Faculty
We are focused on providing a welcoming space for a passionate community of like minded students, staff, families, and the wider arts community, who are jointly dedicated to maintaining a nurturing, respectful, inclusive and safe environment for the industry’s next generation.
Chylie Cooper
Emily Higgins
Michelle Higgins
Eloise Alsop
Gemma Freeman
Jemma Allen
Jenny Mead
Joseph Simons
Lia Cox
Lilyana Lloyd
Marc Clement
Martine Quigley
Michael Griffiths
Natalie Linke
Sarah Williams
Sheila Laing
Summer Dunt
Valentina Pavlova
Guest Faculty
Adam Blanch
Amelia Sanzo
Andrew Bevis
Danielle Evrat
Nathan M. Wright
Nic Collins
Choreographers 2024
Lauren Elton
Lewis Shilvock
Matt Lee
Simone Sault
Terry Cooper
Amelia Sanzo
Adelaide born, Amelia trained extensively in all genres of theatre since the age of 5. At 17, she made the move to New York City after receiving a 12 month scholarship to train full-time at the Broadway Dance Centre.
Since returning to Australia, Amelia has been performing professionally most recently completing the 2022 Australian tour of Disney’s Frozen (Disney). Other professional credits include Andrew Lloyd Webbers 2022 Sydney Harbour production of The Phantom of the Opera (Opera Australia/HOSH) and the 2021 Australian tour of West Side Story (Opera Australia/GWB Entertainment)
Dr. Briah Victory
Briah developed an early love for music and movement and grew up training in many facets of the performing arts. She entered the industry at a young age with professional credits including The Sound of Music Adelaide Season 2000, Black and White Australian film 2002, The Australian Ballet Company’s Sleeping Beauty Adelaide Season 2006 as well as a number of televised commercials and promotional shows. As a late teenager Briah left the performing arts industry to pursue a career in medicine.
She holds a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery from The University of Adelaide and is currently enrolled in the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrist’s Fellowship Program. She has an interest in paediatric mental health and holds a Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health from the Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Service of South Australia.
Briah found her way back to the performing arts world through choreographing and coaching performance pieces for aspiring dancers. Her work has been celebrated on a national stage with many award winning performances and two nominations for Get The Beat International Dance Competition’s Choreographer of The Year in 2017 and 2018.
To enhance her dance coaching abilities Briah has completed an Associate Diploma with the Australian Institute of Classical Dance and recently gained accreditation in Marie Walton-Mahon’s Progressing Ballet Technique. Briah is passionate about developing dancers with a secure technical foundation, robust understanding of their body and mind including how to keep themselves safe and instilling a joy of dance that can be individually celebrated and openly shared with others.
Bridget Hancock
After training in all facets of dance in Adelaide, Bridget made her professional debut at 19 in the Australian national tour of “Anything Goes” (John Frost/Opera Australia, 2015), playing the role of ‘Virtue’ and performing in the iconic Sydney Opera House, amongst other capital city venues. She was previously a member of the top 100 dancers on the 2014 televised season of ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ (Channel 10).
Bridget has since been performing with Royal Caribbean International for 6 years, beginning as a dancer/showgirl before transitioning to vocalist and returning multiple times to play ‘Spectra’, the lead singer and host of their featured show ‘Spectra’s Cabaret’ onboard Ovation of the Seas (2019-23).
Other select credits include performing with Australian artists David Campbell, Amy Lehpamer, Demi Hines, and the late Michael Falzon, and completing development and performing as an original cast member of ‘Arcadia – Bohemian Cabaret’ (Cocktail Creative), featured in the 2022 Adelaide Fringe Festival.
Chylie Cooper
Chylie Cooper grew up in Adelaide studying ballet with Jaqueline Tucker, Christine Underdown and performing with the South Australian Children’s Ballet Company.
Her further studies were undertaken in Perth at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, graduating with a Diploma of Dance. In 1996 she worked with Rex Reid at Dance Theatre Victoria, then danced with David Prudham’s Australia Dancers Company in Perth for its 1998/99 seasons and with West Australian Ballet.
In 1999, Chylie joined Australian Dance Theatre in Adelaide under the direction of Garry Stewart.
Chylie then moved to Sydney and joined Sydney Dance Company in 2000. She toured with the Company throughout Australia and to the United States, Mexico, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, China and the UK.
Other career credits: MOD Dance Company; Suite Synergy West Australian Ballet: Coppelia; Australian Dance Theatre: Plastic Space, Bird Brain; David Prudham’s Australian Dancers Company: Virtuosity, Split. Dance Theatre Victoria: Peter and the Wolf. Film and Television credits: Mao’s Last Dancer; ABC Dance Academy.
Danika Roach
Danika’s love of dance and performing began at a very early age where she trained in all genres including ballet, jazz, lyrical, acro, musical theatre, tap, singing and many more. She entered the professional industry in 2016 playing Marta in the national production of The Sound of Music. In 2017 Danika was selected as the lead dancer for the opening ceremony of the international Astronautical Congress. Danika continued to regularly compete at dance competitions where she has won a number of national titles and was recently selected into Australia’s Dream Dance Creative Elite Team. She has also recently completed her Stage 1 SACE in Dance, Certificate 3 in Dance and Acrobatic Arts Teaching Qualification course in 2022. As Danika continues to grow and develop as a dancer herself she has begun to share her love of dance through choreographing performance pieces and coaching classes to the younger generation, with her work receiving award winning performances.
David Placentino
David started his freestyle journey through experimenting with Hip-Hop, Popping and Krump. Freestyling’ in a club in Adelaide at the age of 23, David was approached by a local Urban Hip-Hop school. With great direction and mentoring David started his Hip-Hop teaching/choreographic career.
David has extensive teaching experience at every level. He joined a Hip-hop crew called the Ground Breakers in 2012 and was involved in numerous showcases, competitions and back up dancing for various events. The Ground Breakers were two-time State champions in World Supremacy Battlegrounds and were the first open Hip-Hop Crew in the state to compete at Hip-Hop International qualifiers in QLD and NSW.
David then started Ballroom Latin competitively. Over a four-year period, David trained at Madeleine Dance Emporium, a renowned Ballroom/Latin competitive studio. He competed in three national Ballroom Latin championships, and numerous state competitions and showcases.
David is also involved in the freestyle battle scene of Adelaide, when his talents were recognised, and he was inducted into the Freak Nation family. By where he is an inaugural member of the Krump crew, Beast Mode. One of his best achievements was winning Dancekool Vol. 30 all-styles battle and was flown to Sydney for the nationals and made the quarterfinals.
Over a ten-year period, David has been a professional dancer and choreographer through Ding Productions and various other Dance studios. Through this journey David has had been involved in numerous corporate and sporting events. Highlights including dancing and choregraphing for the Adelaide Strikers, Adelaide Crows, Port Adelaide Power and Liza Emmanuel fashion parades.
High energy, flow, creativity and passion are at the forefront of his style and classes. With such a wide spectrum of styles, David’s ability is to speak dance in most languages and at all levels.
Eloise Alsop
At age 3, Eloise Alsop began training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz. During her training, she attended Kim Harvey School of Dance (ACT), before moving to National College of Dance for full time training (NSW), obtaining a Certificate IV in Dance, and Advanced Diploma in Elite Performance. She had the opportunity to compete in many competitions, including the Alana Haines Australasian Awards, Australian Classical Grand Prix, and Sydney Eisteddfod. She also took part in the Australian Ballet Schools ITP and Invitee programmes between 2012-2018.
At age 16, she was accepted into the Bavarian State Ballet II, and moved to Germany alone at 17 to commence work. During her time there, she completed many performances with the Bayerisches Staatsballett, such and Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘Cinderella’, completed company rehearsals of ‘Coppelia’ and ‘Swan Lake’, and most recently performed in John Cranko’s ‘Romeo and Julia.’ Performance highlights with the Bayerisches Junior Ballett include touring Germany and Israel with various pieces, performing in George Balanchine’s ‘Allegro Brilliante,’ a soloist role in ‘Eyeblink,’ choreographed by Maria Barios, and ‘Grosse Rock,’ the opening piece of Bauhaus ballet ‘Das Triadisches.’
Emily Higgins
Emily Higgins began dancing at Vivienne Winter School of Ballet from the age of 2. Having completed training in the Royal Academy of Dance achieving distinctions from primary right through to Advanced Two, Emily has most recently sat the prestigous Solo Seal Examination. A finalist in the Royal Academy of Dance Awards on multiple occasions and has been award the Badenoch Iversen award.
Emily has represented South Australian as a member of the South Australian National Calisthenics team for 6 years, achieving success as a member of winning teams and runner up of the Junior National Graceful Girl Championship. Emily has been in Full Time programme at GWB Studios for the last three years, studying genres include Classical, Lyrical, Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Vocal and Commercial.
Emily has completed a Certificate III and Certificate IV in Dance and is currently studying to become a qualified Royal Academy of Dance ballet teacher. Emily is a passionate dancer who enjoys working hard, taking every opportunity to perform, setting and achieving goals with enthusiasm and has first hand experience of the benefits of supplementary dance programs for the keen Calisthenics performer.
Michelle Higgins
A lifelong journey and commitment to Dance, Michelle progressed through the performing stage in Calisthenics including representing South Australia as part of their Ballarat, State and National Teams to Coaching Teams, Graceful and Cali Solos. Coaching privately and as a Club Coach, training competitors in team, solo, strength, conditioning, technique and Pupil Skills.
Michelle has a passion for Graceful Girl, and has had substantial success including CASA competitions, National Graceful Girl Championship and has won the prestigious Royal South Street Competition.
As a Coach of numerous successful Graceful Girl and Cali Soloist, Michelle has shared her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm, including coaching Pupil Skills for over 35 years, from Test 1 through to Gold Medal Honours Recipients.
As a progression of this and to further her commitment to the improvement of the sport of Calisthenics, encouraging participants to enhance their skills and strengths in the sport, Michelle commenced as an Australian Calisthenic Federation Examiner in 2008, and is a qualified Australian Calisthenics Examiner from Test 1 through to Gold Medal.
Classically trained in the Cecchetti syllabus, progressing through all Cecchetti Ballet exams from Standard 1 through to Advanced including the Cecchetti Gold Medal.
Sharing her knowledge and experience with others, including private coaching and presenting at Seminars encouraging and developing Coaches to set goals, strive and achieve is a current focus for Michelle.
To share her love and experience with others, full of passion and enthusiasm for Calisthenics, Dance and the Theatre Industry, provides her with a sense of achievement and purpose.
Credits and Qualifications
• ACF Level 1 Coach
• ACF Examiner – Gold Medal
• National Coaches Facilitator and Presenter
• ACF Syllabus development and implementation Advisor
• Examiners Advisory Board Member (EAB)
• EAB Examiners Accreditation Officer
Gemma Freeman
Since the age of three, Gemma has trained in ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance, studying and completing Borovansky and Cecchetti syllabi and CSTD tap exams.
Beginning her dance training at Dance Dimension and later at Barbara Jayne Dance Centre, Gemma competed in many SA-based and interstate dance competitions, winning tao and theatrical championships. At age eight, Gemma landed her first professional role as an understudy for the role of Marta in The Sound of Music with the Gordon Frost Organisation. Following this Gemma performed in many pro-am musical theatre productions with The Met and the Therry Dramatic Society, including Gypsy, Anything Goes, Holly Dolly, 42nd St, Crazy For You and The Boy From Oz.
Gemma has taught at various dance schools across Adelaide, teaching exam syllabi, competition teams and solos, as well as full-time course dance students. She is an accredited Acro teacher with Acrobatic Arts and specialises in jazz, tap, lyrical and contemporary dance.
Alongside her career as a dance teacher, she is also a qualified social worker, advocating for and supporting our most vulnerable members in society. As a dance teacher, Gemma values nurturing her students’ talents and exploring their needs to further enhance their full potential.
Genevieve Nixon
Jemma Allen
Jemma Allen is a vibrant performer and teacher specialising in musical theatre, jazz and cabaret. She has trained and worked with several of the top vocal educators in Australia, such as Roseanne Hosking, George Torbay, Daniel Puckey, Lauren Henderson, and Elle Nichelle (Vocalab). She has a Certificate IV in Dance from the Australian Company of Performing Arts and has trained at the Elder Conservatorium in jazz voice and musical theatre. She has recently returned from Melbourne where she trained full time as a musical theatre at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance as a scholarship student in 2021.
Jenny Mead
Jenny has a long successful history in Calisthenics as a participant, coach and currently as an examiner and adjudicator.
Alongside Calisthenics, Jenny studied Classical Ballet with Audrey Parsons, Lyn Ferrauto and Sheila Laing. This training culminated in winning the Senior National Graceful Girl 1983 (Australian Society of Calisthenics), plus representing the state in many successful State Championship Teams.She has had a professional career in Medical
Imaging and presently works as a Certified Clinical Pilates instructor.
In her Dance Conditioning Classes she employs her knowledge in anatomy and Pilates to deliver a safe class, empowering dancers by developing their strength and flexibility. Jenny is currently working towards gaining accreditation in Progressive Ballet Technique.
Jenny has a particular interest in performance mindset training; Strengthening the mind and body of dancers, to assist them achieve optimal performance, is an integral part of Jenny’s class delivery.
Joseph Simons
Graduating from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Joseph was awarded 2009 Outstanding Emerging Artist at Australian Dance Awards and nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Male Dancer.
As a performer, he has toured throughout USA, Asia, UK and Australia with companies including West Australian Ballet, Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc, Queensland Ballet,Force Majeure, Jack Productions and The Australian Ballet. He has performed with The Production Company, Opera, Victorian Opera and developed work at Australian Dance Theatre and DV8 Physical Theatre, London. As an actor, Joseph played Tom in the original London cast of Spider Love by Mick Goldstein and created the role of Malcom in the world premiere cast of The Death Of Kings by Colette F Keen.
His choreography has been performed by West Australian Ballet (Man Alive), Footlight Productions (Miss Saigon), The Seven Sopranos (Popcorn), Queensland University of Technology (Skank: A Tragic Love Story), Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Self Destruct) and Flying Fruit Fly Circus (Storm) as well as music videos for Elisha Bones’ Guts and Hounds Homebound’s Sandy. Joseph was the recipient of the 2013 Tanya Liedtke Fellowship – awarded to one Australian choreographer every two years.
Following his residency at the International Choreographic Laboratory in Frankfurt, Joseph created his solo work First Things First, premiering in the Robert Helpmann Theatre at the Margot Fonteyn Academy in New York. His next play, 100 Years Of The History Of Dance As Told By One Man In 60 Minutes With An Energetic Group Finale, was written during a development at Roundabout Theatre, New York, before touring extensively.
Joseph directed and choreographed the sold out and extended production of The Producers in Brisbane. He was the Artistic Director of Altitude Theatre before becoming a full-time lecturer in Music Theatre at Elder Conservatorium (ECMT), University of Adelaide.
Lance Collins
Lance grew up in Adelaide before moving to London to study at London Studio Centre, where he graduated in 2016 with a BA in Theatre/Dance. Whilst in training he performed in The Addams Family and Anything Goes both at the New Wimbledon Theatre, and Lucky Stiff as Luigi Gaudi/Uncle in the Lilian Baylis Studio, Sadlers Wells.
He is currently ensemble in Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge The Musical in Cologne. Recently Ensemble in Mamma Mia The Musical (RCCL), On stage swing in The Bodyguard (European Tour), and can be seen dancing season one of Netflix series Bridgerton, and German soap opera Alles was zählt (with Moulin Rouge). Ensemble & Understudy Man in the Mirror Snow White (Crossroads, Bristol Hippodrome), Ensemble & Understudy Muddles in Sleeping Beauty (Qdos, Kings Glasgow), Dancer in Thoroughly Modern Millie (Adephi Theatre, London), Dancer for HANS The German (Summer Sounds Festival & Crown Casino, Melbourne), Ensemble/Swing in Soho Cinders (Union Theatre, London), Mike the DJ in Playback (Adelaide Fringe), Dancer for Amber Martin is Bathhouse Bette, Dancer in West End Bares (Novello & Shaftesbury Theatre, London).
Lauren Elton
Lauren Elton is one of the most sought-after commercial dancers in Sydney. Performing alongside the likes of Rita Ora, Little Mix, Jessica Mauboy, Guy Sebastion, Tones and I, Samantha Jade, and Vera Blue to name a few. Some of Lauren’s credits include X Factor, The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent, The Masked Singer, The Arias, and the Australian film Razzle Dazzle.
She played ‘Lulu’ in seasons 2 and 3 of Dance Academy and was part of the dance ensemble in the Australian production of ‘Saturday Night Fever’.
Lewis Shilvock
Originally from Adelaide, Lewis has trained in performing arts since the age of five. He found his passion for the stage at Precizion Dance, then obtained a scholarship at Scotch College. At age 14, Lewis moved to Melbourne to train at Patrick School of the Arts and then moved to the Gold Coast to complete Dance Force’s full-time training program.
Since graduating, Lewis has performed for a number or corporate events in Australia and travelled to America to perform in Embodiment the Collective’s show ‘The Overthinker’. He was also selected to be a Top 50 contestant on Season 15 of America’s Got Talent.
Lewis recently made his professional musical theatre debut in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and is excited to share what it coming next very soon!
Lia Cox
Dancing since the age of three, Lia began her training with Sheila Laing Dance Centre and Claudia Maddeford School of Dance before heading west for an Advanced Diploma in Dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Lia is Chair of The Royal Academy of Dance SA, Theatre Reviewer for the Theatre Travels and was previously Chair of Move Through Life.
Lilyana Lloyd
Originally from Adelaide, Lilyana trained at the Barbara Jayne Dance Centre before continuing her studies at The Australian Ballet School from level 5, graduating in level 8. Whilst at the school Lilyana had the opportunity to train at the Canada’s National Ballet School as an exchange student. Lilyana performed in The Australian Ballet Regional Tour of Giselle.
After graduating with a Diploma in Dance, Advanced Diploma in Dance and Graduate Diploma in Classical Ballet, Lilyana went on to join the Queensland Ballet in 2018.
Returning back home to Adelaide, Lilyana has shared her passion of ballet through teaching. Coaching the ‘Billy’s’ in Billy Elliot during their Adelaide season and taught a number of years Classical Ballet and Jazz to the Bachelor of Music Theatre students of the Elder Conservatorium of Music at The Adelaide University. Most recently she toured Australia in ‘An American In Paris’ as Dance Captain/Swing.
Lilyana is a qualified teacher of the following:
Royal Academy of Dance ballet syllabus
Progressing Ballet Technique
Progressing Contemporary Technique
Rambert Grades Contemporary syllabus
Credits:
An American in Paris, produced by GWB Entertainment and The Australian Ballet (2021/2022)
Queensland Ballet (2018)
La Bayadére (Greg Horsman), Firebird (Liam Scarlett), Carmen (Carlos Acosta), Swan Lake, Nutcracker & Cinderella (Ben Stevenson OBE), Parts per Million (Craig Davidson), B-Sides (Jack Lister)
The Australian Ballet School (2014-2017)
Almost (Graeme Murphy), Serenade (George Balanchine), Nutcracker, Snow Queens, Paquita, Giselle
Maddie MacArthur
Maddie started dancing at a young age at Centre Stage Dance in New Jersey, and in 2005 continued her performing arts journey in South Australia. Having been involved in the Adelaide Performing Arts comminity for many years, Maddie made the decision to develop her dance and vocal training in Melbourne, completing her Diploma in Dance (PA) at Transit Dance (2019). Maddie has performed in Singapore as an acrobat in the show ‘Young Circus Time’ (2014), was featured in the 2015 Adelaide Fringe Show ‘Trapped’ as a vocalist/acrobat and in 2022 performed as a backup singer and dancer in Hans: ‘A night at the Symph-Honey’. She has additionally worked with Ding Productions, performing as a dancer in corporate and sport events such as the Master’s Game at the Adelaide Convention centre (2019), Adelaide Striker’s BBL (2020-2022) and the AFL (2021).
Marc Clement
Marc Clement has been acting for over 25 years in Theatre and Film. Marc is also a Writer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor. His theatre credits include roles, such as Deeley in Harold Pinter’s Old Times, Alfie in Alfie, Mr. Orange in Reservoir Dogs, State Opera’s Hamlet.
Marc is Co-founder of STARC Productions, teaming up with Tony Knight (ex head acting coach for NIDA for 24yrs) & Stefanie Rossi in January 2018. STARC have been nominated by The Adelaide’s Critics Circle every year since their inception.
Marc was also nominated for in 2019 for the ‘Individual Award’ in Professional Theatre for his work in ‘All in the Timing” In 2021 Venus In Fur was nominated for ’Best Show”
His film credits include the lead role of SASA nominated film Ambergris, Adelaide Film Festival entry Youth on the March. Marc has won multiple awards, such as Best Actor for The Body, Best Director & Editor for Switcharoo’, Marc plays the lead role in Warpath Chronicle as Gideon soon to be released on Amazon Prime.
He is also a Lead Singer/Songwriter/Bass player/Guitarist, and has written a musical called Busker to Broadway.
Marc is well adversed in character development, script analysis, audition technique, self tapes and much more. Marc has be a staple in the acting and teaching community for many years.
Mark Stefanoff
Mark gained a following after his multiple appearances on ‘The Voice’ leading him to the professional world of Music Theatre. Having trained at APO Arts Academy, The Victorian College of the Arts and Broadway Dance Centre, Mark has proven himself a triple threat.
During his time on ‘The Voice’, coach Ricky Martin sent him to New York to meet with his Broadway Agent. Upon his return to Australia, he joined the cast of ‘Godspell’ followed by the Adelaide Fringe Season of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’.
He returned to the screen in Season 4 of ‘The Voice’, joining forces with Ricky again, and pushing his voice to new extremes.
He joined the cast of ‘Hairspray, The Arena Spectacular’ as Brad before a short Season of ‘Rent’, and finally the Australian Tour of ‘Kinky Boots’ where he featured as the Referee Angel.
He has sung across the world with ‘Princess Cruise Lines’, and was in the first cast of ‘Universal Studios Singapore’s’ new show ‘TurnTables’ as King. More recently, Mark toured with Norwegian Cruise Lines as part of the select artist program and staring as Felecia in Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
2022 saw Mark as a vocalist for the wonderful company Burn the Floor, performing around Europe before returning to home soil. Upon doing so, Mark was the vocal coach and backup singer for Disco Wonderland. In Disco Wonderland, He also was part of this show for the Adelaide Fringe Starring Pauline, Timomatic, Philippa Lynas, and Amelia Sanzo, accompanied by the incredible Eraser Description.
Martine Quigley
With training from Broadway Dance Centre New York and Sydney Dance Company, Martine has an extensive resume of performing, choreographing and educating dancers globally. Highlights include The Late Show With David Letterman, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Hans International Superstar shows globally, Enchanted the movie, Law & Order, Fatman Scoop, Grammy’s Make The Music, The Adelaide Strikers, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Oval.
Martine Quigley is University of Adelaide Jazz & Tap Teacher / Lecturer for Bachelor of Music Theatre and GWB Jazz & Tap teacher / lecturer for Diploma of Music Theatre.
Martine’s experience spans live theatre, cruise ships, film, television, examinations, competitions, board member of Ausdance, developing high school and tertiary curriculum & judging dance comps throughout the USA.
CSTD, AICD, CLI, BA Secondary Education
Matt Lee
Matt Lee is an award-winning music theatre leading man, creative director and choreographer who has starred in television and stage productions over the world. Matt’s expansive theatrical career has seen him playing roles in such shows as Frozen the Musical, Mary Poppins for which he won Best Male Actor in a musical at the Helpmann Awards, RENT, Grease: The Arena Spectacular, Oh! What a Night, Rags, Miss Saigon, Hot Shoe Shuffle, The Witches of Eastwick, Hugh Jackman’s: The Boy From OZ, Singin’ in the Rain and We Will Rock You.
Over the past twenty years he has carved out an impressive reputation as one of the top Australian creative forces in the business working alongside the likes of Paula Abdul, Hugh Jackman, Kenny Ortega, Ben Elton and choreographed for Ricky Martin, Samantha Jade, Hilary Duff, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Nathaniel Willemse, Gabriella Cilmi, Marcia Hines, Christine Anu, and Human Nature. Matt was a permanent judge and choreographer on the Logie winning TV series So You Think You Can Dance Australia and has been resident choreographer on The Voice, Australia’s Got Talent, and The Masked Singer.
Max Walburn
Max has spent the past 16 years training in all styles of dance at institutions including Tanya Pearson Academy, The Australian Ballet School (Interstate Training Program/Invitee), and The McDonald College. Originally from Sydney, Max moved to Adelaide to complete a Bachelor of Music Theatre at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Adelaide – where he is currently in his third and final year. Prior to this, he completed a Diploma of Musical Theatre at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA).
As a performer, Max made his professional debut at the age of 11 – playing Jeremy Potts in the Sydney season of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (TML Enterprises). More recently, he was seen as a Cagelle in the Sydney season of La Cage aux Folles (Showtune Productions). Other credits include: La Traviata (State Opera South Australia), L’Hôtel (Adelaide Cabaret Festival) La Bayadère (The Australian Ballet), and Snow White – Winter Family Musical (Bonnie Lythgoe Productions).
Michael Griffiths
Michael has worked extensively in musical theatre and cabaret since graduating from WAAPA with a Bachelor in Musical Theatre in 1999. He won the Helpmann Award in 2016 for Best Cabaret Performer for his Cole Porter tribute and won Best Cabaret Adelaide Fringe in 2014.
He was nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014 for his performance as Bob Crewe in Jersey Boys and Best Musical Direction (Cabaret) for Sweet Dreams: Songs by Annie Lennox and in 2022 for Bigger and Blacker with Steven Oliver.
He is currently Artistic Director of the Perth International Cabaret Festival, musical director for Les Girls star Carlotta and has a star on the Adelaide Festival Centre’s Walk of Fame.
Natalie Linke
SACE Dance Teacher and CUA30120 Certificate III in Dance Teacher
Since the age of 2, Natalie has trained in various genres, including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Calisthenics, completing exams in Classical (R.A.D.),Jazz, Tap and Theatrical(C.S.T.D). In 1997 she obtained a degree in Dance at the University of Adelaide and in 1999 completed a Degree in Education, becoming a qualified High School Dance teacher. She has taught SACE Dance since 2000, withstudents consistently gainingoutstanding results. She is a motivated, energetic and passionate educator committed to providing quality learning experiences and is highly regarded as a leader in Secondary Dance Education in South Australia.
Bachelor of Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Education, Advanced Skills Teacher 2 DfE, TAE40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
Nic Collins
Nic Collins is a Melbourne based performer who completed his performing arts training at Brent Street Academy. Growing up in Orange, country NSW Nic started his training in performing arts at the age of 8 where he found his passion for musical theatre. Upon graduation Nic has appeared in various TVC’s, short and feature films and was cast as “Arab” in the 2019 international tour of West Side story (Opera Australia and GWB Entertainment). Since completing his second tour of West Side Story in 2021 Nic has been working amongst the Melbourne Arts Industry and has just returned from the UK performing in the Closing Ceremony at the Commonwealth games.
Sally Ostrowski
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Sarah Humeniuk
Sarah Williams
Sheila Laing
Sheila Laing began her classical training at the age of four, at Bush Davies School, Romford, UK.
Although classical ballet was her first love, she was also a very talented theatrical dancer, winning many awards throughout her her years of training. At the age of sixteen, Sheila decided to open her own school, with students winning many awards in ballet and musical theatre competitions.
In 1986, Sheila travelled to Adelaide to accept a position as assistant to Miss Eileen Hogarth, who later retired and handed the reins over to Miss Laing, who renamed the school ‘The Sheila Laing Dance Centre’ and immediately extended the school to include full-time students, a first for South Australia.
Sheila has choreographed many ballet productions and her students have gained much success in various ballet competitions throughout Australia. Some of her most memorable acclaims are having choreographed for the ABC series ‘The Music Makers’ and winning National Choreographer of the Year from the TV series ‘Pot of Gold’.
Sheila’s former students scattered in various companies throughout the world – not only in classical companies but also in theatre, television and movies. Some of her students (who you might recognise) include Richelle Brookman (GWB Entertainment, GWB Studios, McFarlane Brookman Theatres), Lia Cox (Royal Academy of Dance), Brett Simon (The Australian Ballet 2007-2018), Noi Tolmer (Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures Company), Melinda Privopoulos (Director, Bodycentric, Adelaide), Michelle Hofmann (Turning Point Dance, Adelaide), Carissa Neate-Lammers (Director, Carisma Dance, Adelaide) just to name a few.
In 1996, Miss Laing became a ‘Dual Examiner’ of the Royal Academy of Dance and later sold the Sheila Laing Dance Centre in 2004. This has allowed her to spend more time guest teaching and concentrate more on her examining commitments all over the world.
Simone Sault
Simone’s talents have made her a much sought-after Creative director and choreographer all over the world having coached and led master classes in Russia, London, Japan USA and Australia.
Her creative roles have encompassed workshops for major West End productions such as The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance and Shoes.
As a choreographer, Simone’s work includes Love Never Dies (USA, Japan, Germany), Sadler’s Wells’ Most Incredible Things with the Pet Shop Boys, Strictly Dance Fever for the BBC, 2012 London Olympic Games ceremonies with Danny Boyle. Classic Brit Awards, GIRI/HAJI Netflix, Baby Ballroom UK Channel 4 and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Workshop for CINDERELLA ( Other Palace, London)
Simone is the UK Associate Choreographer for Marianne Elliot’s London Production of Stephen Sondheim’s COMPANY and is also the Associate for the Broadway production.
Most recently Simone was the Choreographer and Associate Director of the brand new Production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Sydney Harbour In collaboration with Really Useful Group and Opera Australia. Alongside Australia’s Simon Phillips (Dir) and Gabriela Tylesova (Designer) Simone had the privilege of being a part of the first new creative team, in over 36 years, to present a brand new production of this most masterful of shows.
Summer Dunt
Summer Dunt began dancing at the age of 6, along with training competitively in gymnastics. Summer was accepted into the State Gymnastics Competition team from the ages of 6-9, at which stage she decided to further her dance training instead.
From a young age Summer enjoyed dancing on the competition circuit and has won numerous Overall Regional Dance Soloist Titles and National Dance Soloist titles including the Overall Highest Scoring National Teen Soloist for 2022.
In 2020 Summer was accepted into the Australian Ballet School ITP Level 3 Program and in 2023 and 2024 she has been accepted into the Australian Dance Theatre TREAD Young Artist program. Recently Summer was invited to attend Brisbane International Contemporary Dance Prix, and was selected to be in the Finals for her age group.
Summer trained with GWB Full Time Musical Theatre Program for 2 years where she was trained in all aspects of Musical Theatre from a diverse range of industry professionals. In 2022 Summer was employed to work as a supernumerary on A Christmas Carol for the 2022 Melbourne season. Now 17, Summer works as a dancer for corporate functions and events.
Summer has completed her Certificate III in Dance, has her Senior First Aid Certificate and loves watching young kids master new tricks and skills and improve on their technique.
Mel Lydyard
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Terry Cooper
Sydney based dancer/choreographer Cooper Terry specialises in contemporary dance. Cooper grew up in Mount Gambier, South Australia after training full-time in Classical Ballet from the age of 15, Cooper was lucky enough to secure a place in the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year 2016 where he trained for 18 months and graduated with a Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance).
Since finishing with the Sydney Dance Company PPY in 2017 Cooper has gone on to perform alongside Sydney Dance Company in many corporate events with partners such as David Jones and Carriageworks. Cooper’s choreographic and teaching career has certainly started to take flight as he tours around Australia both independently and as a Sydney Dance Company Teaching Artist, teaching workshops and choreographing for countless schools and institutions.
Valentina Pavlova
From the age of 5 Valentina was trained in artistic gymnastics. From 1977 – 1985, she studied at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. After graduation she worked as a soloist and principal dancer at the Moscow Festival Theatre. In 1991 Valentina was invited by a prominent Russian choreographer Vladimir Vasiliev to join the State Kremlin Ballet of Russia as a soloist and principal dancer.
Her repertoire includes: Swan Lake, Cinderella, Nutcracker, Giselle, Don Quixote, Ruslan and Lyudmila, Napoleon Bonaparte, Tom Sawyer, Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth and The Walpurgis Night.
During her career, Valentina toured worldwide across Great Britain, Japan, Ireland, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Taiwan, China, Norway and Canary Islands.
Valentina has worked with prominent Russian choreographers like Yuri Grigorovich, Vladimir Vasiliev, Andrei Petrov and Marius Liepa.
Valentina has taught ballet classes for professionals when she worked in the Kremlin Ballet and in Moscow Ballet La Classique. Valentina also conducted rehearsals. She enjoys working with children, and has extensive experience teaching youngsters in Russia, Japan and Great Britain.
In 2004 Valentina choreographed a composition from ‘Swan Lake’ with students from Charles Campbell Secondary School.
From 2005 Valentina has continued working at her ballet school, Pavlova School of Classical Ballet as a classical ballet teacher and principal.
Valentina has also worked at Mitcham Rhythmic Gymnastics Club since 2005 as a ballet teacher.
Chymz
Chymz began dancing at an early age training in ballet before finding her true passion in hip hop. She brings her own flair as part of the NBL Adelaide 36ers and BBL Adelaide Strikers dance teams. Chymz is a seasoned choreographer based in Adelaide who loves teaching kids how to find their groove. She is incredibly excited to teach dancers how to find their own flow, groove and style. She believes in building your confidence and having fun while dancing!
Tayla Curtis
Tayla Curtis is a dancer/choreographer who grew up in Adelaide. After finishing high school, Tayla moved to Sydney where she studied at Brent Street Studios and received her Diploma in Elite Performance. Tayla has also trained under the guidance of Marko Panic and Katie Sanchez in The Dream Show Business 2020, where she had the opportunity to work closely with industry leaders, as well as artists such as Australia’s very own, Jessica Mauboy. She has also obtained her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management and is a qualified dance teacher. Tayla has performed on THE VOICE AU as a dancer, as well as having performed at The Premiers Gala in Sydney for artists such as Tim Campbell and Casey Donovan. Tayla has always had a passion for creating & choreographing and has had the opportunity to both dance and choreograph for the Adelaide Fringe Festival across multiple seasons, as well as teach and share her style across Adelaide and Sydney for many years!
Meg Mead
Meg studied contemporary dance full time at Adelaide College of the Arts and New Zealand School of Dance. She also spent time with Melbourne company, Chunky Move, studying their signature style, Counter technique. Meg has a strong training in Classical ballet achieving her RAD Advanced 1, Bursary, and Borovansky Solo Seal. She also has a strong training in Ashtanga Yoga and Pilates. For the past four years she has been teaching Pilates, Stretch, Yoga and fitness for Aleenta Barre and various Calisthenics clubs. Meg spent 2021 being mentored by and working with Melissa Laing of Melissa Laing Pilates Studio. Meg is also a qualified Acupuncturist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine with a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) and works for various clinics across Adelaide.
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