Lisa Clark

Lisa Clark received her early dance training from some of Canberra’s most respected teachers, including Bryan Lawrence, Janet Karin, Dell Brady and Betsy Sawers. After deciding to pursue a career in teaching, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, graduating in 1988 with a Licentiate and Associate of the RAD, an Associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (National Branch), and the Psychology Prize.

Following her studies, Lisa taught at the The McDonald College before returning to Canberra to establish her own school. In 1990 she founded the Lisa Clark School of Ballet, which quickly became one of Canberra’s largest and most respected classical ballet schools.

Lisa is widely recognised for her depth of knowledge in classical technique and her commitment to strong, age-appropriate foundations in dance education. At the core of her teaching philosophy is a focus on the fundamentals that underpin excellent classical training — musicality, coordination, body awareness, turnout and safe, efficient movement. She places strong value on classwork as the foundation for long-term development, encouraging dancers to build understanding and control before pursuing advanced technical elements.

In addition to her extensive teaching career, Lisa has played a significant role within the RAD framework. In 2004 she was appointed by the RAD Faculty of Education as a tutor for the Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies and has since tutored across all modules of the qualification, as well as mentoring a number of LCDC graduates undertaking their teacher training. In 2011 she was appointed as a tutor for the national introduction of the RAD Grade 1–3 syllabus. Lisa also served for more than 20 years on the ACT and Riverina Regional Advisory Panel of the RAD, helping create opportunities for teachers and students across the region to further their dance education.

Her expertise is frequently sought in adjudication settings, where she is known for her clear, principled approach to assessing young dancers.

Through her leadership, Lisa has shaped generations of dancers with a grounded, technically rigorous approach to training. Her philosophy is to help every student reach their full potential and to provide opportunities for young dancers to pursue their dreams — whether that leads to a professional dance career or simply the joy of performing on stage with confidence, musicality and respect for the art form.

Fun Fact: Lisa loves to grow things in her garden!