Meet Our Team

Melanie Petridis – Principal and Head of Junior Development.

Melanie started ballet at the age of five at the National Theatre Ballet School in St Kilda, learning the RAD Syllabus. Melanie was lucky enough to have the who’s who of ballet teachers, including Kathleen Gorham, Gailene Stock, Eileen Tasker and even our very own Miss Leonie (aka Melanie’s Mum).

With her mum teaching ballet many days a week, The National Theatre became a second home for Melanie, and started what has become a lifelong love of ballet and the arts. During this time Melanie performed in many stage productions. Her favourite memory from this time was appearing in various productions of The Nutcracker in the beautiful National Theatre.

Melanie studied Early Childhood Development at Melbourne University - drawing on her experience in early childhood development to now head up Junior Development for George's Academy of Dance. Melanie has also gained a Certificate IV in Business Administration. In recent years Melanie has taken time away from the workforce to raise her two daughters, whom also share a love of dance!

Leonie Best RAD RTS – Director of Classical Coaching

Leonie commenced dancing at the age of 5, learning ballet (Cecchetti Syllabus) and tap with Faye Johnson. During this time she also commenced her television career – joining Channel 7 at the age of 8, as a dancer on the television show The Young 7, before joining the Junior Nines Ballet on Channel 9 (lead by Valmai Ennor). The Junior Nines would make regular appearances on The Tarax Show and IMT (In Melbourne Tonight) with Graham Kennedy and Bert Newton. Leonie’s association with Channel 9 would last for many years and became a family affair, as her mother Nancy worked in and became the head of the Channel 9 Wardrobe for over twenty years.

At 13 Leonie transferred ballet schools and commenced her training at the Borovansky Ballet Academy, learning the RAD Syllabus, under Martin Rubenstein, Madame Borovansky and Madame Cuinovas. At the age of 17, Leonie commenced at the Kathleen Gorham Academy, first as a student, before commencing her teaching career just a few months later, along side fellow teachers Kathleen Gorham, Martin Rubenstein and Eileen Tasker. Throughout this time Leonie would also make regular television appearances on IMT and was also involved in other big productions – dancing in The Waltzes of Vienna at the Palais Theatre and also Channel 2’s television production of Die Fledermaus.

After taking a short break to start a family, Leonie recommenced her teaching career – again with Kathleen Gorham, at the National Theatre Ballet School in St Kilda. Leonie has also taught at various other ballet schools including the Victorian College of the Arts.

Margaret Cass - Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet and Musical Theatre

My name is Miss Margi. It is my pleasure to have the opportunity to teach Jazz and Musical Theatre

at George’s Academy of Dance in 2024. I have a vast history and great love of dance dating back to

my own childhood. As a child I was involved in gymnastics, calisthenics, jazz and classical ballet. The

love of this artform progressed throughout my teenaged years and early twenties.

I studied a variety of dance forms at both The National Theatre Ballet School and the Victorian College of the Artsincluding classical ballet, contemporary ballet, Spanish dancing, tap and jazz along with singing and drama. I have since diligently practiced adult ballet classes, yoga and pilates.

I also have a Masters in Teaching and have incorporated fun dance activities in Primary School classrooms. Although strict on Technique, my classes are full of fun and laughter. It is my passion to inspire and impart knowledge to those who are keen to learn. I’d love to see you in my classes where we can grow and share

wonderful experiences together.