Jazz, Hip-Hop, Tap, Ballet, and Contemporary dance

Recently awarded 'Young Business Person of the Year', Marguerite Howlett founded The Renaissance School of Dance in Papatoetoe. The business provides dance lessons to children & young people throughout South Auckland at a purpose-built studio and in primary schools. The business is founded on the values of Passion, Enthusiasm, Creativity and Teamwork, administering not only technique in various dance forms but role modelling and skills that students can carry throughout their lives.

Beginners and experienced dancers are welcome. Classes are based on having fun, gaining confidence and body awareness.

Throughout the year (4 terms) our students work towards their dance exams and medal tests as set by National and International Associations.

There are also opportunities to perform at the local shopping mall and various santa parades in Auckland.

The years work culminates in a full stage production which the students help in choosing music, choregraphy and designing costumes. This year the production will be at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Silver Road, Epsom on Sunday 8th November.

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Our Vision: 'To make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, to achieve their highest potential with regular and committed dance classes, to create trust, respect, passion and enthusiasm through creativity and teamwork.'

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What’s in a name...

Marguerite, the creative director, was in her first year of studying for a Bachelor of Visual Arts when she started the dance school in 2004. It was through her studies that she discovered the 'Renaissance' period of art, and being a great lover of Italy and the Italian culture (read: favourite food is PIZZA!)…the rest is history, pun intended!

Italian: Rinascimento, from re- "again" and nascere "be born"

The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy, spreading to the rest of Europe by the 16th century. It profoundly affected European intellectual life, its influence affected literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion, and other aspects of intellectual enquiry. Renaissance scholars employed the humanist method in study, and searched for realism and human emotion in art. (more information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance)

The dance school began after another local dance school that Marguerite was teaching at closed down. The school started with 20 students at the cricket club and 5 years later has over 100 students, 5 teachers/management, 2 purpose built studios and still growing!

Annual Shows: (and the reasons why these names were chosen)
‘Creation’ 2005 – creation meaning the first, beginnings.
‘Momentum’ 2006 – Momentum is, in sports terms, used to talk about the support that the crowd has been giving.
‘Crescendo’ 2007 – again, Italian for ‘getting louder’ or ‘increase’, a build in the volume or dynamic, thrive and prosper.
‘Vision’ 2008 – having moved into a commercial premises, working full time in the business (having now completed her degree) and winning ‘Young Business Person of the Year’, this year was when Marguerite could see a growing potential in really expanding the business throughout the community, the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be.