Jennifer Cumming
has studied various dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop. She holds a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management, Cert IV in Business (Management) and is an affiliate member of the Australian Teachers of Dancing. Jennifer has taught dance for over eighteen years, including two years working full-time as a dance teacher in a busy Melbourne studio, as well as in primary and secondary schools, before becoming the owner/principal of Leaps and Bounds. She is also trained in the Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) program. Jennifer has adjudicated school dance festivals and choreographed for local musicals and school productions. She is the owner and co-Principal of Leaps and Bounds and also owns Yoga Space Gippsland.
Holly Djanogly
holds a Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management and completed two years of full-time dance training at Spectrum Dance in Melbourne. She has also taken two 6-month trips to New York City where she danced at Broadway Dance Center under the International Visa Program. Holly was a choreographer for the New York dance parade in 2015, representing Broadway Dance Center. While living in New York, Holly also danced at Bagatelle restaurant and in Times Square. She has extensive teaching experience to a variety of age groups in the styles of ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop. Holly has taught classes both at Leaps and Bounds and at various Melbourne dance schools and is also Module One certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts. Holly has recently started adjudicating dance eisteddfods and competitions in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Holly is co-Principal of Leaps and Bounds.
Christine Davidson
commenced her dance training at the age of 10 at Leaps and Bounds Dance School. She went on to complete Professional Development in Performing Arts Course full time at the acclaimed Patrick Studios Australia. Since graduating in 2015, she has been working with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, travelling throughout North America, the Caribbean and Asia as a performer, aboard the Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas. Her other professional dance credits include Toyota, Cancer Council, Crown Casino, Victoria Training Awards, Jessica Mauboy, Dubai Parks & Resorts, Telstra, SpecSavers, The Body Shop, Hallmark Movies and Netflix. Christine is a Module One certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts and holds her Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management.
Jaz Flowers
graduated from the University of Ballarat Musical Theatre course in 2008 and has consistently garnered roles in several productions to critical acclaim. Most notably, Jaz won the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the multi award-winning production of Dainty Entertainment’s Hairspray, for which she won a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical and received a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Female Actor in a Musical. Jaz’s theatre credits also include the female lead role of April, originally portrayed by Rhonda Burchmore, in David Atkins’ Hot Shoe Shuffle, Frauline Schneider in Terence O’Connell’s Cabaret, alongside Eddie Perfect in the Neil Armfield-directed Shane Warne the Musical, and Gordon Frost’s Fame The Musical, for which she received a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Supporting Female Actor for her performance as Mabel. Jaz was lucky enough to be chosen to sing the National Anthem at the 2011 State of Origin third game decider at Suncorp Stadium, as well as the Australian Open grand final at Rod Laver Arena. Owner of a powerful voice, Jaz has appeared as a contestant in the hit television show The Voice, in which she won a spot on Grammy Award-winning Keith Urban’s vocal team. Jaz moved to London in 2014 and sang with Broadway’s contemporary musical theatre writer Scott Alan on London’s West End. Later that year, Jaz went on to score herself a role in the BBC Proms production of Kiss Me Kate, with the John Wilson Orchestra, directed by Shaun Kerrison and conducted by John Wilson in The Royal Albert Hall, which was televised on Christmas Day 2014. Jaz performed to sold-out audiences as Veronica Sawyer in the Australian premiere of Heathers The Musical and scored another Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for the role. Most recently Jaz starred as Oz in Ben Elton’s We Will Rock You. In 2017 Jaz took over her mum’s dance school of 47 years “Vicki’s Dancing Academy” and revamped it into “Jaz Flowers Performing Arts”, where she achieved great success over 6 years. Jaz has since closed JFPA to be a full time mum, but can’t wait to start a new journey with Leaps and Bounds!
Grace Gellie
trained at Leaps and Bounds for 15 years before moving onto University, now studying physiotherapy. Grace has years of experience in many styles such as ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, AcroDance and also gymnastics. She danced competitively for many years, danced with Transit Origins Youth Company and also worked as an assistant teacher at Leaps and Bounds, particularly with the AcroDance classes. Grace is keen to pass on her knowledge to the Leaps and Bounds students!
Cobie Kinnish
grew up in rural Victoria studying under Jenny Cumming for her formative dance training at Leaps and Bounds. Her tertiary training took place at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) - University of Melbourne where she received a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Dance) in 2019. During her time at the VCA she worked with Prue Lang, leading to multiple secondments (2018) and the opportunity to perform in Lang’s work MEETING A-DROYX (2019). She has also seconded with Sydney Dance Company (2019). Through VCA, she has received both the AG McMillen Arts Trust in Dance (2017) and Norma De Gruchy ‘Most Talented in Classical Ballet’ Scholarship (2018). She was a member with SCIMM Dance Company Professional and also choreographed for their youth company, Platforms. She hopes to continue developing her practice and help the next generation of dancers find their own.
Grace MacLachlan
studied at Leaps and Bounds for 15 years in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary and hip hop, completing classical exams and eisteddfods for many years. She was also an invaluable part of the team as an assistant teacher for several years before moving onto University after school. Grace is currently studying her Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management alongside her business degree, and she is also a Module One certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts. Grace is excited to return to Leaps and Bounds in a teaching role!
Keeva Svikart
grew up in Sale and commenced dancing at a young age, training and competing in many genres including ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary and national with Leaps and Bounds. She then went on to be a part of the first intake at Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance completing her Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management. Keeva has performed with Bellydance Evolution “Fantasm”, Masters of Choreography “The Ringmaster” and ICC Cricket World Cup Opening Ceremony. She has choreographed for KAIA, Aphir and Rush Ent. Group. Keeva is currently touring Australia with Bass Fam Creative’s production of “Oracle - The Myth”. She holds certificates in YogaFun, Salimpour School, Datura, TAE and her 200 hour teacher training for yoga. Keeva is also a Module One certified teacher with Acrobatic Arts.
Tori Green
can be found in the Leaps and Bounds office for all your dancewear needs. If you need anything, drop in and see Tori on Thursdays during term time between the hours of 4.00-5.30pm!