Contemporary
Contemporary Dance Classes Johannesburg: Expressive Movement for All Ages
Introduction to Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance is a captivating and ever-evolving art form that breaks away from the strict lines of classical technique. Combining the groundedness of modern dance, the flow of creative movement, and the technical strength of ballet, it allows dancers a tremendous range of artistic and emotional expression. Contemporary dance is excellent for developing deep body awareness, fluid transitions, and dynamic movement quality. At Perfect Move, we provide highly respected Contemporary dance classes in Johannesburg, taught by experienced professionals who foster creativity and technical excellence in every student.
Children & Youth Contemporary Programs (Ages 6–18)
Our progressive contemporary curriculum guides young dancers from basic movement to advanced artistic performance, developing strong technique and individual expression at every stage.
Professional Team
Meet The Coach
Simone Crause
founder and owner of Perfect Move
Simone Crause, founder and owner of Perfect Move Studios, has been dancing since the age of five. With a lifelong passion for movement and performance, she has trained in Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop and gymnastics, earning AIDT performance diplomas and Advanced Ballet qualifications through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD).
Simone began teaching at just 15 and has since built a career combining dance, performance and teaching. She has performed locally and internationally, including alongside renowned artist Seal and for major brands such as Standard Bank and Coca-Cola. Her professional experience spans Mzansi Ballet, showgirl performances, Bollywood, Hip Hop, ballet and fire dancing.
As a teacher, Simone believes dance is about far more than technique. Her goal is to create a welcoming space where students feel confident, valued and empowered to grow — both as dancers and as individuals.
Today, Simone continues to expand her knowledge across dance, fitness and wellness, bringing her experience and passion into every class at Perfect Move Studios.
Ipeleng Merafe
Contemporary & Ballet
Ipeleng Merafe is a former professional dancer and theatre performer from Johannesburg. She began ballet at age 5, completing her training with the Royal Academy of Dance (Advanced 2 level) and performing with the South African Ballet Academy. A 2003 exchange student at The National Ballet School in Toronto, she also attended programs at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
In 2006, Ipeleng enrolled at the Cape Academy of Performing Arts, earning a diploma in Contemporary Dance and Theatre Related Studies. She joined the Cape Youth Dance Company and later the Cape Dance Company, performing locally and internationally at festivals like Salisbury and Edinburgh Fringe.
Ipeleng has performed in Dada Masilo’s productions, including “Death and the Maidens” and “Swan Lake,” where she understudied the lead role, Odette. She was also Assistant Dance Captain in the international tour of “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical” (2018-2020). A founding member of the South African Dance Alliance, she earned her Certificate of Ballet Teacher Studies from the Royal Academy of Dance (2023) and became a board member of Cape Ballet Africa in 2024. Currently, she is completing her Pilates certification at Trifocus Fitness Academy.
Jaden Finch
Acro & Contemporary
Jaden Finch is a dedicated dance educator and performer whose passion for dance has been a driving force throughout her life. Beginning her journey with ballet and contemporary dance, she later discovered a profound love for acrobatics, lyrical, and various other styles.
At the age of 14, Jaden began competing in local, national, and international competitions. Notably, in 2017, she represented her talent in Croatia, where she achieved an impressive sixth place in the world for her age category. Her accolades continued in 2019 when she was honored as Dancer of the Year by Talent Africa. That same year, she earned her Acrobatics Arts teacher qualification, achieving a remarkable 100% in both the practical and theoretical components of the course.
Jaden’s commitment to excellence extends to her students. She has successfully coached several dancers who competed in Ireland at the World Lyrical Dance Federation, where two of her students claimed lyrical world champion titles. Additionally, she received a prestigious scholarship from the Millennium Dance School in London. Jaden’s accomplishments also include earning her official Gauteng colors and qualifying for Protea colors, allowing her to compete at the IDO National Championships in Poland.
As a qualified dance teacher through the South African Body of Dance, Jaden currently shares her expertise in acrobatics, lyrical, contemporary, and modern dance with her students. Her fervent enthusiasm for dance and her dedication to nurturing the success of her dancers make her an inspiring figure in the dance
community.
Gabriella Smith
Ballet, Contemporary & Acrobatics
I have loved dance my whole life and started dancing at the age of 4, focusing on Cecchetti ballet for most of my childhood. In my early teens I moved to RAD and contemporary dance where I found an even deeper love for dance. In university, I realised my passion for teaching dance and completed a certificate in anatomy with the University of Michigan and a certificate in the science of exercise with the University of Colorado Boulder. I have been teaching stretch and dance since 2021 and fell in love with the science of competitive dance and what it takes to train to that level. I completed my personal training qualification with HFPA, and received teaching training in ballet (Vaganova method) and PACRODA acro. I am currently working towards becoming an A.I.D.T modern teacher so that I can offer even more to my incredible dancers. I am especially interested in injury prevention training and passionate about turning out strong, fit, technique-oriented dancers with a love for their craft.