Faculty
Artistic Director
Beverly Jane Fry ARAD Ad Dip ABS PDTC
Beverly Jane Fry was born in Kent, England and at an early age she moved with her family to Melbourne, Australia training with Kathleen Gorham OBE and at the Stuttgart Ballet School and the Australian Ballet School. Graduating at the age of 17, she immediately joined London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) becoming the only girl offered a contract with this famous company while they were on tour in Australia.
Beverly went on to become an International Ballerina travelling the world in a performing career that lasted twenty years, dancing with The Stuttgart Ballet, English National Ballet, Aterballetto (Italy) and London City Ballet where she remained as Principal Ballerina for 12 years. Throughout her distinguished career she danced the majority of the Classical Ballerina roles, and danced amazing neo classical works from notable choreographers such as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor and Glen Tetley. Her interpretations received critical acclaim for their remarkable range of artistic and dramatic qualities and strong technical expertise.
In addition she performed the Black Swan Pas de Deux at a Gala performance at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and in numerous galas throughout Britain with the ‘Russian and British Stars of Ballet’ dancing Swan Lake Act 2 Pas de Deux and Le Corsaire Pas de Deux. Beverly has appeared in two films - Nijinsky and La Sylphide. In successive years, 1989 and 1990, she was featured on the official Sadler’s Wells Theatre Commemorative Calendar.
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Included in Who’s Who in Victoria – Who’s Who of Australia and Who’s Who of Australian Women.
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Granted Australian citizenship under the clause, 'Residence outside Australia' as she was, 'Widely recognized as being of world standing in her field of endeavour, and engaged in cultural activities beneficial to the interests of Australia.
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Presented to Diana – Princess of Wales on many occasions and invited by Buckingham Palace to attend Diana – Princess of Wales Funeral at Westminster Abbey.
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Contributor on the official BBC TV Obituary Programme Diana – The People’s Princess.
Beverly directed 29 productions and created and choreographed 19 original productions whilst Director of NTBS. She has also choreographed for Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries ABC – City of Melbourne Awards and numerous official events.
Beverly is very excited to open her own ballet school so she can continue to train, mentor and coach students in Classical Ballet.
Allyne King
Allyne King is an NTBS Advanced Diploma Graduate under the Directorship of Beverly Jane Fry with whom she trained for 10 years. Since graduating Allyne had a wonderful dancing career elevating to Principal status with both Ajkun Ballet Theatre and Tasmanian Ballet Company dancing roles (to name but a few) – Odette /Odile Swan Lake– Sugar Plum Fairy Nutcracker. Allyne through her career had many contemporary roles created on her as she was a very diverse dancer that choreographers loved. Allyne’s principal repertoire Includes: Kitri / Don Quixote – The Sylph /La Sylphide – and the title role in Cinderella.
After retiring Allyne became a very integral important NTBS teacher /coach – teaching across the whole spectrum of levels from Dance Play to Full Time. In 2017 Allyne’s position was promoted to Assistant to the Director due to her immense passion for perfection, her accuracy and her sheer love to help and devote her time to helping every student reach their potential.
Allyne is a superb teacher with a wealth of knowledge and experience that she shares generously with every child in every class.
Spencer Parker
Trained initially in Southampton, England and was awarded the first Decca (Recording Company) Scholarship to the Royal Ballet Upper School, he successfully graduated into the Royal Opera Ballet and then the Royal Ballet (Touring Company) where he danced in all the major classics in soloist and principal roles, most notably partnering Margot Fonteyn.
Spencer received a standing ovation at Covent Garden, for his performance as the “Gypsy Lover” in Sir Fredrick Ashton’s Two Pigeons at the age of 22. Spencer also danced with Scottish Ballet and English National Ballet.
In 1983 Spencer joined London City Ballet where under the patronage of the late Princess Diana of Wales danced principal roles that included Siegfried in Swan Lake, Iago in Othello and Dr Coppelius in Coppelia for which he received exceptional critical acclaim worldwide.
After retiring from dance Spencer landed a position with English National Opera at the London Coliseum Theatre as their Stage Supervisor. In this position he was responsible for the construction and staging of Operas not only in London but also co-productions in America, Brazil, Germany, Holland and Japan.
Spencer migrated to Australia in 1997 and joined the artistic staff of the National Theatre Ballet School coaching the boy’s stream and conducting Character repertoire and Pas De Deux Intensives for 18 years. Spencer is thrilled to join the staff of The Classical Studio to import his vast knowledge and to ensure history is remembered correctly with purity and correctness to our future dancers.
Emily Jane Mathieson
Emily hails from a small town in Australia where she commenced lessons in Tap, Jazz and Ballet at age 3. After realizing a natural talent and passion for ballet she moved to Melbourne to train at The Australian Ballet School where she was offered a full scholarship to attend their Full time course.Emily later attended The National Theatre Ballet School Melbourne under the direction of internationally renowned Ballerina Beverly Jane Fry
Emily’s beautiful classical line and talent allowed her to be offered a contract with The Ajkun Ballet Theatre New York, where she danced Soloist roles with immense success. On returning to Australia Emily joined The Melbourne Ballet Company where she worked with choreographers that included Simon Hoy, Robert Kelly and Tim Harbour. The Australian Ballet also contracted Emily to dance in Graeme Murphy’s “Nutcracker” and Stephen Baynes “1914”.
Emily moved to London and had a very successful 7 year career teaching ballet to all ages at many elite ballet schools. Returning home in 2017 Emily continues her passion for teaching ballet and will be a wonderful inspiration to the dancers of The Classical Studio.
Heidi Zolker
Born and raised in Melbourne, Heidi graduated with a full-time Diploma in Dance from the National Theatre Ballet School, under the direction of Beverly Jane Fry, before heading to New York, and then joining the City Ballet of San Diego. Following that she danced with the Sacramento Ballet, and then Singapore Dance Theatre where she performed as a First Artist.
Heidi has performed in a diverse repertoire of works, both classic and modern. She has also had the honour of creating new ballets with noted choreographers.
Highlights from her classical repertoire experience include Giselle (Myrtha), The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen), Sleeping Beauty (Carabosse, Bluebird Pas de Deux), Firebird (title role), Swan Lake (Pas De Trois, Big Swans, Neopolitan), and the opening cast of Cynthia Harvey's new production of Don Quixote (Mercedes / Queen of the Dryads).
Heidi has also been fortunate to dance principal and soloist roles in many of George Balanchine's ballets, some of which include Allegro Brilliante (Principal), Serenade (Lead Russian), Concerto Barocco (2nd Violin), Stars & Stripes (Liberty Bell), Tarantella Pas de Deux, and Theme & Variations.
Additionally, her varied repertoire experience includes featured parts in works by Stanton Welch, Twyla Tharp, Nils Christe, Edwaard Liang, Trey McIntyre, Toru Shimizaki, Septime Webre, and Natalie Weir.
Her teaching experience has included working with the City Ballet School (San Diego), the School of the Sacramento Ballet, and the Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne). In Singapore she worked as a teaching coach for the SDT Scholars' pre- professional training program. She was also the ballet mistress for the independent Singapore production of 'The Soldier's Tale'.
Heidi is also a qualified Yoga instructor, an Alpha Alignment practitioner, and has a young son named Apollo.