Chelsea Capper
Chelsea started dancing at a young age with the Jane Stanley School of Dance. She trained in RAD Classical Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Modern Expressive, Musical Theatre and Tap.
She participated in Master classes with Kim Traynor, Jane Beckett, Tanya Pearson, Vicky Attard and many more.
Showcasing her talent for dance, Chelsea has won and placed in many competitions in Ballet and Contemporary, and danced in many showcases such as Manly Arts Festival, Australian Dance Awards, corporate shows and local productions.
Chelsea started teaching early, inspiring young students with her love and passion for choreography. She established dance classes at Bathurst Public School, where they now hold dance groups from Kindergarten to Year 6. Under Chelsea's guidance, Stage 3 performed in the School Spectacular for the four years she was in Bathurst.
Contemporary choreography remains very close to Chelsea's heart, and this is proven through the many choreography awards she has won over the years, along with the students that continue to benefit from her advanced skills.
As the Principal of Burns Bay Dance Studios, Chelsea is very keen to build the school into a successful venue for developing the performance skills of this generation of dancers.
Kristy Wynter
Kristy is the founder and Director of Evolution Performance Centre. She has studied Dance and Singing for many years at well-known schools including The Danz Factory under the tuition of the fabulous Chris Duncan of DanceLife Australia, Sydney Dance Company, The Elite School of Singing and Platinum Vocal Studios. Kristy studied for a Bachelor of Arts Degree Majoring in Dance and Drama @ U.N.S.W and has also completed her Certificate of Ballet Teaching (CBTS) with the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and is now a registered teacher with the organisation.
Her performance career has stretched from Australia to USA and has included dancing and singing in many venues including supporting acts to Australian and international artists. She has performed in shows in and around Sydney with choreographers such as William Forsyth, Aaron Farley, Ramon Doringo and Michael Boyd. She has also choreographed and performed in her own corporate professional shows. She was a lead singer in a Blues/Rock/Funk band “The Blues Raiders” for several years performing in pubs and clubs across NSW. Kristy was also the BJP Physical Culture National Champion in her division for 5 years running 2012 – 2016.
Kristy was employed as Regional Dance Coordinator and instructor for Dance First Academy @ Fitness First for 10 years before opening her own Studio, Evolution Performance Centre. Kristy has a combined performance and teaching career of over 30 years and looks forward to sharing her studio vision with you all.
Terry Mystakas
Terry Mystakas is a street dancer at heart. His Journey began in childhood as a self-taught artist starting with humble beginnings in entertain showcases and street performances before entering competitive dancing and winning the 'Amateur World Salsa Solo' title. He further sought to improve his dancing, training in schools across Australia and Europe in the styles of Street Latin, Ballet, Latin Ballroom, Jazz and Greek dancing. Terry passes on his expertise through his school ''Salsa Sydney Academy''. Having studied Health and fitness at the 'AIF' he has produced student-athletes of all sporting backgrounds. He currently tours Australia dancing with the renowned production ''Shake Rattle and Roll'' and was honoured to be able to give back to the community and dance for the Cancer-Council.
Mahlia King
Mahlia King is a Sydney based performer, teacher and choreographer who trained at Evolution performance centre then went on to graduate at ED5 International with a Diploma in Performing Arts in 2021. Mahlia has worked with choreographers William Alexander Forsythe, Shannon Burns, Daniel Assetta, Ryan Smith, Dolce Fisher, Caroline Kaspar, Blake John Wood and more. Mahlia’s love for singing has been fostered by singing coaches Martin Crewes and Phillip Filo. As a performer, Mahlia HAS had the opportunity to perform with professional contemporary company Twisted Element, showcasing two works, “Ritual” and “Opus”. Mahlia has also provided roving entertainment as part of the Queen Victoria Building’s “Beating Heart of the QVB” Installation. Mahlia has choreographed and danced in the Hot Potato Band’s music video “It’s your own body”. Mahlia has been involved in Australia Day TVCs, as well as appearing in the film “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”. Mahlia is really passionate about teaching in a fun, positive and engaging way, specifically fostering elements of creativity and individuality in all her students. Mahlia has now taken on our Front Desk Administration role and is looking forward to learning how it all works behind the scenes.
Caitlin Nilon
Caitlin Nilon began dancing at age 3 at Eden Dance Academy. In 2017, she was invited to train with LA dance company MusEffect as part of their summer program. She has continued to train with them as the opportunity arises both in the US and Aus. Caitlin performed under Jessica Starr at Choreographers Carnival in Hollywood as well as the Vans US Open of surfing, White Light White Night Gala Ball, featured in Spencer Ludwigs Music Video “I Just Wanna Dance” and Muse Dance Medias film “The Cure” which premiered at the Industry Dance Awards in Hollywood. In January 2020, Caitlin trained and competed with Diverse Elements in Phoenix, Arizona before returning home. Closer to home, Caitlin was a featured dancer in Schools Spectacular landing lead roles in the show in 2019. She was also in the NSW Public Schools State Dance Ensemble from 2014-19 training, performing and undertaking workshops in Horton Technique with Dance Iquail. Caitlin began teaching and choreographing in 2018 and has since won awards at competition for her choreography. Caitlin completed a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management with Ev and Bow in 2020.
Aaron Noble
Having been heavily involved in award-winning productions from a young age, Aaron decided to focus his efforts on tap dance in 2015. He has received training from The Forge Tap Project, Tap Dogs and other leading figures in Australian tap dance. After receiving an Emerging Artist award from the Australian Tap Dance Festival in 2017, he featured in The Forge Tap Company’s inaugural performance, Alpha, and created the tap duo Two Soles with Tania Gould.
After spending the summer of 2020 in Auckland teaching classes and choreographing competition pieces, he spent the subsequent lockdowns directing a long-distance video collaboration between 20+ tap dancers from across Australia and beyond.
Aaron spends his time teaching tap all over Sydney, training students of all ages and ability levels, including advanced diploma students at major national performing arts institutions, and leading masterclasses for the Australian Tap Dance Festival and the Sydney Tap Festival.
Giselle Peacock
Giselle was born and raised in San Fransisco and moved to Australia in 2011. Giselle is a former United States Champion and World Finalist in Ballroom/Latin DanceSport. Giselle has also studied and choreographed in various dance styles including Jazz, Hip Hop, Swing, Lindy Hop and Latin Dancing. Before moving Australia, Giselle spent much of her competing and performing all over the world with the Original Broadway production of Burn the Floor. In her career she has also performed on the Westend in London and appeared many television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and So you think you can Dance in both the U.S and Australia. Today Giselle spends her days raising her 3 children and spreading her love and knowledge of dance to all ages in many styles in schools across Sydney, including Sydney Dance Company, and runs her own dance and fitness studio in the lower north shore called G Power Dance Fitness.
Vali Damaskou
With an impressive 35years of Jazz, Ballet, Hip Hop, Salsa, Ballroom and Street Latin, Vali is an Australian choreographer, instructor and adjudicator.
Her work includes representing Australia and Greece at various congresses and competitions around the world.
After touring in Europe and USA teachings thousands of people & performing at various of events, Vali returned back to Australia, where she got into the movie industry and assisted directing in a Bollywood movie.
She has been featured in various world dance tours and she has appeared and performed on Channel 7, AACTAs, The Morning Show and she is one of the lead dancers in the production show Shake Rattle and Roll touring around Australia.
Accomplishments:
- Australian Cha Cha Ladies Champion 2014
- Australian Cha cha Couples Champion 2014
- World Salsa Champion 2012
- Australian Bachata Champion 2011
- Assistant Movie director 2011
- World Salsa Championship 6th Place 2009
- Asian Salsa Open Champion 2009
- Choreographer in ‘Dancing With The Stars’ & ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ 2008-2009
- International Judge Since 2008
- Australian Salsa Champion 2008
- Australian salsa Champion 2007
- Australian Dancing Society Honours 2006
- Dancesport Latin/Ballroom Overall Champion 2006
Vali continues achieving, expanding her dreams, working professionally, inspiring others and demonstrating that the sky is the limit, and anything is possible if you believe it.
Gordon Gilkes
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Gordon is the founder and CEO of DanceSport Confidence, an iconic wellbeing program that has worked with the NSW Department of Education for over 16 years. Starting with 180 students in 2006, the program has reached over 160,000 students with a focus on the Wellbeing Framework, PDHPE and the National ACARA student development outcomes. In 2019, DanceSport Confidence was one of 6 sports in Australia invited to participate in the global Duke of Edinburgh Awards program - 'Duke's for Sport' Partners and presented by HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh. For 3 years, Gordon held the position of President in the National Sporting Organisation DanceSport Australia, the sporting representative for DanceSport within the Australian Olympic Committee. Also representing Australia, at the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) during it's successful bid for the 2024 summer Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Gordon has also performed on the Channel 7 hit TV series 'Dancing with the Stars' with Olympic legend Dawn Fraser. Gordon, along with this wife and three children have been residents of Northbridge since 2015. |
Karis Fox
Emma Hickey
Emma has dedicated the past 17 years to immersing herself in the world of ballroom dance. During this time, she has undergone rigorous training and participated in both pro-am and state competitions. Emma has also showcased her talents through choreographed performances, including numerous wedding dances. As a coach, she has worked with both children and adults, guiding them from beginner levels to executing impressive high-level routines. Emma holds accreditation as a Latin Instructor with Dancesport Australia, further demonstrating her expertise in the field.
Her greatest joy comes from teaching dance and sharing her passion for ballroom with others. Emma is thrilled to be a part of Stars of the North for the first time this year, and cannot wait to blow the audience away with the impressive moves her and her Star have been working on!
Pukhraaj Mavi
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Pukhraaj started learning bhangra at the young age of 8, but has only been in the competitive bhangra scene since 2023. Last October, she performed at the Melbourne Bhangra Cup alongside her team, Bhangra All Stars Sydney (BASS) Queens, winning first place, and becoming the first all-female team to do so in the Australian circuit. In 2020, she also assisted in running BASS’s charity workshops, where all funds went to Khalsa Aid to support the farmer’s protest in India. Pukhraaj has spread the dance form’s infectious energy by performing at other fundraising events, her high school harmony day’s, weddings and more. Not only is bhangra an energetic form of dance, but a means for Pukhraaj to celebrate her rich Punjabi culture. |
Kaitlin Serrano
Lulu from Bananas in Pajamas started Kaitlin's love of dance. From spinning around her living room in her first tutu to enrolling in ballet classes. She went on to train under the head of the Cecchetti Society in Australia, and danced the Can Can at annual Bastille Day Festivities.
Attending a Performing Arts High School before jumping at the change to be a choreographer's assistant on the first season of SYTYCD opened up the world of Performance Art beyond performing.
Having studied styles from Ballet to Ballroom, she fell in love with teaching and has gone on to complete her teacher training in F.A.T.D Tap & Jazz, Cecchetti Ballet, Barre, and American Rhythm & Smooth.
