Olivia Morrison
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Founder, Creative Director & Head Teacher
Born and raised in Auckland, Olivia founded LivDance in 2022, fulfilling a dream she has had since childhood. Olivia’s natural talent and musicality were first noticed on a family holiday when she was just 18 months old. It became clear once she started dance classes that dance and performance were where she was happiest.
Dancing and performing for over 27 years, Olivia has trained in a wide variety of dance styles as well as acting and singing. Her greatest passion is performance, having been involved in numerous productions on and off stage around Auckland since 2011. Olivia has been choreographing and teaching dance for over 14 years, including Musical Theatre, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary and Ballet, with experience teaching people of all ages, ranging from 2 to 80. She is committed to providing high-quality dance training in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where students can grow, express themselves, and build confidence.
Olivia is a passionate advocate for mental health and understands the importance of creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and included. Being neurodiverse herself, she has a unique perspective on learning and expression, which informs her teaching and helps her connect with students who think or learn differently.​For Olivia, the greatest joy is watching her dancers thrive, discover their confidence, and shine both on and off the stage.
Patrick Cunneen
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Musical Director/Vocal Couch
Patrick has been singing and performing since he was three years old—starting with Christmas concerts in his living room, where his parents were required to buy tickets. He discovered musical theatre at age 12 with North Shore Music Theatre and fell in love instantly. Since then, he’s become a familiar face across Auckland’s community theatre scene, performing with Centerstage, Harlequin, and Playhouse. Some of his favourite credits include Heathers and Wicked (NSMT), Urinetown and La Cage Aux Folles (Centrestage), The Wizard of Oz and High School Musical (Harlequin), and Sweeney Todd and The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Playhouse).
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Alongside performing, Patrick has also spent time teaching. He previously worked with junior school students at Takapuna Grammar School, helping young performers develop confidence, vocal technique, and a love for music. One of Patrick’s proudest achievements was co-writing, producing, and performing a musical stand-up comedy show with his friend India at just 19 years old. The duo took the show to the Wellington Fringe Festival, brought home an award, and—miraculously—didn’t lose too much money.
Patrick is incredibly grateful to be working with LivDance and to share his passion for performance with such amazing kids.
Deborah Morrison
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Administration
With 14 years of experience as the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Auckland Area Organiser, Deborah has supported RAD schools across Auckland and Northland — including teachers, students, parents, and examiners. There’s no one better for this role! Deborah is understanding, kind, and always helpful. With her wealth of knowledge in all things dance school, she’ll assist you with any comments, questions, or concerns.