Meet our Team!

Sophie Parfitt, T.C.R.G., Co-Director

Sophie is an experienced dancer and teacher who has been training, competing, teaching and working professionally in this field for the last 23 years. After taking lessons in Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz, Calisthenics and Gymnastics, Sophie decided to focus her training in Irish Dance. Over the next 17 years she achieved numerous competition titles including multiple State Championship titles, consistent rankings in the top ten at a National level including top five placings as high as 2nd, and significant placings in international competitions including:

15th place at the 2013 Great Britain Championships,
7th place and an All Ireland medal at the 2013 All Ireland Championships and
22nd place and an official medal placing at the 2014 North American Championships.

Sophie also won numerous team dancing titles including being part of a 3 time National Championship winning team and an international performance team that placed 2nd in North America and 3rd in the World.

Sophie has also had a successful show dancing career after taking a year’s leave to perform in the touring production ‘Celtic Legends’ with whom she travelled through Europe dancing in many prestigious venues including the Olympia Theatre in Paris. Sophie returned from professional tour work to extend her skills by continuing her training in contemporary, tap and broadway jazz.

Sophie is an extremely dedicated teacher and has been teaching and assisting with dance classes since the age of 14 both working alongside the principal teacher, providing one on one tutoring to students and holding her own classes. She passed the teaching exam for Irish Dance in 2016 and is qualified and registered with the Irish Dancing Commission in Ireland (CLRG), the Australian branch, AIDA and our regional association AIDA Queensland. Sophie holds a valid Blue Card for working with children and a current Play by the Rules Certification for child safety.

Pauline Parfitt, Co-Director

As the mother of 3 dancing daughters, Pauline knows about the benefits of being part of a dancing community. First and foremost Pauline would say she was a mum but in her other job she is a teacher and therefore understands the importance of good teaching practice for supporting learning. Pauline has always encouraged her girls to try different things and “have a go” even if they thought they might not be very good at it. As a child Pauline did jazz and a variety of other sports including: netball; hockey; tennis; and playing A grade basketball and netball right through into her 20’s.

Pauline completed a Bachelor of Psychology and then a Graduate Diploma in Education both have proved extremely useful in her years as a mother of competitive dancers. As a school teacher Pauline moved quickly through the ranks becoming a deputy principal within 9 years of starting her teaching career. She has worked as a leader in behaviour support and also as the manager of the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) across the ACT. It is this understanding of PBL principles and the effectiveness of explicit instruction that Pauline will bring to the structure of Phoenix Dance.

Pauline has seen the highs and lows of competitive and professional dance for her children and understands the importance of teaching and modelling good sportsmanship, resilience and perseverance for building wellbeing. She believes that parents play an important role in supporting their children to pursue their dreams and an equally important role in helping them develop lifelong skills while focussing on the enjoyment, social and health benefits of dancing. Pauline holds an Exemption Blue Card due to her work with Department of Education.

Bonnie Parfitt, T.C.R.G

Bonnie is an accomplished dancer who has spent 20 years dancing, training, competing and performing in many different styles of the dance. Bonnie has done Ballet, Jazz, Calisthenics and Gymnastics, however her favourite styles that she chose to pursue were Irish, Hip Hop and Contemporary. Bonnie’s main focus growing up was on Irish Dancing. Her dedication to the sport allowed her to compete and claim multiple high-ranking titles both at a national level and international level, including multiple titles at the ACT State Championships and consistent high rankings at a National level as well as:

Top 3 rankings at the Australian Irish Dancing Championships in 2008, 2009 & 2011,
30th Place at the 2008 North American Championships and
42nd Place at the 2010 World Irish Dancing Championships

Bonnie also achieved a number of team titles at national and international levels including being part of 3 different National Championship winning teams, as well as international teams and performances that placed 2nd in North America and 3rd in the World.

Bonnie has also had a successful and exciting history with Hip Hop and Contemporary. Starting at the age of 13 in a Junior Advanced Class, Bonnie quickly progressed and was asked to join the Masters Class at the age of 19. In 2016, Bonnie was invited to be a part of a group of dancers who travelled to LA to take classes under some of the biggest names in Urban dance, and had the opportunity to perform in Hollywood as part of a show called ‘Carnival’. Bonnie returned from this trip, inspired to begin choreographing and teaching her own Hip Hop classes.

Bonnie has been provided with opportunities to teach students and assist with dance classes throughout her years as a dancer. She has always cherished the idea of being a dance teacher and helping students receive the opportunities that she was lucky to get; to learn, perform, compete, make friends, and be a part of an incredible community of dancers and teachers. She intends to sit the TCRG exam to achieve her official Irish Dancing teaching qualifications within the next couple of years. Bonnie holds a valid Blue Card for working with children.

Chloe Parfitt, Assistant Teacher

Chloe is a skilled performer who began dancing at the age of 4 and continued to train in a variety of dance styles until the age of 19. Beginning her dance experience in Calisthenics, she performed in a number of troupes and showcases before transitioning into Irish Dance, where she went on to compete in both national and international competitions, frequently placed in the top 3 at the State Championships. Chloe has also danced as part of Figure Dance teams and was part of a Dance Drama piece which achieved 2nd in the North American Irish Dance Championships and 3rd in the World.

After training and competing exclusively in Irish dancing from ages 7 to 13, Chloe began Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary at DNA Studios in Canberra. Discovering a greater passion for these forms of dance, Chloe focused all of her energy into these areas for the next 5 years and by the time she postponed her dance studies to attend university, Chloe was undertaking Ballet at an Intermediate Foundation level as well as student teaching a number of classes with students aged from 3 to 13 years. In her time at DNA Studios, Chloe was also given the opportunity to attend aerial and acrobatics workshops which are a fascinating and challenging form of aerial dance often exhibited in performances such as Cirque du Soleil.

Chloe is passionate about dance in all forms as an activity through which to achieve personal growth and confidence, build healthy practices and well-being, and make lifelong friendships. Chloe holds a Blue Card for working with children.

Phoenix Dance QLD Student Teachers

At Phoenix Dance Queensland, we love to see our students grow their skills as they mature into both wonderful dancers and excellent role-models for the younger dancers. Were also believe in offering as many opportunities as we can to help our dancers get the most out of their Irish dancing journey.

Our student teacher program commenced in 2021 is open to all dancers over the age of 11 years old who have completed their Beginner Skills book (ie. can demonstrate a high level of competency in all basic movements and routines). During the program, student teachers are allocated one or more classes per week where they will assist Miss Sophie in demonstrating movements, correcting technique and routines, teaching new steps in one on one or small group settings and participate in warm up/cool down activities.

Not only are our student teachers a wonderful help to Miss Sophie in class, they also build their confidence, improve technique and the ability to self correct, learn to pick up choreography more quickly and how to break it back down to basic movements and develop close relationships with the younger dancers that they work with.