 1,000 students in the Pilbara have successfully participated in ballet exams and she believes success in the exams enhances student’s confidence.
While Michele was the Principal of Estelle’s Dance & Performance Academy in Karratha, she attended numerous RAD courses and seminars with her students such as the annual Autumn Vocational Program, the Spring Grades Course and Summer School at WAAPA. It is her belief that students in Karratha should receive the best possible training in ballet and that distance should not be detrimental to the dancer.
Since 2010 Michele has taught in a number of ballet schools in Perth including Graduate College of Dance, Silhouette Dance School, Dynamic Performing Arts and Diana Waldron Ballet School and Academie Etoiles.
In 2012 she was nominated and accepted as a member of the WA Royal Academy of Dance Panel. As a Panel member Michele has been involved in the RAD Festivals, the Summer Dance Program at WAAPA, the Solo Seal Presentations and many other RAD courses for students and teachers.
In 2014 Michele performed with her child, Charle, in Perth City Ballet’s production of ‘Giselle’ showing that performing is fun at any age. In 2015 she was able to be on stage with two of her children Avie and Charle in Perth City Ballet’s production of “Swan Lake”.
Michele continues to mentor teachers & students to cultivate many opportunities for those who love Ballet.
Emily Pittendreigh, Acro & Contemporary Dance Teacher
Emily started Classical Ballet at the age of 3, quickly developing a love for dance and deciding to pursue it as a career. Emily trained with The Studio of Classical and Contemporary Dance under the direction of Melissa White before Amy Barningham later took over the studio. As well as classical, Emily has trained in Contemporary since the age of 11, along with dabbling with Jazz and Tap in her younger years.
Having the opportunity to share the stage with Principals from the Western Australian Ballet Company, and the Dresden Semperoper Ballet Company have been amongst her Career highlights. On completion of her schooling years Emily moved to Fremantle to do full time Ballet and Contemporary Studies. In 2017 she moved to NSW to train full time and gain more diversity. She now has experience in a wide range of styles including Jazz, Musical theatre, Heels, Commercial, Hip hop, Tap, Acro, as well as maintaining her Ballet and Contemporary skills.
During her time in NSW, Emily has gained her Advanced Diploma in Dance along with Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management. As part of completing her studies at Lee Academy, Emily taught all dance styles there as well, and this has fostered a true love of Dance teaching and she is excited to work with, and share the love of dance with younger generations.
Jeremy Gates, Senior School Ballet teacher
Jeremy graduated from the Tanya Pearson Academy as a teen and embarked on a European audition tour which led to offers and scholarships to some of the best pre-professional ballet schools in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium,Switzerland and Hungary. At the end of the tour he was accepted the offer at the selective Mannheim Academy of Dance in Germany and moved there to begin immediately. He was trained in the Russian (Vaganova) technique under the direction of Stuttgart Ballets’ former, world-renowned principal dancers, Prof. Birgit Keil and Vladimir Klos training in ballet, pas de deux, repertoire, character, contemporary, dance history, Vaganova pedagogy, stagecraft and the German language. We toured the country dancing classical ballets and contemporary works from choreographers the world over.
At the age of 21, He began a soloist contract with the Thuringian State Ballet in Germany under the direction of Silvana Schroder and went on to dance principal roles from classical ballets and contemporary works in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Waiting room, Keimzeit, Der Joker, 27, Piaf La Vie en Rose and more. He also danced in musicals and operas such as Fiddler on the Roof, The Merry Widow, Chess, Jekyll and Hyde, to name a few. During his time in Germany he flew back multiple times to Australia and guested with the Sydney City Youth Ballet, Central Dance.
Five years later, He had a career-ending back injury and after months of rehabilitation, moved home to Australia to teach ballet most notably at Tanya Pearson Academy when it was under the direction of Lucinda Dunn OAM and Marie Walton-Mahon OAM (2016 to 2022). Many of my students won national and international competitions, and are now in some of the most reputable ballet schools and professional ballet and contemporary companies in Europe, North America and Australia. Jeremy has adjudicated ballet sections at eisteddfods and for 3 years was a resident columnist for Dancetrain Magazine, writing 14 articles and has taught many workshops, a favourite being Adam Bull (Australian Ballet) at the Boy’s Summer School, encouraging the next generation of male dancers.
As a teacher, Jeremy strives to inspire, motivate and educate his students. His classes are an active learning environment in which his students feel excited, challenged and supported and is very passionate about sharing more about ballet than the steps, teaching students about the history, culture, music and the beautiful ballet stories.
Isabel Wartmann, Middle & Senior School Ballet teacher
Olivia Heyworth, Adults Ballet teacher
Olivia Heyworth is a ballet educator with over ten years of full-time teaching experience, known for her focus on strong foundational technique, her ability to breakdown complex concepts in her lessons, and the way she brings depth and artistry out of every dancer she works with. This year, she joins Swan River Ballet School to teach Adult Ballet – a space she’s genuinely passionate about.
Across her career, Olivia has taught dancers of all ages and levels, from complete beginners to those training in full-time programs, which has given her a deep understanding of how different bodies and backgrounds meet the discipline of ballet. Adult dancers hold a special place in her work: people returning after years away, starting for the first time, or seeking a practice that feels grounding, expressive, and physically intelligent.
She has extensive experience staging classical repertoire and creating original choreography, including solos and group works. Her current creative focus is developing pieces specifically for adult dancers, built around musicality, technical clarity, and the freedom to explore personal expression.
Olivia’s classes are steady, structured, and encouraging. She teaches with precision and respect — offering guidance that strengthens technique while also nurturing confidence and enjoyment. Her approach is built on the belief that artistry isn’t reserved for the young or the elite; it’s something every dancer can access, at any stage of life.
She is excited to welcome adult students into a practice that supports progress, curiosity, and the simple joy of moving well.