mission statement
At Pocket Rockets we aim for a balance of structured and creative dance experiences. Providing dance classes that encourage individuality & prepare students for performance opportunities in a fun and safe environment.
grow. explore. interact. boogie.
The benefits of dance classes for kids are HUGE! Here is a wee list of some of them...
Improved self esteem & confidence
Social & communication skills
Coordination & kinaesthetic memory
Musicality
Fitness
Strength
Body awareness & alignment
Development of creative skills
Positive effect on literacy & numeracy skills
and .... increased radness.
benefits
testimonials
"Thank you again – Our daughters love your classes and I love knowing how your classes help develop our girls confidence in themselves."
Claire Green
"Huge thanks for your amazing work Jane. You are just fabulous with the kids! My daughter comes home and shows me all the cool new dance moves, some of which require quite a bit of strength and balance too! I'm really thrilled with the new skills she's learning and how much fun she's having . And she is so looking forward to being part of another one of your brilliant end-of-year productions! Thanks again."
Michaela Sangl, Yogi Kids
"He has loved Pocket Rockets and it really has helped him grow, we are grateful for everything that you do."
Rixt Brownlow
"Dear Jane
Thank you for being the best dance teacher ever (we love party dance)."
From the Jazz team
Jane
Jane Carter
Director
Jane grew up in Stanley Bay, Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore. Having caught the travel bug from her adventurous family (and a stint at an international high school near Milan) she studied Italian at Auckland University and then travelled in Europe during her early 20s. She returned home to complete a Bachelor of Dance at AUT University, graduating in 2010.
While at AUT Jane’s performance experiences included the AUT Dance Company, Trip Stumble Fall and The White Wall. She performed at festivals such as Tempo Dance Festival, Fringe Festival (Auckland and Dunedin), Prana, and Viva Eclectika 2009 (Grand Prize winners).
She has since been involved in several dance teaching projects as well, including the YMCA Dance Youth Project (2013) and the Orere Beach Dance Project (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015).
You can also find Jane at Les Mills Takapuna as a qualified group fitness instructor, teaching Pilates and Bodybalance. She has also completed the advanced instructor modules 1&2 for Bodybalance.
She completed her 200hr Yoga teacher training in 2024 in Ubud, Bali.
Along with teaching Pocket Rockets Jane’s current passions include her family and friends, music festivals, anything Italian, travelling by train and boogying on beaches.
Kate
Kate Rowe
Dance Teacher
Kate has been dancing since the age of 3. She has trained in many styles including Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop and gymnastics. Kate has an energy like no other and is dedicated to inspire children to be the best they can be and create a space where everyone has a sense of belonging!
Kate has danced competitively and represented Australia 4 times at the Hip Hop International Competition- first at the age of 13. She has also performed twice on Australia's Got Talent. Kate has had the opportunity to dance at multiple amazing studios such as KCC, IMI, The Palace, identity, the lab LA and many more. She has also performed and won at multiple competitions such as, HHI, BATTLEGROUNDS, WORLD OF DANCE, SHOWCASE, ADCC and many more!!
Kate has also recently been lucky enough to travel to LA to compete in the World of Dance Competition as part of The Collective - placing 1st in the teams division and third in the finals! Kate is currently living in NZ to further develop her knowledge and skills and training with THE AMAZING COLLECTIVE.
Kate's enthusiasm will not only engage every person who walks through the door, but her kindness and her passion will nurture each one of her students.
Sofia
Sofia Miernik
Drama teacher
Sofia Miernik was born and raised in Devonport, Auckland and to Vauxhall Primary, Belmont Intermediate & then Takapuna Grammar. She got into the performing arts at the age of 6, then moved to backstage at 16 when she realised performing arts was the field she wanted to work in.
She graduated from Toi Whakaari in 2021 with a Bachelor of Performing Arts Management and since then has been able to freelance with many companies, including Auckland Theatre Company - working as an Assistant Stage Manager and having the honour of being the Stage Manager for Tim Bray Theatre company in their final year.
She is very passionate in teaching and showing the beauty of the performing arts to the youth. She is so excited to get to bring drama classes to the Pocket Rockets and is looking forward to seeing what the students create.
When she is not working in the arts she loves to crochet and spend time with her ginger cat, Aslan.
Keira
Keira Wood
Dance teacher
Keira has been dancing and singing since she was six years old. Growing up in Taupo, she participated in shows, competitions and theatre productions around the North Island.
At Taupo Academy of Dance, Keira trained in many styles of dance, including Jazz, Contemporary, Hip hop, Lyrical, Musical Theatre and Ballet. She has taught ages from 6-15 in these styles as well.
She has played a range of roles such as ‘Amber Von Tussle’ in Hairspray, ‘Anita’ in West Side Story, ‘Sandy’ in Grease, and ‘Karen’ in Mean Girls.
Moving up to Auckland in 2025 to study acting was a big step, but she is absolutely loving every moment! She is currently studying at South Seas Film School doing the Diploma of Screen Acting, graduating at the end of 2026.
Outside of the Performing Arts, Keira loves playing the piano and has completed all exams for Theory with NZ Modern School of Music. She also takes great joy in cooking, being her main hobby aside from her studies.
Keira is a passionate dancer and loves sharing her talent and skills with others. She is dedicated to providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment to all of her students. She believes dance is a balancing act, with both joy and discipline to help her students reach new heights while maintaining the love for dance!
Keira brings energy, creativity and confidence to her classes and is looking forward to the year ahead.
Geethishi
Geethishi
Dance Intern & Teacher
Geethishi was born in Sri Lanka but moved to Wellington when she was one year old. She first started dancing at the age of 2 when she lived in Wellington by taking weekly ballet classes. She then moved to Devonport, Auckland when she was 3 and continued ballet and did her first dance performance in 2014. Geethishi joined Pocket Rockets in 2016 doing jazz at Stanley Bay Primary School. She later relocated to the city but continued dancing on the shore. During intermediate she transitioned from jazz to contemporary and hasn’t looked back since.
Geethishi has also been a part of dance groups within school, one of which won the Dance NZ Made regional award in for their age category in Dance NZ Made’s interschool competition. Geethishi also started doing bollywood dancing to help out a friend but found that she really enjoyed it and has competed as well as performing at the annual Diwali Festival in Auckland.
Geethishi attended Stanley Bay Primary School, Parnell District School and she’s currently attending St Cuthberts College. Outside of dance and school she likes travelling, debating, volleyball, reading and spending time with her family and friends.
Kris
Kris Walsh
Dance Teacher
Born in Manila, Philippines, I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand at two and a half years old and consider Aotearoa home. Dance has been my joy and soul medicine since childhood. As a young child, I fondly recall dancing to the music of Swan Lake, captivated by how music and movement could transport me to another space and uplift my inner world.
I have danced throughout my life — for enjoyment, fitness, and for the past seven years as a Dance Movement Therapist. I work mainly with neurodivergent children and adults, supporting connection, expression, and regulation through movement. I value dance as a deeply transformative and healing practice, recognising the powerful connection between body and mind — how shifts in posture, rhythm, and breath can influence thoughts, emotions, and overall wellbeing.
My training with West African dance teachers shaped my love of rhythm, community, and embodied expression. I later taught West African-inspired community classes in Grey Lynn and West Auckland and performed with Tamani, a West African drum and dance-inspired performance group.
I did my Dance Movement Therapy training through AUT and Dance Therapy Training Aotearoa (DTAA), alongside ongoing professional development that continues to enrich my practice.
I am also a mother to a wonderful 12-year-old boy. My other interests include: cooking nourishing meals, walking bush tracks, spending time at the beach, attending music and dance festivals, practising yoga and Qigong, and of course, dancing!
Emilie
Sylvie
Emilie
Dance Intern
Emilie grew up in Takapuna and went to Hauraki School and Belmont Intermediate, and is now attending Takapuna Grammar. She has always loved singing and dancing, ever since she was little, so it was not surprising that she joined Pocket Rockets just a week after starting school.
Emilie started her Pocket Rockets journey at Hauraki School when she was five, taking Hip Hop classes with Jane. She added Contemporary at Vauxhall to the mix in 2021 and Leads in intermediate school. She is currently doing Adult and Teen Hip Hop, Teen Contemporary, and Leads classes, and is enjoying learning lots as an intern.
She is kind and helpful, and loves seeing younger students having fun in dance classes.
Apart from performing with Pocket Rockets, Emilie has performed in the Hauraki School production in 2022, and was part of the dance ensemble for Shortland Street the Musical at Takapuna Grammar in 2025.
Aside from dance, Emilie loves art, travelling, cooking and baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Sylvie
Dance Intern
Sylvie is a Devonport local, who has lived in Auckland her entire life and has always had a strong passion for the performing arts. She joined Pocket Rockets in 2016 and has loved every moment since, growing as both a performer and a confident leader within the programme. In 2023, she expanded her training by joining APAA (Auckland Performing Arts Academy), where she continues to develop her skills across multiple performance styles.
Sylvie has performed in a wide range of stage and screen productions. Her Pocket Rockets credits include Alice in Down the Rabbit Hole, Charlie in The Golden Ticket, Dorothy in There’s No Place Like Home, and Susan in Don’t Stop Believin’. Outside of Pocket Rockets, her roles include Stevie Nicks in We Will Rock You, Charlotte in Oliver!, and Kirsty Knight in Shortland Street. This year, she will be playing Paulette in Takapuna Grammar School’s production of Legally Blonde.
Outside of performing, Sylvie enjoys cooking and karaoke. Through her Pocket Rockets internship, she hopes to inspire and support younger performers, giving back to the community that helped shape her love for the performing arts.