DANCE PRESCRIPTION COACHES
Dr. Lisa Ellis, Director of DANCE PRESCRIPTION, Head Coach DANCE PRESCRIPTION Melbourne Program
Dr. Lisa Ellis holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (Hons) and a Master of Surgery and is currently training to be a surgeon in Melbourne, Australia. She has over 15 years of experience as a dance coach with expertise in jazz technique, classical ballet and ballet conditioning. She holds her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management and an Associate Diploma in Cecchetti Ballet. She also holds her Advanced II Cecchetti Ballet Certificate, attained with Honours.
Dr. Lisa draws on her extensive knowledge of anatomy, muscle physiology, childhood development and psychology from her medical degree and combines this with her vast experience teaching dance to produce programs tailored to increase a dancer's technical ability, artistic vocabulary and overall health and well-being, as well as to educate dancers about injury prevention. She is passionate about using dance to help as many young people as possible discover the tools to sustainably make and keep them healthy, happy, successful beings in love with life and dance. Dr. Lisa Ellis is a pioneer in worldwide jazz technique. With a focus on injury prevention, she teaches dancers to love themselves and celebrate the incredible feats their bodies are able to perform.
As well as running her DANCE PRESCRIPTION program based in Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Lisa tours nationally and internationally with her DANCE PRESCRIPTION Workshops. These popular masterclasses focus on understanding the anatomy, psychology and physiology of dance in order to fast track dancers' successes in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Chloe Watson, Head Coach of the Sydney DANCE PRESCRIPTION Program
Coach Chloe joined the DANCE PRESCRIPTION program in 2019 and was quickly invited to Lab Assistant status which allowed her to travel all around Australia, Norway, Scotland, Wales, Gibraltar and the United Kingdom as a Lab Assistant for Dr. Lisa Ellis. Throughout the 4 years, Coach Chloe would travel from Sydney to Melbourne every fortnight to hone her technical ability and knows the DANCE PRESCRIPTION content inside out.
Recently, Coach Chloe was lucky to be chosen as a Dancer Around The World finalist at the Australian Dance Festival. She has been presented with many opportunities from competing in dance competitions where she has achieved the titles of the Senior Protege Grand Champion at Dance Life Unite Nationals, as well as the Senior Dancer of the Year at Showcase Nationals for 2023. This led onto her competing in Italy representing Australia amongst 35 other countries at the World Dance Movement where she was awarded with Senior Performer Of The Year as well as Senior Outstanding Technique.
This year, Coach Chloe is training at the Ettingshausens Pro full-time course where she will obtain her Diploma in Dance. She loves the challenge this brings and hopes to continue growing as both a dancer and teacher. One of her greatest joys is passing on the knowledge she has to the youngest generation and she’s found a love for teaching that matches her love for performing.
Lara Mellon, Head Coach of the Gold Coast DANCE PRESCRIPTION Pilot Program
Coach Lara joined DANCE PRESCRIPTION in 2018 as a team member and became a touring Lab Assistant by 2019. In this role, she traveled all across Australia before performing internationally in countries such as England, Scotland, Wales, Norway and Gibraltar, where she assisted Dr Lisa in her Just What The Doctor Ordered jazz technique workshops.
Her experience as part of the DANCE PRESCRIPTION program for 5 years has meant Coach Lara knows the specific DANCE PRESCRIPTION jazz technique content, drills and ethos like the back of her hand. Lara Mellon is an ambitious, dedicated, and passionate coach who absolutely loves passing on her knowledge. She is currently teaching at a number of local studios but she finds time to lead weekly online private consultations for dancers, travel around Queensland to teach DANCE PRESCRIPTION Jazz Technique workshops, and coaching her own Gold Coast DANCE PRESCRIPTION Team!
This year Lara Mellon is completing her Certificate IV in dance while training full time at the world renown Dance Force. Rehearsals are underway to prepare for her upcoming performances in the Dance Force Grad Tour, which will be touring Australia in October and November 2024.
Coach Lara is passionate about creating a fun and inspiring environment for dancers to work hard, improve their technique and create healthy habits. Lara ultimately aims to teach her students the fundamental qualities needed to become well-rounded individuals.
Anne Marie Ludwig-Cox, Head of the Classical Technique Conditioning Program
Miss Anne holds her Diploma of Classical Ballet from her time at the Australian Ballet School as well as he Cecchetti Ballet Licentiate (L.C.B.A.-C.I.C.B.). She graduated from the Australian Ballet School under the direction of Dame Margaret Scott and became a member of its graduate touring company, guided by Marilyn Rowe (OBE) and Gailene Stock (AM). Following her graduation, Miss Anne was contracted by the Singapore Dance Theatre, where she performed in both soloist and principal roles. She also worked with the London Ballet Theatre and Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck in Austria, enjoying tours across Asia, the UK, and Europe with these companies.
After a decade of performing with professional ballet companies, Miss Anne transitioned to musical theatre. She was fortunate to secure a contract with Really Useful Company for Cameron Mackintosh’s the Phantom of the Opera productions, touring the UK, Hamburg, and Stuttgart for six years.
Throughout her career, Miss Anne had the privilege of working with renowned figures such as Gillian Lynne, Harold Prince, and Denny Berry. She performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Diana, and Prince Charles.
Upon her retirement, Miss Anne taught and coached at various dance schools throughout Germany, including many years of choreography for the Natur Theater Renningen (Germany’s Children’s Theatre).
Returning to Australia with her family, she was immediately offered a coaching position for Billy Elliot The Musical. Since then, she has achieved her Licentiate Cecchetti Qualification in Ballet Teaching, a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy), a Certificate IV in Teaching and Assessment, a Certificate IV in Pilates, and an Xtend Barre Instructor Qualification. She is also a sought-after guest teacher and adjudicator across Australia and New Zealand.
Since joining the DANCE PRESCRIPTION family in 2018, Miss Anne has become an invaluable member of the team. She works closely with students, leveraging her extensive experience to create individually tailored programs that emphasize foundational classical technique, injury prevention, strength, and conditioning.