Welcome to Counterpointe
Classical ballet in the European tradition within the historic setting of Christchurch’s Arts Centre.
From 2½ years of age, dancers discover the magic of classical ballet accompanied by live music.
Counterpointe is the only private ballet school in New Zealand that offers every class with live music and taught by qualified, registered teachers. All students are prepared for Royal Academy of Dance examinations, performances and competitions, and may progress into our pre-professional pathway, The Fledgling Programme.
When you join Counterpointe, you become part of a school where dancers of every age and experience are consistently challenged to achieve their own “impossible.” For some, that looks like taking their first ballet exam without their teacher at their side; for others, it means moving across the world to train at the world’s leading institutions.
Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s dance education and for joining our community. We look forward to supporting their growth as artists and individuals.
Miss Monica & Mr Daniel
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
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.
Counterpointe Team
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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!’
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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.
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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.
