Meet your dance teacher

Hazel will work with you to make learning your first dance the most fun part of your wedding planning.

I have been dancing most of my life, and teaching and judging Modern Jive for over 18 years. I’ve tried out all sorts of dance styles including jazz ballet, salsa, ballroom, zumba, burlesque and hip hop.

Modern Jive is a great base for a wedding dance as we can use any genre of music, and there is no complicated footwork.

Our home studio is based in Marshlands, Christchurch, New Zealand until end of February 2026. **From March 2026 onwards, lessons will be in our new Mount Pleasant home studio.

What to Expect

My aim is to make your sessions relaxed and fun.

Before we start

I’ll ask a few questions to make sure I know what you want from your first dance.

Each Lesson

Each lesson is 45 minutes long. This is a good amount of time that ensures you learn, but don’t get too overwhelmed.
For choreographed dances (most popular), I will teach you one step at a time, moving at your pace.
If you don’t want any choreography, we will work on moves and how you can link them together.
At the end of each session we will video the lesson summary on your phone so you can practice before our next session.

Booking Lessons

I recommend booking lessons one to two week’s apart, so that you have time to practice, but not forget.
Generally, two to four months before your wedding date is a good time to start.
It’s a good idea to book early so you don’t miss out.