Welcome to Counterpointe

Classical ballet in the European tradition, within the historic setting of Christchurch’s Arts Centre.

Counterpointe is a classical ballet school offering a complete pathway from a child’s first ballet class through to pre-professional training.

Classes are taught by qualified teachers with professional experience and accompanied by live piano, allowing dancers to develop technique, musicality and artistry together.

Alongside Royal Academy of Dance training, students experience open classical classes, performances, competitions, chorale and live music for all classes as well as performances. The Fledgling Programme provides an individual pathway towards international training and professional careers.

Monica Brosnahan

PDPTC, RAD Registered Teacher

Counterpointe & The Fledgling Programme Co - Founder

Monica Brosnahan has established a distinguished international career as an award-winning dancer and educator.

She was the first-ever New Zealander to be selected to compete in the Vaganova Prix International Ballet Competition, where she was awarded a special international prize. This subsequently led to receiving the opportunity to attend classes at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy in Russia. Later on, she was also invited by prominent pedagogue Yuri Fateev to attend company classes at the acclaimed Mariinsky Theatre.

Monica studied at numerous prominent dance schools in Europe, including the Royal Danish Ballet School, Ecole de Danse de Supérieure de Rosella Hightower, Brussels International Ballet School and Victor Ullate Escuela, where she completed her final year of study.

Upon graduation from Victor Ullate Escuela, she successfully joined the National Ballet and Opera of Ukraine.

Later Monica also successfully gained professional contracts with Joburg Ballet (South Africa), Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre (Russia), Ruse State Opera (Bulgaria), Chongqing Ballet of China.

In 2022, she was awarded a scholarship from the Peacocke Dance Trust to complete further study. With this support, she completed the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance, becoming a RAD Registered Teacher.

Since returning to New Zealand, she has been in high-demand as a pedagogue, competition adjudicator and choreographer. She is deeply passionate about imparting her extensive knowledge to the next generation of dancers, nurturing them to realise their full potential and fostering a lifelong love of dance.

Daniel Cooper

A woman wearing a black long sleeve top, gray pencil skirt, black tights, and black heels, standing in dance studio with her arms extended and smiling. Behind her are two black and white ballet photographs on the wall.

MusB, MusB(Hons), BMus(Hons), MMus

Counterpointe & The Fledgling Programme Co - Founder

Daniel Cooper studied orchestral conducting with Johannes Fritzsch, Simone Young, Atso Almila, Simone Christopher Seaman, James Lowe, Giordano Bellincampi, Luke Dollman, Mark Menzies, Vladimir Ponkin, Nicholas Carter, Benjamin Northey, Chris Dragon and was awarded a Bachelor of Music with first class honours in orchestral conducting from the University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music. Daniel also holds a Master of Music in conducing with distinction, a Bachelor of Music with first class honours in performance organ.As a collaborative musician, Daniel has worked through New Zealand and Australia accompanying, conducting and directing musicians and stage performers.

Creative highlights include directing and conducting a ground breaking semi-staged production of Handels Messiah, and producing performances of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Acis and Galatea by Handel.

Daniel pioneered the creative works of John Cage, Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, and La Monte Young in New Zealand, and is responsible for a number of successful premiers by these composers.

Daniel is an approved Royal Academy of Dance examination pianist.

To the world of dance accompaniment Daniel brings his years of collaborative experience across a wide variety of styles and sectors of the music industry, to work with and support dancers in their growth as aware and dynamic artist.

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Counterpointe Team

  • A woman with short light brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck, smiling and resting her arms on a wooden chair.

    Sharon Howells Royal Academy of Dance examiner

    Counterpointe Technical advisor

    After over 50 years of teaching and due to a back injury and my commitment as a RAD Examiner/NZ Silver Swan Tutor, I reluctantly closed my successful school. My love for young people and protecting their mental and physical health is important to me. Life throws out the curve balls and at times things are not roses and ice cream and so with my strong vision I want to see the young people find their own personal dreams to discover what path they want to travel. Not everyone will make it as a Classical Ballet Dancer, as some young ones struggle physically and struggle with discipline or focus but with correct teaching and positivity and guidance a young person learns an asset valuable to any success path. In the correct training of a young person they gain personal discipline, perseverance, empathy, musicality, common sense, respect, self-humor, deportment, poise and self-confidence. As well as it contributes to any Sport as it strengthens muscles in its slow control training, not to forget co-ordination. A young person that has studied the foundation of ballet stands out.

    Supporting this philosophy is the young studio of COUNTERPOINTE. I, 100% support what Counterpointe believes in and only wishes its success to be as positive as the golden team that works behind the scenes.

    It is with great humility and pride that I have been asked by the Director, Monica Brosnahan, to support the Counterpointe students as an advisor and guide, as they journey through the highly world renowned and respected syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance.

    Having Daniel Cooper as a resident pianist is a unique jewel to any dance class. I was fortunate when watching a class, I saw the joy received from Monica’s demonstration and her knowledge, her calm amusing personality and watching the students be at ease and leaving the class with smiles and happy disposition. I saw with Monica her love for music and ballet but her goal to keep the quality of the correct foundation of ballet.

    I look forward to supporting this young school in any way I can. COUNTERPOINTE follows my belief as in the words of the great Margot Fonteyn

    ‘The world of ballet is a charmed place. Some people like to inhabit it, others to behold it, either way it is rewarding!’

  • Young woman smiling, holding a glow stick, with colorful light trails around her against a black background.

    Paris Chin

    Stretch and conditioning coach

    Paris Chin is an elite rhythmic gymnast who has been representing New Zealand for the last decade. 

    Born and raised in Christchurch, Paris has been training for 14 years, competing in various high-performance international competitions such as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Oceania Championships and World Championships as both a Junior and Senior gymnast.

    While attending school, Paris spent much of her time in Europe training with other national teams and competing on the World Cup circuit for months at a time. By doing so, she learnt how to balance sport and education while gaining valuable knowledge from the world-class coaches. At 12, she was the first New Zealand rhythmic gymnast to compete in an all-around final at an international tournament, which then helped her become the first female New Zealand gymnast to compete at a Junior World Championship.

    As a Senior gymnast, Paris was the youngest athlete of the New Zealand Team at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she was the first Kiwi rhythmic gymnast to reach the all-around final in 16 years. She also attended the 2023 Oceania Championship after a successful European tour, where she helped the New Zealand Team win the Oceania title for the first time. This achievement allowed her to compete at the Senior World Championship later that year. "

    After seeing and experiencing the community impact of sport both within New Zealand and globally, Paris has developed a passion for helping younger gymnasts develop their skills and trying to grow rhythmic gymnastics in New Zealand. Alongside university, she coaches junior gymnasts and is an accredited elementary judge for Gymnastics New Zealand. She hopes to continue using her experience to extend her involvement in gymnastics and other sports beyond her role as an athlete."


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    Pieter Symonds

    Contemporary and pilates

    Pieter’s internationally recognised career brings a wealth of knowledge to aspiring dancers with her unique approach combining years of international performance experience with the holistic benefits of Pilates and Yoga.

    Born and raised in Christchurch, Pieter studied at the New Zealand School of Dance before accomplishing her childhood dream of becoming a dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet. During her time with RNZB Pieter danced many leading roles including Carmen, Milagros, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Dracula, The Celebrated Soubrette and will always be grateful for being able to perform in the all male piece Soldatenmis.

    A move to London brought Pieter to the acclaimed Rambert Dance Company where she was awarded one of the top accolades in the world of dance - the Critics Circle Award for best outstanding female modern performance in 2010. Pieter has had the pleasure of guesting with the renowned Carlos Acosta 3 times at the Coliseum and Royal Opera House in London where she featured in Miguel Altunaga’s Derrumbe.

    Since retiring from performing, Pieter has continued her relationship with Rambert where she taught the company dance, Pilates and Yoga, as well as teaching at London Contemporary Dance School.

    Over her career she saw so many dancers struggling with injuries and knew that becoming a Pilates teacher would assist with injury rehabilitation/prevention and offer new ways to think about moving and being. Pieter brings together her long international career along with her comprehensive pilates and yoga knowledge to truly aid the dancers in the studio today.

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    Rakuto Kurano MMus, MusB(Hons), LTCL, ATCL, AIRMT

    Counterpointe Strategic Advisor

    Rakuto Kurano is Artistic Director & Co-founder of the Magic Carpet Music Trust, a registered charitable trust that provides young musicians in New Zealand with performance & career development opportunities. In this role, he has managed numerous concert tours and events spanning across New Zealand, being responsible for all facets of the operations.

    As a musician, he has established a successful career as a multi award-winning performer, composer, and educator.

    He holds a Master of Music Degree from the University of Canterbury, as well as Licentiate & Associate diplomas from Trinity College London.

    Additionally, he holds a Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate and has also completed courses on corporate strategy, branding, communication strategies, and AI applications in marketing & finance.

    As Strategic Advisor, he brings to counterpointe a wealth of knowledge in operations and management.

  • Sarah Yearsley

    Assistant Accompanist