Staff
Lyn Fitzsimons
Founder and Director of ADC
Lyn has many years of performance and teaching experience under her belt (find out more here). She currently teaches classes in classical ballet, 'ballet a la maison', jazz and tap.
Hannah
ADC Teacher
Hannah began full time dance study in 2011, at Tanya Pearson’s Classical Coaching Academy where she performed in numerous ballet productions with the Sydney City Youth Ballet. It was here Hannah’s commitment to dance and love of performing lead her to move, in 2013, to Scotland, UK to further advance and shape her pre-professional career as a dance artist.
Whilst studying at Ballet West in Scotland, Hannah had the opportunity to participate in the 2014 prestigious Genée International Ballet Competition, performing onstage in the Theatre t’Eilangje in Antwerp, Belgium. A major highlight in Hannah’s dance career followed, graduating from Ballet West in 2016 with a BA (Dance) with First Class Honours.
Hannah’s love of ballet saw her train and sit all her RAD examinations with outstanding results, including the Solo Seal Award where she had the honour of being examined at the headquarters of the Royal Academy of Dance in London, UK. With over 18 years in the dance industry, Hannah continues to share her passion and joy of dance through teaching and, most recently attending intensives and workshops with established companies such as Rambert Dance, Hofesh Shechter and Sydney Dance Company.
Frances
ADC Site Administrator and Blogger
Frances grew up in several different countries, and is lucky enough to include Australia as one of them. She decided to move to the United Kingdom after completing a writing degree in Canberra. "I hadn't seen Europe yet" was the excuse.
Whilst living in a peculiar little town called Larbert in central Scotland, she found the courage to finally try a ballet class. Relatively quickly one class a week was not enough and it was then she discovered Lyn's classes not far up the road. Thanks to Lyn's skill as a teacher, Frances soon found herself performing in the dance school's annual show and, having previously thought it wouldn't be possible at such a late stage, taking the bold step on to pointe.
She still lives in Scotland, feeling particularly attached to the beautiful Highlands, but is so glad to be able to help a favourite and much missed teacher.
Sarah
ADC Bookkeeper
Having grown up as a “Forces Brat” with a father in the Royal Australian Air Force, Sarah was accustomed to the odd plane trip and moving house was not unusual. A childhood that offered the absolute privilege of living in many different places, starting in a beach-side suburb of Adelaide, Canberra at age of seven and three years residing in Malaysia from the age of 10 where Sarah started High School. She finished school in Perth where she remained for 10 years while her parents and three siblings moved on to Melbourne for her father’s final posting.
On leaving school Sarah completed a Diploma of Business Management at TAFE and started her working career with a large waste disposal company for a few years. Seeing an offer to work in a remote mining town as a chance for an adventure Sarah made the 1600km trek north of Perth to Port Hedland.
A decision to be close to family, Sarah packed up once again and made the move to Melbourne. She later completed an apprenticeship in floristry while working at a small shop which she ended up managing for five years. With grand ideas of one day owning her own shop, Sarah soon realised long hours in a cold shop, hard labour and lack financial reward was not part of the dream.
Relying on her broad experience base and that Business Management Diploma, Sarah landed a temporary two week position through a job agency that turned into nearly 10 years with the same rewarding company, Box Corporate.
During her time at Box Corporate Sarah completed a Diploma of Accounting at the TAFE division of Victoria University in Melbourne and she became Accounts Receivable Team Leader of seven members of staff.
After enduring 17 years of cold Melbourne winters Sarah longed for a warm change and made her final move to the gorgeous Sunshine Coast of Queensland. Doing so encourage Sarah to venture out establishing her own bookkeeping business, Sunshine Accounts, to compliment the new lifestyle allowing her the freedom and flexibility to work from a laptop and be anywhere in the world.
Sarah has found a new energy and drive, enabling her to focus on the finer details of working with small business and their needs. Partnering with Adult Dance Circle is a refreshing change after 10 years in the corporate sector. As bookkeeping is integral to the success and growth of a business, her support and know-how enables Lyn to be able to focus her passion and energy on her dancers.