Originally from Johannesburg, David Claase danced professionally with the South African Ballet Theatre upon graduating from the National School of the Arts before coming to Asia to join the Hong Kong Ballet in 2000.  At the HK Ballet, he portrayed various characters and principal roles, which showcased his talents as a strong partner and a dramatic/comedic artist. After retiring from the company as a coryphe in 2012, he embarked on a new career as a body-conditioning specialist.

David completed his certification in STOTT PILATES® in 2012 and has since been honing his craft in this field. He accomplished his GYROTONIC® certification and serves as a guest teacher at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from time to time, where he teaches body conditioning.

David’s experiences as a dancer and teacher have given him invaluable insight about movement and how the body can be retrained to be at its most efficient. His strengths include rehabilitation work on his clients, many of whom have experienced tremendous improvement after working with him. In 2015 David officially co-opened his own premises and thus, Elevate was born.