STEPHANIE HANCOX – GYROTONIC Trainer DANCE & BALLET COACH

stephanie

hancox

Studio for Posture
Bodyform Movement Dance

Hunter Valley’s first and only GYROTONIC® Studio

Strength that has effort is not the strength you need; you need the strength that is the result of ease.

- Ida Rolf

THE GYROTONIC® AND GYROKINESIS®  METHODS

GYROTONIC®

As a unique movement method, GYROTONIC® exercise targets the entire body. It creates functional strength, suppleness and decompression of the joints, and increases range of movement while stimulating the entire nervous system. The GYROTONIC® exercise series are preformed in rhythmic repetitions of circular movements with corresponding breath patterns. Designed to flow together seamlessly, each movement continues from the last one in perfect harmony, allowing the natural pattern of motion for the joints. The specially designed machines support the transitions between movements so they remain free from jarring, some clients have described it “like moving in water”. Thoughtfully crafted repetitive sequences strengthen the body, making it more flexible, efficient, and balanced at the same time.

GYROKINESIS®

GYROKINESIS® method is an original method good for boosting the health of the entire body. It removes energy blockages, works on suppleness and strength, gives a wider motion range of motion and stimulates the nervous system while building an overall improved and functional stamina. GYROKINESIS® sessions are performed without the specialised equipment and use only a stool and a yoga mat. Participants follow the instructor’s movements and verbal cues similar to a yoga class. GYROKINESIS® classes are available in groups, duos or private classes, in person or online via Zoom.

BALLET COACHING

A dance teacher is responsible for so much more than where which foot goes where and which arm and when. They are responsible for guiding the individual in discovering their why, and their how, opening pathways to show that you can do it and then finding the endless potential within.

I was extremely fortunate to have exceptional dance teachers from age 2 right up until today! Every teacher I studied with, in their own way, equipped me with the knowledge I needed without taking anything from the “why”. My teachers have always been and are still my inspiration, and I strive to pass on my all my knowledge and experience in ballet, dance and body work in a supportive and collaborative way.

17 years professional international experience, I have worked personally with many of the world’s top choreographers and ballet masters. Completed the full RAD syllabus including Solo Seal award and have studied the Vaganova Method with the renowned Professor Alex Ursiliak, co-founder Stuttgart Ballet and former director of the John Crank School in Stuttgart Germany. I was able to attend class and dance alongside of some of the best dancers from around the world.

The skills learned in a ballet class are skills for life, for career, for self expression, and wellbeing.

I am available as a freelance dance teacher and for private coaching sessions at various locations around Sydney. I am happy to work on any areas such as Eisteddfod and Competition preparation, technique, recovery from injury, exam preparation and well, anything really.

Feel free to contact me for information, also for rates and locations.

Gallery

Confidence, balance, pain-free movement, movement efficiency, endurance – it all comes from good and efficient posture. It also contributes to overall sensation of well-being, along with an appealing and healthy appearance. What does a good posture require? Like all structures – a solid foundation and stable levels. The most important foundation in the human body is the pelvis, as it supports of all joints of the lower body – the ankles, the knees, the hips, the joints of the Sacrum area and the Lumbar Vertebrae.  Narrow at the bottom and wide at the top, the pelvis should resemble a funnel or a V-shape giving the abdomen has enough room for the organs.

The pelvis can lose its “V” form due to years of bad posture causing inefficient motion patterns. As a consequence, the bottom of the pelvis widens, and its top narrows. Causing a number of health issues. From incontinence, through arthritis of the joints, to decent of the organs and even haemorrhoids- the common culprit is slackening of the pelvic floor muscle system caused by the widening of the base of the pelvis and the sinking of the organs.

Picture the pelvic floor as a trampoline mat with at least three layers with the role of a sustainable base that holds the weight of the torso and the organs. The layer in the middle resembles a triangle that’s connecting hip joints together, as well as the pubic bone and the perineum, this is the layer that enables humans to walk and it is responsible for the “V” form of the pelvis. The levator ani, or the innermost layer is shaped like a bowl whose role is to hold the organs in place, allowing for the “V” form and therefore protecting all the pelvic joints.

The Spine can then grow tall and aligned from this sturdy “V” pelvic base, giving space to the invertebrate disks, the nerve openings, the spinal cord and support the next important level, the Diaphragm. And the legs can extend downward, also long, lean and aligned, down into the lowest level the feet.  I also work very closely to realign the the bones of the feet and reactivate the muscles.  It is important that the three arches of the feet are able to fulfil their purpose efficiently for gait, sensory feedback and most importantly shock absorption.

ABOUT STEPHANIE

Born in Sydney, Stephanie took her first ballet class in 1987 at The Dance Class with Julie Wells. Over the years Stephanie was also taught by Kim Traynor, Rita Dubovsky, and Shane Carroll. In 1997 Stephanie commenced classes with Tanya Pearson at her Classical Coaching Academy.

In 2000 Stephanie was invited to study under scholarship at the Ballett Akademie Heinz Bosl-Stiftung by Professor Konstanze Vernon in Munich, Germany, which was where both Mrs Pearson and Stephanie felt was the right place for her. During this year Stephanie was awarded the Outright Winner of the prestigious City of Sydney Performing Arts Challenge McDonald’s Ballet Scholarship in August 2000 and shortly after, went on to achieve Honours in her RAD Advanced Exam and was awarded the RAD Solo Seal.

In January, 2001, Stephanie moved to Europe to commence her study at the Ballett Akademie Heinz Bosl-Stiftung in Munich. She studied with Professor Joachim Metz, Konstanze Vernon, Michelle Emmere, Elena Pankova and Krill Melnikov. Parallel to her studies at the academy Stephanie performed regularly with the Bayerisches Staatsballett Company and in 2003 signed a Corps de Ballet contract with the Company. Durning her first year she was selected to dance a principal role in Hans van Manen’s Black Cake and a solo role in Mats Ek’s A Sort Of, working with both choreographers in person.

In the Season 2008/2009 Stephanie was promoted to Soloist. Professional Repetoire
Mauris Petipa
  • Swan Lake
  • Raymonda
  • La Bayadere
  • The Sleeping Beauty
  • Paquita (full length ballet)
  • Le Corsaire
  • Don Quixotte
Frederick Aston
  • Five Brahms Waltzes in mannor of Isadora Duncan
  • Birthday Offering
  • Le Fille mal Gardee
Kenneth MacMillan
  • Song of the Earth

Sir Peter Wright
  • Giselle
George Balanchine
  • Serenade
  • Brahms-Schöneberg Quartett
  • Apollo

Jerome Robbins
  • Goldberg Variations
  • In The Night
John Cranko
  • Taming of the Shrew
  • Romeo and Juliet
  • Onegin
  • Katalyse
John Neumeier
  • Lady of Cameillias
  • A Cinderella Story
  • Illusions like Swan Lake
  • The Nutcracker
  • In the Blue Garden
  • Dämmern
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Alexi Ratmansky
  • Paquita
Mats EK
  • Giselle
  • A Sort Of
  • Apartment
William Forsythe
  • Artifact (full length ballet)
  • Limbs Theoreum (full length ballet)
  • Enemy in the Figure
Russel Maliphant
  • Broken Fall
Richard Siegal
  • Unitext
Jiri Kylian
  • Bella Figura
  • Zugvögel (creation and full length ballet)
  • Gods and Dogs
  • Six Dances
  • Svadebka
  • Evening Songs
Nacho Duato
  • Multiplicity. Forms of Stillness and Silence
José Límon
  • The Exiles
Mary Wigman
  • Le Sacre du Printemps
Hans van Manen
  • Black Cake
  • In The Future
  • Adagio Hammerklavier
Azure Barton
  • Violin Concert
Terrence Kohler
  • One Third
  • Once Upon an Ever After
Lucind Childs
  • Chamber Symphony
Jacapo Godani
  • Elemental
Davide Bombana
  • Century Rolls
Simoni Sandroni
  • Cambio d’arbito
Jörg Mannes
  • Whichever Way he Looks…
  • The Tempest
  • Swan Lake
  • Raymonda
  • La Bayadere
  • The Sleeping Beauty
  • Paquita (full length ballet)
  • Le Corsaire
  • Don Quixotte
  • Five Brahms Waltzes in mannor of Isadora
    Duncan
  • Birthday Offering
  • Le Fille mal Gardee
  • Song of the Earth
  • Serenade
  • Brahms-Schöneberg Quartett
  • Apollo
  • Goldberg Variations
  • In The Night
  • Taming of the Shrew
  • Romeo and Juilet
  • Onegin
  • Katalyse
  • Lady of Cameillias
  • A Cinderella Story
  • Illusions like Swan Lake
  • The Nutcracker
  • In the Blue Garden
  • Dämmern
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Giselle
  • A Sort Of
  • Apartment
  • Artifact (full length ballet)
  • Limbs Theoreum (full length ballet)
  • Enemy in the Figure
  • Bella Figura
  • Zugvögel (creation and full length ballet)
  • Gods and Dogs
  • Six Dances
  • Svadebka
  • Evening Songs
  • Multiplicity. Forms of Stillness and Silence

  • The Exiles

  • Le Sacre du Printemps

  • Black Cake
  • In The Future
  • Adagio Hammaerklavier
  • Five Brahms Waltzes in mannor of Isadora
    Duncan
  • Birthday Offering
  • Le Fille mal Gardee
  • One Third
  • Once Upon an Ever After
  • Chamber Symphony

  • Elemental

  • Century Rolls

  • Whichever Way he Looks…
  • The Tempest
  • Cambio d’arbito

  • Broken Fall

In 2008, Stephanie was chosen by Professor Konstanze Vernon to study a Dance and Classical Ballet Pedagogy Diploma under the master supervision of Professor Alex Ursiliak.

The diploma was two years and has qualified her to teach beginners through to Professionals with the Vaganova Method, Dance History, Music, Pointe, Repetoire.

 

Stephanie was lucky to discover GYROTONIC® method early in her career, while travelling in Berlin she was recommended by another dancer as the exercise method to helps achieve that long and lean look ballet dancers must have. Stephanie has practiced the GYROTONIC® method religiously since that first session back in 2003. In 2012 Stephanie embarked on her teacher training in order to deepen her understanding of the practice and the human body. Stephanie believes that practicing GYROTONIC® method was a key factor for her low injury rate during her long career of 17 years and that GYROTONIC® method was instrumental in the improvement of her technique, the maintenance of her professional dancing standard and shaping and sculpting of her muscle structure. Through the teacher training Stephanie has discovered a whole new understanding of the body and how it is designed to move and the benefits of moving the body in a holistic way. This has also influenced her approach to Dance and Ballet instruction greatly.

Stephanie has been instructing dancers and non dancers in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® since 2012, in Munich, Germany, Monte Carlo, Monaco and Sydney.

Qualified Gyrotonic Instructor & Dance and Ballet Coach.

Qualifications

Awards

City of Sydney McDonalds Performing Art Challenge Ballet Scholarship Outright winner in year 2000.

RAD Solo Seal 

Rose der Woche award for the performing arts Deutsche Zeitung, Germany in 2014.

Schedule

GYROTONIC®

Lambton, Newcastle, NSW 2299
Entry at Rear of Building

151 Young Road Lambton, 2299

Private Sessions | Duet Sessions | Group Classes

Mondays:
7:00am - 5:30pm
Wednesdays:
7:00am - 2:30am
Saturdays:
6:30am - 7:30pm

Lovedale, Hunter Valley
Miliya Wellness and Retreat
283 Wilderness Road
Lovedale 2325 NSW

Mondays:
5:30pm Reformer Pilates 6:30pm Reformer Pilates
Wednesdays:
5pm Reformer Pilates
6pm Reformer Pilates
Fridays:
5pm Reformer Pilates
7:30am Reformer Pilates
8:30am Yoga-GYROKINESIS®️
9:30am Reformer Pilates
10:30am FOOT FITNESS
11:30am Mat Pilates
1:00 pm Reformer Pilates

Maitland, Hunter Valley
Alestre Pilates
7/491 High Street, Maitland
Ph: 0414931808

Tuesdays:
5:30pm Reformer Pilates 6:30pm Mat Pilates
Saturdays:
7am Reformer Pilates
8am Reformer Pilates
9am Mat Pilates

For GYROTONIC®️, GYROKINESIS®️, Myofacial Release-Body Rolling, and Barre classes please contact Stephanie with your expression of Interest

Qualifications

GYROTONIC®️ Psoas Principles
GYROTONIC®️Dynamic Trunk Stability
GYROTONIC®️Applications for Dancers
GYROTONIC®️GYROTONER Certificate
GYROKINESIS®️Essentials, Cervial, Thoracic and Lumbar

Yamuna®️Foot Fitness Level 1
Certificate IV Contemporary Pilates
Integrated Diploma Contemporary Pilates

GYROKINESIS® Group classes

Studio Lambton, Newcastle

Mondays:
9:00am

Studio Lane Cove, Sydney
Please Contact Stephanie for more information

GYROKINESIS® Group class

Online via Zoom

MOndays:
9:00am
Wednesdays:
7:00am

Studio Lane Cove, Sydney
Please Contact Stephanie for more information

GYROTONIC® Online

Please Contact Stephanie for more information

GYROKINESIS® flow/advanced Session via Zoom

Monday 7:30am-8:30am

Invitation only. Click here to enquiry about this class.

Posture and Pelvic Floor Session via Zoom

Thursday 10:30am-11:30am
This class is designed as a course and the sessions are recorded and available for viewing and participation unpon request. To enquire, click here.

Newcastle's first and only GYROTONIC® Studio

GYROTONIC EXPANSION SYSTEM®, GYROTONIC®, GYROKINESIS® are registered trademarks of Gyrotonic Sales Corp and are used with their permission.