Mary-Jane started learning ballet at 4 and became a professional ballet dancer in her late teens. She gained her Solo Seal at the National Ballet School in Wellington and won a highly coveted Royal Academy of Dance scholarship, so after a year with the New Zealand Ballet she attended the Royal Ballet School in the UK. After performing in Europe, Mary Jane returned to New Zealand to co-found the acclaimed Limbs Dance Company, for which she danced, choreographed and directed.
Currently, she continues to be an active producer and choreographer and recently presented a successful season of her contemporary ballet (as a love letter to Giselle Act 2) Ballet Noir - which was on at Q theatre in October 2023
The Royal Academy of Dance recently invited her to be the ambassador for their Silver Swans older learner ballet classes.
“My passion in teaching ballet is to be very specific in the technique, the aesthetic, the musicality of ballet. I also aim to celebrate the beauty of it and make it an enjoyable experience to learn or revisit this beautiful art form. ”
Contact: maryjaneoreilly@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/Balletwithmaryjane
You can view Mary-Jane's website here: maryjaneoreillydance.nz
