Our Teachers

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.

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.

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