Teaching Staff
Katrina Cichowski RAD, SFD, Director:
Katrina has been Director & founder of Knox Dance since 1992. She completed a Diploma in Dance Instruction and Management for classical dance in 1990 on completion of a 2 year full-time course. She attained the Southern Federation of Dance Teaching Certificate for Jazz, Tap and Ballet in 1993. She attained the Royal Academy of Dance teaching certificate in 2003. Katrina has over 20 years dance teaching experience, including Knox Dance, Tracey Academy of Dance, ABC Dance Studio & Ringwood Ballet Group. She also performed in Young Dancers Theatre for 4 years. She achieved Registered Teaching Status for the Royal Academy of Dance in 2004. Katrina was appointed examiner for the SFD in the Classical and Jazz syllabus in 2016.
Heather Craig ARAD:
Heather completed a Diploma in Performing Arts at Dance World in 2004. She has taught and performed overseas and has passed all of her RAD exams up to Solo Seal giving her the ARAD Qualification. Heather has been teaching at Knox Dance since 2007 and has also been teaching at Careen School of Dance, Dance Struck, Broadbent Dance Academy, Boyd Dance Academy and numerous other schools for many years. Heather became an examiner for the SFD in the classical and Jazz syllabus in 2018 She continues to work in the dance industry performing in numerous shows around the world. Heather was appointed examiner for the SFD in 2018
Natalie Blenheim SFD, ISTD:
Natalie attained her Southern Federation of Dance (SFD) teachers certificate in 1991. She owned her own school for 10 years and has considerable dance teaching experience. Natalie has been an examiner for the SFD for since 2000. In 2004 she achieved the Enrico Checceti Diploma “one of only 32 in Australia”. Natalie was the recipient of the SFD Outstanding Achievement Award for 2010. She recently completed a Bachelor of Education and currently teaches full-time at primary level.
Tatiana Walls SFD:
Tatiana has been a student at Knox Dance for many years. She became an assistant teacher in 2014, and completed her SFD teaching certificate at the beginning of 2016. In addition to teaching at Knox Dance, Tatiana has been teaching at Dance Desires and Michelle Rae School of Dance for several years. She also has musical theater experience, both as a choreographer and a performer with Stage Masters theatre company. Tatiana commenced examiner training for the SFD in 2023
Rachel Hocking SFD:
Rachel has been a student of Knox Dance for many years and started teaching at Knox Dance in 2017. After completing the SFD teaching course, she attained her SFD Classical teaching certificate in 2017, and achieved a Bachelor of Education in 2018. Rachel is currently teaching at Primary School level as well as continuoing to teach dance at Knox.
Ashleigh Kempster:
Ashleigh completed her cert 1V in dance at Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance in 2021, as well as Dance Teaching and Management certification. She has been teaching since 2017 and has experience teaching at Dancers Edge, Dance Revolution and Bayswater Secondary College. She has performed professionally with many agencies and continues to perform regularly. Ashleigh joined our teaching team in 2021 and brings a range of experience in teaching all styles and ages of ballet, contemporary, tap, musical theatre, jazz, hip hop, pointe and commercial jazz.
Caitlin Punithan
Caitlin has been a student at Knox Dance for many years and has commenced teaching in 2023 after completing the SFD teaching course in 2022. Caitlin is currently studying physiotherapy at Melbourne University.