MEET OUR TEAM!
Lara Kinnear
Owner | Modern | Contemp
Lara Kinnear, originally from Pretoria, has had a passion for the performing arts since a young age. She matriculates at Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria with Dance Studies, Music and Drama as major subjects.
She has been dancing her entire life in the styles of Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Modern Dance (in which she has completed her teaching diploma in 2008, becoming an accredited S.A.B.O.D dance teacher). At the age of 15, she is chosen as part of the South African team to represent South Africa at the World Dance Championships in Los Angeles.
She is a singer, trained in the styles of Classical, Musical Theatre and Rock, and has completed courses at Unisa, as well as Trinity College of London Rock School.
Drama always remains a priority. Plays and musicals in her repertoire include Cinderella, Charlie Brown, Fusions, Broadway Numbers, Die Perfekte Wêreld, Dracula, Eve-o-lution, Grease and Peter Pan.
In 2011 she graduates at the University of Stellenbosch and receives a B.Drama degree, specialising in Cabaret.
She completes her Post Graduate Diploma in Education via Unisa.
Whilst coaching dance at her own dance academy called Five Six Seven Eight, she unwaveringly pursues her singing and acting career. In November 2014, she signs with an agency in Johannesburg and moves back to Pretoria after six years in the Western Cape.
She re-establishes her dance academy in Pretoria and open its doors in February 2015.
During 2015 she joins the very popular Barnyard Theatre company and performs as lead vocalist in a production called Bonfire Hearts.
In 2016 she lands her first film role as "Marieda" in an Afrikaans movie called "Vir die Voëls" released in November 2016. Ever since, she has been seen in numerous ads of the popular Buffelsfontein brand and many others, as well as a couple of short cameos as a Doctor Volkwyn in the popular Diepe Waters soap on Kyk-Net.
She is a passionate, driven and super creative person who loves to be inspired and strives to inspire others. When she is not singing, dancing, acting or teaching, she spends her free time with her husband, Franco, her three children, Bonnie, Heide and Albert-James, and two rescued furchildren called Rango and Arnold.
Claudia Botes
Ballet
Claudia’s love for dance began at the age of three, and it has remained a constant passion throughout her life. She trained at Waterkloof Dance Academy under the guidance of Michelle Naudé, where she completed her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Advanced 1 Ballet examination with Merit before graduating from school in 2017.
Although ballet has always been her greatest passion, Claudia has also trained in contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop, giving her a well-rounded appreciation for movement and performance.
Claudia began her teaching journey in 2023 and quickly discovered a love for inspiring young dancers. She especially enjoys teaching children aged 3–6, where she focuses on creating a nurturing environment that encourages confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for dance. She has also taught primary school-aged students and believes that every child deserves to feel supported, challenged, and celebrated as they grow.
Alongside teaching, Claudia is a qualified sports therapist with an international qualification and has helped many dancers better understand and recover from dance-related injuries. She is also a dance photographer, allowing her to combine her love for ballet with her passion for capturing the beauty, artistry, and emotion of movement.
When she’s not in the studio, Claudia enjoys spending time with her one dog and one cat. A devoted animal lover, she jokes that she’d happily fill her home with many more in the future! She loves expressing her creativity through journaling, drawing, and colouring, and rarely says no to a good cup of coffee. Friends and family know there’s almost always a coffee in her hand! These simple joys inspire the warmth, creativity, and positivity she brings into every dance class.
Claudia is delighted to be part of the studio family and looks forward to sharing her passion for dance while helping every student grow in confidence, develop strong technique, and discover the joy of movement.
Jenna-Ann Cameron
Acrobatics
Jenna-Ann has dedicated her life to the performing arts, excelling in Rhythmic Gymnastics, Tumbling, Acrobatic Sport, and both Acrobatic and Contemporary Dance.
Beginning her competitive journey at the age of five, Jenna-Ann has achieved remarkable milestones throughout her career. Locally, she has competed across South Africa, earning podium placements in group dances, trios, solos, and duets. Notably, she secured 1st place for four consecutive years in Acrobatic Sport at the national level, ultimately retiring as a senior Elite Advanced acrobat in 2021.
On the international stage, Jenna-Ann competed in the finals of the prestigious American Dance Awards in New York in 2016. She further showcased her talent in Germany and Austria in 2019 at the World Gymnaestrada and Gymnastica competitions, where she placed an impressive 2nd overall.
Beyond her accomplishments as a performer, Jenna-Ann has transitioned into roles of mentorship and leadership. She earned her SAGF adjudication certification, becoming a respected judge, and completed her Acrobatic Arts teaching certificate in 2020.
Jenna-Ann is also academically driven. She is a Psychology and Education graduate at the University of Pretoria and currently pursuing advanced studies with the goal of earning a both a Master's in Neuropsychology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business.
Passionate about sharing her love for dance, Jenna-Ann fosters an energetic and structured environment in her classes. Her primary objective is to help each dancer achieve their personal best while cultivating a lifelong appreciation for the art.
Karli Bruwer
Hip Hop
Karli started dancing at the age of four and is a qualified SABOD Hip Hop associate teacher who has been training dancers of all ages for the past 6 years.
Whilst teaching she kept active in the competitive world of dance, the most recent being the World Dance Masters in Croatia this 2024!
She has an Honours degree in Human Genetics, Physiology and Psychology and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Psychology.
She absolutely adores dance and hopes to instill her passion and craft in others and to help dancers see what they are capable of!