Helene Gowers started dancing at the age of five under the tuition
of Madame Kira Bousloff, founder of the West Australian Ballet Company.
As a child Helene was a member of the WA Junior Ballet Company learning
many styles of dance including Jazz, Contemporary and Spanish. Her
teachers included Kiril Vasilkovski, Louis Moreno and Shelley Rae.
The Junior Company danced for charities and had holiday programmes
and performances in the city and suburban centres, giving students
the opportunity to gain much performing experience. During this time
Helen danced two seasons with the West Australian Ballet Company and
later became Ballet Mistress and then Artistic Director of the Dance
Theatre of WA (which replaced the Junior Ballet Company). Helene passed
her Associate teaching exam with Honours in 1978.
In 1979 Helene and some of her colleagues formed the Serenade Ballet
Company. As Artistic Director Helene was responsible for choreographing
many of the Company's ballets and for designing costumes and sets.
For five years the Company toured country areas and each year held
a city season. The Company was also invited to dance at Government
House at a command performance for His Excellency and Lady Kyle. Helene
danced the leading role in the ballet "The Newcomer", choreographed
by Tania Chitty, and especially commissioned for this performance.
Helene was also invited to be guest classical teacher for the state
gymnastic team at the University of WA Sports Department.
During this time Helene taught in city and country areas and in 1983
established the Bunbury Academy of Dance and the Bunbury Junior Ballet
Company. For the School and Company Helen produced and directed many
major productions (original and traditional) including shopping centre
shows twice a year. Helene upgraded to Licentiate in 1980 and passed
her Fellowship in 1986.
Helene has become a prominent teacher of classical ballet in WA. In
1995-96 Helene was guest Cecchetti teacher for the West End Academy
of Dance. Miss Gowers has travelled to Europe to study and observe
the teaching methods of some of the world's best teachers including
the Cecchetti Centre in London and the Royal Ballet School.
Over the years Miss Gowers has trained twelve of the state's Cecchetti
Associate members and now coaches all levels of the Cecchetti syllabus, travelling all over the state to promote the Cecchetti Method.
Helene has choreographed dances to included in the Australian
Cecchetti Advanced 1 Major Syllabus. Miss Gowers is the State Representative
for the Cecchetti Society of Australia Inc. for the WA Committee and
is also responsible for organising many of the courses, workshops
and conferences held in Perth for the dance community. Miss Gowers was appointed a trainee examiner in 2005.
All guest teachers have vast performing experience and this year Helene celebrates 33 years of teaching in Western Australia.
