Our Team | Studio Three Ponsonby - Home to Xtend Barre

THE

STUDIO THREE TEAM

Our team at Studio three have been carefully selected for their expertise, experience in the programs they teach and above all, their commitment and level of care for our clients!

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Viv Gallagher

Viv‘s passion for Dance started at age 5 when she started classical ballet and developed over the years as she studied various styles of dance, gymnastics, yoga and pilates.

Viv has more than 20 years’ experience in the fitness industry and is a fully certified Personal Trainer, Pilates Mat and Reformer Instructor, Group Fitness Instructor and former National Trainer in her previous role. Viv has worked internationally teaching Pilates, Dance and Yoga fusion classes and discovered Barre while living overseas.

Viv describes Xtend Barre as the ultimate workout and is thrilled to bring Xtend Barre to Auckland. Viv is a firm believer that in order to stick to a fitness routine, it must motivate, challenge mentally and physically and above all be something that you enjoy doing!

Penny Metcalfe

Penny has had a love of sport and fitness since school. She holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and has held a variety of roles within this realm. She is a qualified Polestar Pilates Instructor and was introduced to Xtend Barre in early 2013.

Penny likes how Xtend Barre is a challenging, yet achievable workout that is fun and great for mind-body coordination. Its suits all abilities and a dance background is not required! Penny loves to see participants leaving a class happy, sweaty, refreshed and challenged! She is looking forward to seeing Xtend Barre grow in New Zealand.

Tess Victory

Tess has worked in Australia as a Broncos NRL Cheerleader, as a professional dancer with the Legs 11 Dance Company and internationally with Glow Show Entertainment, traveling to India. She is a choreographer and qualified dance teacher with a real passion for commercial jazz and tap.

Although her love of barre originates from training in classical ballet at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence. As a registered Physiotherapist, Tess really understands the body’s biomechanics and movement. Paired with her love for dance, she became a Xtend Barre instructor based in Brisbane, Australia in 2014. Now teaching in Auckland, New Zealand, she endeavours to help you get the most out of every class and have fun at the same time!

Maria Munkowits

Maria Munkowits is a freelance dancer based in Auckland and holds a Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts majoring in contemporary dance.

She has toured both locally and internationally in various performances and worked with some of New Zealand's leading contemporary dance companies. Maria has completed a YTA 200hr yoga teacher training course with Byron Bay Yoga in 2010 and is a passionate advocate of yoga and dance.

Maria has developed Yoga Dance, now offered at Xtend Barre and Studio3 – a flowing practice combined with classic and dynamic yoga postures choreographed with invigorating musicality.

Maddie Brosnan

Maddie found Xtend Barre in Wellington in the city where it all began. Her love of barre as a client soon took her in the direction of becoming an instructor where she completed her training here in our Ponsonby studio!

Maddie has a huge passion for health and wellness and believes that movement is medicine, and completed 200 HR Yoga teacher training with PowerLiving in 2016.A strength over scales attitude Maddie is all about how we feel from the inside out and becoming strong and functional in the way we move. Combining the elements of Xtend Barre has reshaped her body and mind.

You will find her Olympic Weightlifting, at CrossFit and also competing in Powerlifting competitions. She came to test Xtend Barre out to see how this would help with mobility and lengthening and has never looked back!

Rebecca Wyatt

Rebecca grew up with a very active lifestyle and has not stopped moving since. She began dancing at the age of 4 doing Ballet and Jazz, and also has a strong background in competitive Athletics.

Outside the studio, she has recently completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies majoring in Advertising Creativity, pursuing a career in the arts and media industry.

Rebecca has recently completed the intensive Xtend Barre training and is now a fully certified instructor. Rebecca is passionate about staying active and continually challenging herself, her sweet, cheerful personality will inspire you to do the same!”

Hamish McIntosh

A contemporary dance graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, Hamish joins us with a passion for dance and anatomy. A lover of technique, Hamish first started Xtending in 2015 and in it discovered an addictive and demanding style of exercise.

Hamish’s approach is to found all movement in a technical framework to maximise not only results but also an understanding of how we move as humans. Always excited to share his passion for the body with his cliental, Hamish is grateful to work in an environment where people are as determined to learn about themselves as he is.

Benedikte Onarheim

Benedikte Onarheim-Smith is from Norway and after marrying a kiwi she has now made New Zealand her home.

Bene has a BA in Modern/Contemporary Dance from Norway's elite Art Academy in 2009. This is a comprehensive programme with training/assessment provided by the Norwegian Institute of Sports. Since graduating she has worked as a freelance dancer, choreographer, producer of her own shows and as a Pilates Instructor.

Benedikte is a certified instructor through the Pilates Room, Oslo, (STOTT Pilates). She has worked at a rehabilitation centre specialising in injury recovery along with prenatal Pilates. Benedikte has a wealth of knowledge in different training strategies and regimes. Her Pilates classes have a strong focus on the use of the breath as the engine for exercise. She is thorough in her approach and has an eye for the quality and detail of the movement she teaches.

Pamela Sidhu

Pamela was first introduced to yoga during her professional dance training at the New Zealand School of Dance. During her studies and since graduating she has worked with Black Grace Dance Company, The New Zealand Dance Company, The Lion King(Australian tour) and the Lion King (Netherlands.)

Throughout her career, Pamela continued to develop a strong and personal yoga practice which shes believes has sustained the health of her body and mind. Preventing injuries; assisting with muscle recovery; and offering a place of refuge, from the fast pace of everyday life, to slow down and reconnect.

To take her practice further, she completed a YTA 200hr yoga teacher training in Spain with Frog Lotus Yoga. She continued to each in Europe and loves that she now gets to invite and guide others to journey on the same thoughtful inquiry of their bodies and minds.