Team 1 — Counterpointe

Team Fledgling

The Fledgling Programme Team is highly qualified, experienced and cares for students. The focus is on balancing technique and artistry with academic needs and holistic care in a nurturing, inclusive, creative and stimulating environment underpinned by the principles of positive education. We also support students alongside their current dance school and other training opportunities with our unique programme model. Once accepted we will make a plan that truly works for the student and your family.

Read more about the programme tutors below:

Monica Brosnahan

ARAD, 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. She was then offered a contract with Perm Ballet in Russia but unfortunately due to Covid, she was unable to commence the contract.

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 and 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. Monica’s speciality is coaching the individual to hone in on their strengths and successfully navigate the audition process as she herself achieved.

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.

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 artists.

Pieter Symonds

Fledgling Programme contemporary and pilates/yoga tutor.

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.