School Principal (ARAD, LRAD, RAD Examiner, Mentor and Tutor)

"My Proudest achievement as a teacher is what I have contributed to the lives of all of the wonderful students that have come through my school."

Miss Simpson commenced her ballet education from an early age in Johannesburg, South Africa with Poppy Frames before completing her training in London at the Royal Academy of Dance. She is recognised as a dance educator rather than simply a ballet teacher. She believes that dancers require well-rounded training in all facets of dance and prides herself in creating an environment in her school where students can be the best that they can be, whether it is to go onto a career in the dance world, the Arts or in any other avenue. 

"My own teacher was a great mentor and a wonderful role model.  She instilled the passion for dance and teaching in me. This lead me going to the RAD in London where I met many great teachers and mentors. I came to Australia through one of my London teachers  - Australian Tina Stuart. She recommended me for the job with the South Australian Ballet Company. "

As a well-respected RAD Examiner & Mentor she travels throughout Australia and overseas, which gives her high exposure to up to date training methodologies, syllabi content and examiner criteria. Her teaching appointments have included Adelaide Centre for the Arts, Adelaide University Centre for Performing Arts, South Australian Ballet Company and Scotch College

Go to School Ethos for more about the teaching philsophy and values that Ms Simpson instills thoughout her school.

Contemporary Dance, Boys' Ballet, SACE Composition & Choreography

Aidan has been a dance artist in South Australia for 30 years enjoying a diverse and successful career, working with many fantastic people and outstanding artists. Since 2006 Aidan has directed his career toward choreography and sharing his love of dance through teaching. Graduating from the Australian Ballet School (1989), Aidan’s career includes work with Australian Dance Theatre, Leigh Warren and Dancers, Outlet Dance, Buzz Circus, Da Whyze Guize and SlackTaxi. Most recently he performed in the Leigh Warren Dance production “Not according to plan” ( OzAsia Festival 2013), State Opera of South Australia production of La Traviata (2014) and Akhnaten(2014). Choreographic work includes “Addlogo” awarded Oscart for best contemporary dance (2007), “Virus” (2009) and “Scandalous” (2010). Aidan has choreographed for Adelaide Centre of Performing Arts, No Strings Attached Theatre of Disability, Pelican Productions and the State Opera of South Australia.

Classical Ballet, Pilates & Repertoire

Janet has been teaching classical ballet, dance theatre, Pilates, repertoire and private coaching at Terry Simpson Studios for over 10 years. She was trained in Adelaide before beginning her ballet career with PACT Ballet, South Africa which provided the opportunity to dance with and learn from many famous names such as Anthony Dowell, Natalia Makarova, Eva Evdokimova, Istvan Nagy, and Merle Park. Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky. In 1976 Janet, and her Australian born husband, Anthony Bridgman, joined the London based New London Ballet, under the Directorship of Galina Samsova and Andre Prokovsky. In 1977 the pair joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Germany under the Directorship of Erich Walter. In 1980 Janet accepted a soloist contract with Ballett Frankfurt where she danced firstly under the Directorship of Egon Madsen and then William Forsythe. It was here that Janet danced principal roles in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake and Giselle as well as appearing in many of Forsythe’s new works. On invitation from Uwe Scholz, Janet joined the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland and danced the final four years of her 18 year dancing career. On invitation from Meryl Tankard Janet became Rehearsal Director and Ballet Mistress of the Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre where she continued in this role for seven years. Since the departure of Ms Tankard Janet has remained with Australian Dance Theatre to this day teaching Company ballet classes and where necessary reproducing works overseas. In the year 2000 Janet undertook her APMA Pilates training. In 2006 Janet founded Dynamic Dance Pilates - a dance specific Pilates method which aims to refine, strengthen and support the contemporary and ballet techniques.

Classical Ballet & Repertoire

Susan has had Life-long association with dance with an inspirational & dedicated teacher, Kathleen Short. Proceeding through the RAD examination syllabus through Advanced Teaching Certificate to Associateship status. Established her own Adelaide school in 1971, after a stint in Western Australia as Ballet Mistress and Promotions Officer with the Perth Ballet Workshop. Susan has been a RAD Vocational Graded Examiner from 1982 to 2002. She first travelled to London to complete this which was followed by 20 years of travelling within Australia and overseas examining, teaching and conducting courses. A long career has seen the development of her dance school to this respected studio whose reputation was for educating and training students, many of whom joined major ballet & dance companies or pursued careers in the arts or teaching and was the first private institution to offer Year 12 dance studies in 1989 and she then served on various Secondary School Assessment Board course writing panels & arts subject committees. She has been State Organiser for the RAD and an active member of its Adelaide Panel. She also joined committees and Boards for the AICD and Ausdance and taught at tertiary dance courses at the Adelaide University BA (Dance) and Centre for the Performing Arts (TAFE). Susan was a Lecturer in Dance at the Victorian College of the Arts, where she taught in secondary and tertiary courses from 1994 - 1997. Recent ventures include teaching SACE Dance at Scotch College.

Classical Ballet

Helen Cooper undertook her classical ballet training in Sydney at the McDonald College and Ecole Classique, before beginning her performance career as a youth artist with Ballet d’Action. Helen also began working as a teacher’s assistant where her love of teaching ballet began to develop. In 2000, knee surgery meant a break from dancing for a number of years - but led to her undertaking her teaching certification in Classical Ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), and becoming an RAD Registered Teacher. In 2007 she returned to dancing and joined Ballet 5:8 in the United States as a Company Artist where she danced Soloist and Principal roles in the company’s' original repertoire. The US also provided opportunity to study the Russian Vaganova classical training system, further broadening her teaching experience and methodology. In 2015 Helen was privileged to be appointed as an Examiner of the Royal Academy of Dance and continues to regularly teach and examine around the world. 

Classical Ballet, Fitness & Yoga

Daniela’s dance training began with Susan Taylor and Terry Simpson before continuing her studies at VCA (B. of Dance, Post Grad. Dip. and Masters of Choreography). Pilates Instructor Certificate, Yoga Teaching Certificate and currently studying Certificate 3&4 in Fitness.

She has worked as a teacher, performer and choreographer in Australia, Europe and Asia.

Pas de Deux

Oliver was born in Berlin and began his dance career training in the Hungarian Dance and Arts Academy in Budapest. During his nine years of full-time training in all aspects of performance, he performed with the Hungarian National Ballet and National Opera Company and at the age of thirteen was chosen from hundreds of hopefuls to star in a telemovie. After graduating with a Bachelor of Performance he joined the Hungarian National Ballet performing roles in classics such as Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Spartacus. He also danced modern pieces from world-renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Hans von Mannen and William Forsythe. With a guest contract with a company in Germany, Oliver began a new aspect of his career, in musical theatre, dancing in shows such as West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and Kiss Me Kate. In 1995, Oliver joined the cast of Cats in Hamburg, Germany and was part of the original cast of Cats in Belgium, working with Gillian Lynne and then toured Australia in the world premier version of Cats- Run Away with the Circus in the Big-Top. Oliver has had many highlights throughout his varied career including travelling the world performing in galas and festivals, which featured such companies as the Kirov and New York City Ballet, and in Budapest was honoured to perform with Rudolph Nureyev in Cristoforo. Oliver has taught dance at Sydney Dance Company and the Stella Academy Hamburg. Currently he teaches at ACArts Adelaide and Terry Simpson Studios and runs a successful photography business, Accent Photography.

Classical Ballet

Brooke has successfully completed her RAD exams up to and including Advanced 2. She has trained in all facets of dance and has been teaching for the past 5 years and completed SACE Stage 2 Dance in 2012 and in 2014 completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance

Classical Ballet, Pas de Deux & Repertoire 

Anthony began his ballet training in Melbourne with Kathleen Gorham and Martin Rubinstein and later continuing and  graduating from the Australian Ballet School. He then embarked on a 13 year professional career which took him to Queensland Ballet, P.A.C.T Ballet, Johannesburg, Sth Africa, New London Ballet, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Dusseldorf, and Ballet Mainz, Germany. During this time he performed as a soloist in all the classic full length ballets and many one act contemporary and avant-garde works.

Retiring from dance at the age of 32, Anthony completed a full time studies in business management in Frankfurt, Germany and thereafter took up a position with Merrill Lynch in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1989 he returned to Australia with his wife and young daughter and took up engagements as a freelance teacher with the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Centre for Performing Arts, Adelaide (later AC arts)  and 7 years teaching ballet with the Dance course at the University of Adelaide. An 18 year absence from dance following while Anthony was employed by the SA State government in HR.   During this period, Anthony taught for local ballet schools around Adelaide, South Australian Youth Ballet, Terry Simpson Studios and Sheila Laing Ballet Academy.

Anthony recently retired from his position in the SA State Government and is returning to his love of dance and passion for passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of young talent.