BIOGRAPHY

Hellen Russo, previously known as Sheila Alvarenga, was born in Brazil and is an Australian permanent resident living in Perth, WA since April, 2009. 

Hellen is a qualified dance teacher, an independent contemporary dancer creator, performer, improviser and somatic techniques practitioner. She is a very charismatic,  enthusiastic and cheerful person always with a positive attitude. 

She started her career very young as a classical ballet dancer through the Vaganova method, graduated by the Municipal School of Ballet of São Paulo in 1996 with an awarded scholarship. In 2001 obtained the bachelor degree in Dance and Movement followed by her teaching dance certificate, 2002 at the "Anhembi - Morumbi University". In 2008 she concluded her post graduation diploma in art - education at the University of São Paulo, Centro Universitario Maria Antonia and recently she concluded Ausdance Skill Set for teaching dance.

Hellen also has an extensive knowledge of Feldenkrais, Laban, Bartenieff fundamentals, contact improvisation, new dance/movement, Brazilian dances, modern dance of Martha Graham, Pilates and Yoga. 

Hellen's recent teaching experience is mostly related to classical and contemporary dance and fitness classes for children, teenagers and adults and also creative dance and stretching through  the mechanical aspect of the human body, psycho-motor organization methods and body awareness. She is a senior first Aider.

In Australia Hellen Performed a solo at Short Cuts last  year;  developed a creative work with two other  dancers  through the Futures Movies Initiatives - Studio Space 2009, worked at Projector performance by Sarah Neville and in Collision Course Film  by Claudia Alessi. Hellen is participating in several workshops and classes promoted by Strut dance.

In a weekly basis she is a classical ballet teacher at " Dance Scene" studio and on Queens Park Recreation Centre and is always involved in creative processes and body researches.