ABOUT US
At Acro with Amy, we pride ourselves on teaching our students technically correct, safe and strong foundational acro skills right through to advanced variations and tumbling. We welcome students from as young as 4 years old and of any ability level - beginner to advanced.
We are a solely acro-dedicated studio, therefore our classes are open to all students who already train at another dance school or gym around Christchurch.
Our acro classes primarily work through the ADTA Pre Junior, Junior, Intermediate and Advanced Syllabi and classes also include skill variations and trending skills. Students learn choreography and combinations to teach them how to effortlessly blend acrobatic skills into dance routines. Skills are taught in a specific method that differs from how many dance studios and gymnastics clubs teach skills such as aerials and walkovers. These step-by-step methods are proven to be hugely successful in creating technically correct and aesthetically pleasing shapes.
Headteacher Amy Potts has completed all levels of the ADTA Certifications and holds a Premiere Master ADTA Qualification. Established in 2017, Amy has taught acro to upwards of 800 dancers throughout New Zealand and the United States over the last 5 years.
We run a highly successful teacher training programme for our senior students and our younger students benefit from having anywhere from 2 to 5 teachers in the studio with them for every class. This teacher-to-student ratio allows for more one on one feedback, more hands-on spotting time and no waiting between skills, unlike many other classes. All training teachers receive in-depth training from Amy using ADTA Associate Teacher Training techniques.
Acro classes are highly beneficial for dancers, cheerleaders and gymnasts and are highly recommended if your child has one particular skill they wish to learn or if they wish to receive general well rounded acro training.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS SAY
"I love my acro lessons with Amy. Ever since I started my lessons with her I have improved a lot. When she is teaching me something new she breaks all the steps down, so it makes it lots easier. When I was learning to do backwards walkovers she told me to trust myself and my hands will catch me and they did! I always look forward to my private lessons, I love Amy, she’s the best acro teacher!"
Isla Wray | Private & Group Lesson Student
TEACHERS
Amy Potts
Owner | Teacher
Amy holds a Premiere Master ADTA Certification and is in her final year of study towards a Bachelor of Performing Arts at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in Otautahi, New Zealand.
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She is an experienced dancer, singer and actor, having performed in 45+ productions since the age of 6. She has trained in RAD Ballet, NZAMD Jazz and Contemporary, Irish, Tap and Musical Theatre.
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She absolutely loves teaching acro and hugely looks forward to working with her students each week.
Molly Brown
Teacher
Molly is very excited to be assisting Amy with her ‘Acro with Amy’ classes. She started Acro at a very young age and is excited to pass her knowledge on to the next generation of dancers.
Highlights in her dance career include:
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Own Tv Segment on What Now ‘Move It With Molly’
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NZ Top Dancer as a Junior and Intermediate
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Runner-up Dancer of the Year Showcase National Championships 2019
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Featured presenter in the ‘NZ Dance Challenge’ programme for New Zealand Schools
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Children’s Ensemble ‘Cinderella’ the pantomime 2020
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New Zealand School of Dance Senior Contemporary Associate 2019-2022
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PACANZ Modern Semi-Finalist 2022
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NZAMD Jazz Finalist 2022
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Overall Highest Solo Score DanceNZMade Nationals 2022
Maia O'Connor
Teacher
Maia has a huge passion for dance and has had many opportunities to compete around New Zealand and Australia both as a soloist. She loves how dance has shaped her into the person she is today and is so thankful to her teachers for instilling this passion in her.
Maia now hopes to pass some of this passion down to the upcoming generations of dancers. She is extremely grateful towards Amy for allowing her the opportunity to do so by assisting her with teaching acro.
ABOUT THE OWNER
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Amy is a singer, dancer and actress, studying towards a Bachelor of Music Theatre at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in Otautahi, New Zealand. She has been involved in 45+ productions over the last 15 years, undertaking a range of roles including performer, choreographer and director. Some performance credits include; June in Chicago (NASDA), Tracey Turnblad in Hairspray (MCC); Peron's Mistress in Evita, Stephanie in Saturday Night Fever, The Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins under the direction of the late Duncan Whiting.
She danced under the tutorage of Jeannie Mark for 10 years in RAD Ballet and trained in NZAMD Jazz and Contemporary, Irish, Tap and Musical Theatre. She trained vocally under Mark Dorrell, Angela Johnson and Con O’Brien predominantly in contemporary musical theatre and classical repertoire.
She has taught extensively for Marlborough Academy of Dance, heading the Jazz and Acro Dance departments and teaching contemporary and private lessons. In Christchurch, she teaches regularly at Rachael Palmer School of Dance working with their Elite Competition Team and Levings School of Dance running their musical theatre program. She runs workshops and covers classes for numerous dance schools around Christchurch.
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An experienced choreographer, some of her recent choreography credits include; Peter Pan Jr, Seussical Jr, High School Musical, Grease, Jack and the Beanstalk and many end-of-year Studio recitals.
Her international performance and teaching credits include Disneyland, Los Angeles and American Summer Camp where she taught acro, dance and singing to American and International campers.