Ballet, modern jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and hip hop dance tuition
LGS Dance was founded over 50 years ago when a 16-year-old Lynn Gilbert established the Lynn Gilbert Dance Studio. Now rebranded as LGS Dance, the studio continues to thrive, offering individuals the opportunity to learn the art of dance in a positive and structured environment. Our mission is to build self-esteem and self-discipline while ensuring a fun, professional and safe atmosphere.
Our professional, passionate and talented team of tutors offer classes for all levels, from pre-school to advanced, in classical ballet, modern jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and hip hop. Private tuition is also available for students preparing for competitions.
Performers from LGS Dance consistently achieve success in competitions across New Zealand. Several students have won prestigious awards, including the National Young Performer of the Year Award and the Ora Burnett Jazz Award. Additionally, many dancers have gone on to pursue full-time training at esteemed schools in both New Zealand and Australia.
Teaching Staff 2025
Samantha Gates-Forrester - Head of School/Director
LGS Dance is Sam’s happy place. She spent 11 years of her childhood dancing with Lynn Gilbert-Smith at LGS Dance, before taking up the helm at LGS Dance at the beginning of 2024. Sam also works part-time as a designer, but dance runs in her veins and has always been a huge part of her life.
Years after attending LGS as a student under Lynn, Sam brought her own daughter to the studio. Becoming a ‘dance mum’ and reconnecting with Lynn over that time reignited Sam’s passion for dance and the rich relationships and community it helps forge, both in the studio and beyond.
Sam’s vision for LGS Dance studio is that it continues to have a reputation for both excellence and professionalism, and nurtures a strong and positive community. Sam aims to help young dancers fulfil their potential - encouraging them to be the best version of themselves and ‘sparkle and shine’.
In memory of Lynn Gilbert-Smith
LGS dance will forever carry the legacy of Lynn Gilbert-Smith - the values and professionalism she cultivated at the LGS dance school over the past 50 years.
Lynn’s sudden passing in 2023 was a huge loss, felt by the entire community. With much admiration and respect, Sam is committed to keeping Lynn’s legacy alive and ensuring the school’s success and excellence for many years to come.
Hayley Darling – Jazz and Contemporary
Hayley has been with the studio since 1980, starting at 8 years learning ballet and modern jazz with Lynn. At 14 years she was asked to help after school teaching young jazz students, and this eventually lead to a part-time position instructing the jazz syllabus and choreographing solos for competitions.
Hayley left for overseas in 1990 where she danced in Japan and taught ballet and modern jazz in Israel. She returned to New Zealand in 1995, started a family with her two boys Sam and Eben, and recommenced her teaching career with Lynn.
After much success with choreography in contemporary and jazz at PACANZ Hayley has been asked to teach at seminars in Auckland and Invercargill furthering her teaching skills along the way. Hayley is thrilled to still be part of the team and feels very lucky that her life-long career in dance is a career in which she loves and is very passionate about.
Alannah Matthews – Classical Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre
Alannah danced with the Gilbert-Smith Dance Studio from the age of 3 until she was 19, learning ballet, Jazz, contemporary and Lyrical. Alannah has performed in many competitions throughout New Zealand, also taking part in local Operatic and local Royal New Zealand Ballet productions.
Alannah attended the Wellington Performing Arts Centre in 2010, graduating with a diploma in commercial dance, which included acting, singing, tap, ballet, jazz, acrobatics, contemporary and musical theatre.
In 2012 Alannah performed in a nightly cabaret show in the Dominican Republic. On her return to New Zealand in 2013 she picked up where she left off tutoring all genres at LGS Dance. Alannah has a wonderful passion that she shares with her students. Alannah is a Licentiate of the NZAMD.
Alannah is still very involved with the New Plymouth Operatic Society having performed in, as well as choreographed many of their shows, including their upcoming 2022 production of Matilda.
Jenni Simkin – Classical Ballet
Jenni began training at 5 years old in Te Awamutu. She successfully passed all her RAD, BBO and NZ Jazz Exams to advance level. Jenni competed locally in Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Hamilton before she began training at the New Zealand School of Ballet in 1979. This was followed by a couple of seasons with the New Zealand Ballet.
Jenni settled in New Plymouth in 1983, married and has three children. She worked at the Dawn McAlpine Dance Studio, teaching the RAD syllabus, and quickly followed with training children for competitive work. Whilst under Dawn’s guidance Jenni completed her RAD Teaching Diploma.
Jenni has travelled extensively throughout New Zealand judging at dance competitions. Jenni began teaching for LGS Dance in 2011 and in 2015 opened her own Pilates Studio.
Jessica Davies - Pre Grade Dance
Jessica has been passionate about dancing since childhood. She was taught by Lynn Gilbert-Smith in jazz and ballet and thrived on performance and competitions throughout her school years. Jessica went on to pursue her love of dance and drama through performing arts school, which saw her tour the length and breadth of the country.
Jessica has worked in dance studios here in New Zealand and in Hong Kong, which saw her managing a studio. Jessica’s experience includes teaching jazz, ballet, hip hop, tap and drama. She has a unique ability to translate her love of dancing into her students and she has a magical connection with the pre school and pre grade dancers.