About Us

Camberwell District Ballet is one of the only schools in Australia teaching Russian Classical Ballet as it is taught in Russian schools. With a rich history spanning over four decades, it remains a beacon of tradition and excellence.

The Russian School of classical ballet training is slow and careful, working on the body to become an instrument to dance with. The training is geared to a gentle and  gradual – one may say natural development which,  with the which unfolding of time and the growth of the student cultivates an aura of simple eloquence and they grow up without strain or injury; learning to wear their technical prowess as a graceful garment.

The secrets of technique that distinguish the Russian School lie in the particular use of the traditional exercises developed by the “old masters”

– a balance between tension and relaxation used in every variety of rhythm, and developing from small to large and powerful movements. The greatest secret of the training is Epaulment – a misunderstood word that means so much. The play of the shoulders and the head always falling with the body – the accomplishment that gives the longest line in every movement, and maintains a natural facility, to use the body with fluent delicacy.

We would not have been able to teach the disciplines of the system without Madame Janina Ciunovas, an internationally-acclaimed Professor of Dance, (Written up as one of the 20th Century Master Teachers by Gretchen Ward-Warren in her manual). 

Janina, herself, trained as a child in this amazing system and worked with other great Russian teachers worldwide,and also being on the Faculty of the Australian Ballet School and working internationally with the great Jurgen Schneider.

Janina’s work with our school for 10 years was vital, because it is not possible to teach the Russian System without training with a Master teacher of her calibre.

We are indebted to her generosity with which she imparted her knowledge to us, enabling us to teach the Russian System as is taught in many of the great schools attached to major international companies.

Teachers at Camberwell District Ballet are all knowledgeable and experienced professionals with the highest professional qualifications.
The school also offers excellent classes in Character Dance and Contemporary Techniques. Additionally, VCE VETDANCE is taught and our students have received many Premiers Awards for this.
Students must fulfil attendance requirements and reach certain technical standards prior to being considered for annual exams.

Camberwell District Ballet mounts a major professional production every year.

Janina with husband Boris Čiunovas in Monte Carlo in 1935, during the Lithuanian Ballet’s international tour.
Susan Thomson, Janina Ciunovas and Lubov Nikonorenko (former dancer with the Kirov Ballet)

Susan Thomson

Principal & Director

Susan has been a professional classical ballet dancer for over 50 years. Born in Melbourne, she was the first and only student from Victoria to join the Australian Ballet School’s inaugural intake in 1964. During her three years there, she trained under Nina Nedzsvetskaya, Mr. Poul Gnatt from the Royal Danish Ballet, Mr. Leon Kelloway, and Dame Margaret Scott. After graduating, Susan joined “Ballet Victoria,” where she performed as both Principal and Soloist. She danced roles such as Odette in “Swan Lake,” one of the two leading Wilis in “Giselle,” Swanhilda in “Coppelia,” the Grande Pas de Deux in “Paquita,” and the Pas de Deux in “Le Corsaire.” She also featured as one of the leading couples in Laurel Martyn’s “Spring Sonata.”

Other ballets Susan performed in included “La Beau Danube”, “Peter and the Wolf” , “Sylvia” and “The Nutcracker” , to name a few. During this time she again studied with Poul Gnatt, Nina Nedzsvetskaya and Lynne Golding.In 1973 Susan had the good fortune to meet Mikhail Baryshnikov and Igor Belsky, Ballet Master of the Kirov Ballet Company. With an invitation from Mr. Belsky, and negotiation through the Australian Government, Susan and her husband Toivo were provided with a marvellous opportunity to travel to Leningrad for 3 months to study and observe classes with both the Vaganova Academy and The Kirov Ballet Company (Mariinsky).

Prior to teaching at her own School, Susan performed and studied in Munich, London and New York, working with such teachers as David Howard and Jurgen Schneider.
Susan also performed in Swan Lake alongside the legendary Dame Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev. She appeared on television and toured with The Arts Council of Australia.
Susan was selected for The Australian Ballet School Teacher Training Course where she graduated with her Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma.

Toivo Taves

Program & Artistic Director

Toivo’s journey started when he and his parents moved to Australia from Estonia and Latvia during his childhood. He first learned the folk dances of his home countries and then began studying classical ballet around the age of 10 with an English RAD teacher. The teacher later suggested that Toivo would benefit from training under a male instructor to further hone his dance skills.
Toivo continued his training under the guidance of Paul Fibigs, a former Principal Dancer with the Latvia National Ballet. Under Fibigs’ excellent instruction, Toivo adopted the Russian System of classical ballet. This training eventually led him to join Ballet Victoria, a company pivotal in the development of ballet in Australia. Here, Toivo had many opportunities to perform soloist and principal roles in various classical ballets, touring across the country.
While with Ballet Victoria, Toivo met his future wife, Susan Thomson. After they got married, they had an extraordinary opportunity to study in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) after meeting renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and Igor Belsky, a ballet master from the Kirov Ballet. Susan and Toivo spent three months observing the exceptional training that Russian students received, which was an incredible experience for them while Russia was still under Soviet rule.
Being exposed to the Russian System of ballet inspired Toivo to pursue teaching in this method. Several years later, he and Susan took over Paul Fibigs’ school, where they initially taught the Cecchetti system. However, they soon transitioned to the Russian System because of its beautiful and logical results in training dancers.
A turning point in their teaching approach occurred when they had the opportunity to work with Janina Ciunovas for ten years at Camberwell District Ballet. Janina, an exceptional teacher, brought extensive knowledge of the Russian System, having worked internationally with another renowned instructor, Jurgen Schneider. Under her guidance, Camberwell District Ballet fully embraced the Russian System and became a preparatory school for the Russian Choreographic Academy.
Throughout his career, Toivo also ventured into choreography, creating works for Ballet Victoria. One of his pieces, “The Scarf,” earned him recognition as a runner-up in the Australian Choreographic Competition. His passion for teaching and dedication to the Russian System remained central to his journey in the world of dance.

Susan and her husband Toivo Taves have taught for over 40 years, training hundreds of young dancers. Many of those students are now dancing in companies around the world, including The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and Western Australian and Queensland ballet companies.

Get in Touch

If you have a question, comment or any other enquiry, we would love to hear from you!

27-31 Camberwell Road,
Hawthorn East,
Victoria 3123

(03) 9882-5378
Mob: 0450 248 472

[email protected]


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