Coaches | Rosemore Calisthenics Dance College Inc.

All coaches at Rosemore Calisthenics Dance College are fully qualified and trained level 1 coaches, with most having participated themselves in calisthenics for many years. They are required to update their skills, including first aid, and attend professional development and training seminars on a regular basis.

Current Coaches

Principal Coach

Michele Pink

Michele started calisthenics at the age of 4 at Minerva Calisthenics College under the instruction of Mrs Gale. Once Minerva was taken over by Mrs Pat Marsh and renamed Merinda, Michele then continued calisthenics there for the next 20 years, from Tinies through to Seniors, winning a Ballarat aggregate in her final years of Seniors in 1996.

Michele has completed all her pupil skill exams and went on to complete her Bronze and Silver Medals. She has also competed in the Graceful solo competitions and was part of the Victorian State Team for 3 consecutive years.

Michele was an assistant coach of the Senior Team at Merinda working with both Susan Harding and Suzanne Beattie. Michele’s family have been passionately involved in calisthenics for as long as she can remember, including her parents; Lorna and Leo Leyden who were made the first life members of Merinda Calisthenics College in 1994. Michele has enjoyed her move to Brisbane and now is very excited to bring all she knows and loves to help grow calisthenics in QLD.

Level 1 Coaches

Jen Phillips

Jen started calisthenics in 1996 at Chadstone Calisthenics club and instantly fell in love with the sport. She completed in both team competitions and solos until she moved to North Queensland in 2003 with her family. Here she participated in various dance styles including jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theatre as there was no calisthenics available.

After a nine year break Jen returned to calisthenics in 2012 with a refreshed excitement and continues to compete as a senior including at Nationals as part of the Queensland team in 2016. She gained her level 1 coaching qualification in 2016 and is thoroughly enjoying coaching and all it has to offer, including passing on her passion and skills to the next calisthenics generation.

Wendy Bos-Kabogo

Wendy is a level 1 Calisthenics Coach and qualified school teacher who has specifically specialised in Dance, Drama and Physical Education for 19 years, after earning a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Teaching in 1999.

Her Calisthenics journey began in 1981 in Victoria as a fresh little Tiny at the age of 3 and it has since taken her to be a part of 3 clubs, including top division clubs in Victoria, where they won State Championships and Ballarat Aggregates. As a young child she participated in graceful’s and calisthenic solos, successfully winning several competitions including the VCCA (Victorian Calisthenics Coaches Association) graceful girl competition on 2 occasions and has completed her Grade 4 in Calisthenic Pupil Skills.

After completing high school, she took a 15 year absence from Calisthenics to focus on her teaching career and to travel and teach overseas, giving her the opportunity to direct and choreograph over 6 school musicals, eisteddfods and concerts both in Australia and abroad.

She has had extensive experience teaching children of all ages from early childhood to year 12, and in addition to her Calisthenics experience Wendy has studied many different dance styles including, ballet, contemporary, jazz, African, Latin, ballroom and gymnastics and has performed in different competitions within these styles. She has also undertaken singing training and been a part of music groups and choirs. Having participated in every age group of Calisthenics from Tinies to Seniors, it was her desire to come back to this sport, that found her joining the Masters team at Rosemore in 2016, before joining the coaching team in 2017.

Wendy had a very successful 2017 winning the Masters Graceful QLD State Championship and she is currently furthering her professional portfolio by studying her Masters in Teaching through Deakin University.

Melissa Murray

Melissa started calisthenics at the age of 3. She was a member at Fernleigh Calisthenics Club and Ellanda Calisthenics College for 26 years. At the age of about 14 Melissa started her teaching love and become an assistant teacher for Tinies, Sub-Juniors, Juniors and Inters over the years.

In 2007 Melissa sadly left calisthenics due to a move to Canada. Upon her return to Australia she moved from Melbourne to Brisbane where she continued her break from calisthenics to start a family.

After a 10 year break Melissa joined the Rosemore teaching staff in 2016 and also became a member in our Masters team. In 2018 she successfully completed her level 1 accreditation. Melissa loves the great friendships she has formed through calisthenics and is excited to share her love and knowledge for the sport.

Leah Handy

Leah is a qualified Level 1 Coach and Adjudicator. She began Calisthenics in South Australia and has competed at National Competitions.

Jodie McVean

Jodie started recreational calisthenics in 1993 at the age of 3 and transitioned to a competitive team in 1995, where she spent the next 10 years dancing with Wodonga Calisthenics Academy. Highlights of her time there included winning CVI State Titles and competing multiple times at the prestigious Royal South Street competition in Ballarat. After taking a year off calisthenics to go on exchange to France, she returned to cadet for two years. She then spent a year with Doncaster Calisthenics, before having a 6-year break. In this time, Jodie had a daughter, completed her psychology undergraduate degree and competed and coached in her universities cheerleading team.

Upon moving to Queensland at the beginning of 2017, Jodie was looking at joining a dance team in order to meet new people and it was then that she found Rosemore. Throughout 2017, Jodie competed in the Rosemore Masters team and completed her Grade 2 pupil skills. In 2018, she extended her career opportunities by commencing a Master of Social Work degree, joined the Rosemore Coaching Team as an assistant coach for the Sub-Juniors and achieved her Level 1 Coaching qualification. A further highlight of 2018 was winning the CAQI State Championships with the Rosemore Masters team.

Jodie is looking forward to 2019, with coaching her first duo item and choreographing her first team item for Juniors. She is also looking forward to continuing to compete with the Masters team and performing her first solo item in the Graceful Girl competition.

Cadets

Caitlin Gates

Caitlin began her coaching journey in 2017 by completing the ACF Cadet accreditation course. 2019 will see Caitlin complete her Level 1 accreditation and become a qualified coach. She began Calisthenics in South Australia and has been a representative of the Queensland State Team and has competed in team, solo and duo competitions in Queensland and Interstate.