Bergen Lavelle
Adjudicator
Classical Teacher

 

Bergen began dancing at the age of 3 and quickly displayed an exceptional passion and natural ability for classical ballet. By just 9 years old, she had completed all Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) graded examinations with Distinction, while also achieving outstanding success across the NSW eisteddfod circuit, winning numerous championships, scholarships and titles throughout her early training years.

At only 11 years of age, Bergen was awarded a prestigious scholarship to the Australian Ballet School, personally selected by renowned directors Lisa Pavane and Greg Horsman. The following year, she was chosen to perform with Queensland Ballet in their production of Coppélia, under the direction of Ballet Master Anthony Shearsmith — an incredible opportunity for such a young dancer.

Bergen later continued her training full-time with the highly respected Marie Walton-Mahon and Edward Miller of the Royal Ballet Company. During this time, she completed the Russian Vaganova syllabus with exceptional A+ results and was awarded the Vaganova Scholarship in both 1996 and 1997. She was also the recipient of the A.L. Murphy Scholarship and achieved a Top 20 placing in the prestigious Pearl Pollard Scholarship.

By the age of 14, Bergen had completed all RAD Advanced examinations, along with her Khorobushka Character examinations, before earning a full scholarship to Munich, Germany. There, she performed extensively throughout Europe, gaining invaluable professional experience before returning to Australia to continue her career and teaching journey.

Today, Bergen is an accredited RAD Classical Ballet teacher, holding a Diploma of Dance Teaching Studies. She is also accredited with the Australian Institute of Classical Dance and the British Ballet Organisation and is fully certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Acrobatic Arts.

Over the years, Bergen has become highly regarded not only for her own training and achievements, but also for the outstanding success of her students. Her teaching has guided dancers into some of the world’s most prestigious finishing schools and full-time training institutions, including Elmhurst Ballet School, English National Ballet School, the Australian Ballet School, European Ballet School (EBB), Alberta Ballet School, the New Zealand School of Dance and the Royal Ballet School, amongst many others.

Her students have also achieved exceptional competition success, including qualifying for the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finals in New York, USA, and achieving Top 12 placements internationally. Students consistently place and win across major competitions and eisteddfods each year, including outstanding results throughout Sydney and interstate competitions.

Former students have gone on to secure professional contracts and opportunities across the globe, performing with ballet companies throughout the USA, Europe and the United Kingdom, as well as internationally recognised productions and entertainment companies including Royal Caribbean, Disney and Universal Studios.

Bergen is the owner and director of Ablaze Dance Academy in Newcastle, now recognised as one of Newcastle’s leading dance academies. Under Bergen’s direction, the studio has built a reputation for excellence in both technical training and student development, supported by an extensive team of highly qualified teachers and leading industry professionals.

The academy now operates out of a brand new, state-of-the-art facility designed to provide students with every opportunity to thrive in a professional and inspiring environment. Complete with multiple purpose-built studios, sprung flooring, professional training equipment and dedicated student spaces, the studio has been carefully created to support the growth, wellbeing and development of every dancer.

Bergen’s vision for Ablaze Dance Academy extends far beyond producing strong dancers. She is deeply passionate about creating confident, disciplined and resilient young people, while fostering a supportive and nurturing environment where students feel inspired to work hard, dream big and reach their full potential — both inside and outside the studio.

Her focus is not only on technical excellence and performance outcomes, but also on helping students develop lifelong skills, confidence, friendships and a genuine love and appreciation for the arts.