Dianne Leathem

A highly qualified and experienced Dance Adjudicator Dianne has adjudicated numerous eisteddfods in Australia and New Zealand over 30 years. Her versatility covers all genres of dance, solos, groups and scholarships.

Based on the Gold Coast, Dianne is well-known to be very thorough, passionate, encouraging, enthusiastic, efficient, friendly and easy to work with. A mother of three children: Dianne has seen dance from many angles – as a dance student, teacher, adjudicator, professional performer, and as a parent of a professional ballet dancer. This makes her a well-rounded Adjudicator whose “Critiques” are encouraging, honest, kind and helpful for all ages.Dianne is a former professional dancer & performer in ballet, musical theatre, television, commercial dance, cabaret, circus and theatre. She has taken solo and leading roles in all genres.

Dianne directed her own large and very successful dance studio in New Zealand and has won many awards for teaching. In Australia she was honoured to work closely with the former Patron and Founding Member of ATOD: the late Averil Binzer and together they directed Bellder Ballet Theatre where Dianne was also choreographer. Dianne was equally honoured to teach for internationally renowned Master Teacher: the late Prudence Bowen & former HOTA Resident Producer/Choreographer/Off-Broadway producer, the late Robert Young.

She has produced, choreographed, directed and designed many ballets, musicals and dance productions for stage shows, commercial dance and television, as well as choreographing and coaching for International, National and local Competitions.Teaching most genres for over 30 years Dianne’s love of dance has taken her all over the world as she continues to further her knowledge.

She has been a guest of the Vaganova Academy of Classical Ballet, St Petersburg Russia, American Ballet Theatre and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre NYC, The Australian Ballet, and observed in Germany (Dresden Semperoper), Prague, London (Royal Ballet and RAD Genee) Westend Musicals London and numerous shows on Broadway New York.Former students have gone on to careers in Classical Ballet, Musical Theatre, Cabaret, Commercial Dance, Contemporary Dance and dance-related fields. Dianne greatly enjoys witnessing the next generation of talent and continues to value highly the stage experience, encouragement and enjoyment the dance students experience by participating in dance competitions.

A.R.A.D. Associate Member Royal Academy of Dance London

C.I.D. Member International Dance Council

A.D.A. Member Australian Dance Adjudicators Assn

A.T.O.D Affiliate Member Australian Teachers of Dancing