Sonja Dene is a highly respected and qualified teacher with over 35 years of experience in dance education with many guest teaching appointments throughout Australia and Internationally. Sonja began her dance training in 1971 with Ransley Studios where she studied Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Irish. On completion of all her Vocational Exams and under the guidance and directorship of Joy and Dawn Ransley, Sonja moved to the Gold Coast in Queensland where she undertook the Student Teachers Training Course which she completed with Distinction. In 1994 the Royal Academy of Dance awarded Sonja the Teachers Diploma of Dance with Distinction and was seconded to the Gold Coast Youth Ballet and the Sydney Youth Ballet in the position of Ballet Mistress. 

In 1986, Sonja returned to Sydney and established her dance school in the Hills District. With Sonja's popularity quickly growing as a school and Teacher of distinction she was a natural choice for election in 1990 to the NSW Regional Advisory Panel for the Royal Academy of Dance. ​Sonja has been a member of the panel for over 23 years , with 6 of those years being elected Chair of the Panel.   In this position Sonja initiated a new format for the prestigious Isobel Anderson Awards Scholarship Competition which was adapted throughout Australia and most recently established the Joan & Monica Halliday Awards (NSW). 

In 2015 Sonja was honoured by the Royal Academy of Dance with the prestigious President’s Award and in 2017 was awarded “Most Outstanding Performing Arts” by the Local Business Awards.