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.
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.
Claire
Claire Barrett
Dance Teacher
Claire grew up in West Auckland where she began dance classes at age 3. First, learning creative dance at the Van Zon school of dance, then studying Jazz and Ballet at Auckland West Dance Academy.
In 2001 Claire graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of performing and screen arts, with a major in contemporary dance.
Since 2001 Claire has worked as a freelance dancer, dance teacher, children’s entertainer and actor, both here in New Zealand and in Europe and SouthEast Asia.
She loves teaching Contemporary dance, Hiphop and Jazz.
Claire had her first child, Charlie in 2021 and moved up to the hibiscus coast with her whanau.
She enjoys heading to the beach, loves music and is always up for a good camping trip.
Claire is really looking forward to joining the Pocket Rocket’s team this term and can’t wait to meet her new students.
Matt
Matt Cornere
Dance Teacher
Growing up in Christchurch, Matt began dancing from the age of seven. He trained in many styles of dance, such as Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Contemporary.
While taking dance as a subject in high school Matt discovered he could purse dance as a career. He moved to Auckland in 2018 to study at the University of Auckland where he completed a Bachelor of Dance Studies in 2020, followed by a Masters in 2022.
Matt has a strong passion for performance, education, community dance, and creative practice. He has taught in both dance studios and schools around Auckland and in Christchurch. Teaching a range of ages, abilities, and styles. Matt loves teaching the next generation of movers and shakers. His teaching style incorporates games and activities to allow for his students to express their creativity through dance and performance in a fun and energetic way.
This year Matt will be completing his Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) at the University of Auckland, while continuing to teach at Pocket Rockets.
Heloise
Heloise Phillips Smith
Dance Intern & Junior Dance teacher
Helo is a crazy, funny, witty extrovert with lots of personality. She absolutely loves dancing, singing, acting and performing in general.
She was born and raised on the North Shore, in Devonport. She attended Vauxhall Primary, Belmont Intermediate and is currently attending Takapuna Grammar School. She basically grew up on Narrow Neck Beach.
She has been dancing ever since she saw Dorothy the Dinosaur on the Wiggles and loves it. Her first public dance performance was as a Queen Bee for the production ‘Flight’ at Vauxhall when she was in Year One. She moved on to Hip Hop classes and in 2016 became a member of the Pocket Rockets family. Originally doing Jazz Ballet/Hip Hop, and starting Contemporary a year later, she has continued with Hip hop and Contemporary ever since. As well as annual Pocket Rockets performances she has been in Trinkets and Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Aside from dance, Helo loves playing netball, Ultimate Frisbee, camping, hanging out with friends and being with family.
Phineas
Phineas Anderson Tuck
Dance Intern
Phineas is a fun, energetic and friendly dancer, he loves spending time with people and just having a good time in general.
He actually attended primary school in the city at Newton Central school, he then moved into Devonport and went to Devonport primary, Belmont intermediate and he is currently attending Takapuna Grammar school.
Phineas has been dancing with Pocket Rockets for just three years but he has danced with 4 different programs beforehand. He currently is part of Teen Hip Hop, Adult Hiphop and the Adult Contemporary group, he is enjoying assisting with the Hauraki classes as part of his internship.
Aside from dancing, Phineas also plays the guitar, drums, piano and he sings. He is part of a drama group that does annual performances at the Rose Centre.
Geethishi
Geethishi
Dance Intern
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 traveling, debating, volleyball, reading and spending time with her family and friends.