Sharna Lee Baylis RAD RTS
Sharna Lee Mahanidis is a highly respected and qualified dance educator with over 20 years teaching experience and the founder of The Illawarra Dance Academy. She is deeply committed to nurturing technically strong, expressive, and confident young artists. With a strong foundation in classical ballet and a passion for excellence in dance education, Sharna has guided countless students through their artistic development, instilling discipline, creativity, and a lifelong love of dance. Under her leadership, The Illawarra Dance Academy continues to shape future artists through high-quality training in a supportive, inspiring environment.
At the end of 2025, Sharna received a call from her friend Kosta insisting she join him as his partner for the upcoming Stars of Wollongong event. She gladly accepted the invitation, eager to support both her friend and a cause close to her heart, as several of her loved ones, including her mother and nephew, have undergone cancer treatment.
Montana Sadd
With 18 years in the dance industry, I have been fortunate to perform and train both in Australia and internationally, including opportunities at Disneyland and the Sydney Opera House. Dance has always been a huge part of my life, and I now share that passion as a dedicated dance teacher, inspiring the next generation of performers. Alongside this, I am the proud owner of Tanacare, a disability support company focused on providing compassionate and empowering care to the community. I am also a full-time mum to my one-year-old son, who is my greatest motivation, balancing motherhood, business, and my lifelong love for dance.
Rithika Yanamandram
Meet Rithika, a passionate dancer who’s been grooving since she was three years old—over 16 years of rhythm, grace, and energy! One of her career highlights was traveling around the U.S. with her dance family, an unforgettable experience that fueled her love for performance and adventure. Rithika’s favorite dance style? Anything fast and sassy, especially jazz, where she can truly let her personality shine.
When she’s not dancing, Rithika is hard at work studying Physiotherapy with a focus on pediatrics at ACU. She juggles three jobs—working as a retail assistant at Platypus, a waitress and driver at Kinn Thai, and as a dental assistant and receptionist. Despite her busy schedule, she’s thrilled to be part of Stars of Wollongong. The event is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness for cancer research, and it’s an absolute joy for Rithika to dance alongside such inspiring stars for such a meaningful cause.
Mae De La Rue
By day she is a toddler Mum and social media manager, by night she is a glamorous burlesque star! Mae de la Rue has a love of vintage glamour and penchant for Hollywood musicals. Drawing on her theatrical background and bringing a love of storytelling to the stage, Mae’s brand of burlesque is big, glitzy and fun.
She has several notches on her rhinestone belt including; 2019 Australian Burlesque Beauty, 2019 Golden Stripper and 1st Runner Up Golden Hustler at Golden Legends Champion Challenge USA, and 2018 Duchess of the New Zealand Burlesque Festival. She has appeared as a State finalist in Mx Burlesque Australia, performed at Perth International Burlesque Festival, Australian Burlesque Festival and the inaugural BurlesKiwi Aotearoa festival.
Off the stage this multitalented showgirl heads her own burlesque school ‘Muse School of Burlesque’ in the Illawarra and Sutherland Shire as well as producing burlesque show Hot n Fresh Burlesque in Port Kembla, and ’The Great DIY BurlesK Contest’ in Sutherland.
Strait laced by day, unlaced by night, Mae de la Rue is a golden age girl shining in today’s technicolour world.
She’ll put a sparkle in your day and inspiration in your night.
Stephanie Brunker
Stephanie is incredibly excited to be returning for her third year of Dance for Cancer. She first began dancing at the age of three, where her love and passion for dance has only continued to grow. The studio, which she calls her second home, is where she truly thrives. There, she has the privilege of teaching and nurturing students of all ages across a variety of styles, sharing not only her skills but also the joy and confidence that dance can bring.
Alongside her dedication to dance, Stephanie is currently completing her third year at the University of New South Wales, studying a Bachelor of City Planning, whilst working full time as a Student Planner in Sydney CBD. Despite her busy schedule, Stephanie understands how deeply cancer can affect not only those diagnosed but also the families and friends who stand beside them, and is truly proud to contribute to such an important cause.
Brock Jay
Brock Jays is a creative director, singer, and choreographer working across dance, voice, and songwriting, with credits including mainstream radio, Channel 7, The X Factor, and musical theatre roles in The Wizard of Oz and Oliver! (Melbourne and Singapore). Living with ADHD and navigating personal challenges shaped his journey toward authenticity and purpose. In his early thirties, Brock recognised his calling to use movement and creative expression to uplift others. Through JHQ Collective, he supports NDIS participants, youth, and the wider community, offering mentorship, healing-focused creative programs, and inclusive spaces where people build confidence, connection, and belonging.
Aliya Hazelton
Aliya has been busting a move since she was 2 years old, and she’s loved every second of it!
She spent her high school years soaking up all things dance at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts. Along the way, Aliya danced with the Southern Stars Performing Company for 5 years, the Illawarra South East Regional Performing Ensemble, and performed in multiple Dance Festivals.
Recently, Aliya took her passion to the next level, successfully auditioning for Full-Time Dance at Patrick's School of the Arts in Melbourne.
Aliya is excited to volunteer for Stars of Wollongong because the cause is close to her heart. She loves spreading her passion for dance and believes Stars of Wollongong is the perfect way to share that joy with others.
Chantelle Duncan
Chantelle Duncan ARAD is a dedicated dance teacher, studio owner, and adjudicator with over two and a half decades of dance training and more than 17 years of teaching experience across RAD Ballet, Jazz, GWT Tap, Contemporary, and Lyrical. As the director of her own dance school, she understands the commitment, teamwork, and preparation that go into bringing a performance from the studio to the stage.
She holds her ARAD status and Teaching Certificate with the Royal Academy of Dance, is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, and is an accredited member of the Australian Dance Adjudicators Association.
Outside the studio, Chantelle is a devoted wife and proud mum to three young children. She is also the co-owner of her dance studio alongside Penelope Davies, balancing family life with the many responsibilities of running a studio and supporting young dancers in their journeys. Chantelle is passionate about creating a supportive environment where dancers can build confidence, develop their skills, and discover a genuine love for performing.
Having lost both of her parents to cancer, being involved in this event holds a very personal meaning for Chantelle. It is an honour for her to contribute her time and experience in supporting Lisa as she works toward achieving her goal.
Ebony Austin
Ebony is a professional choreographer and dancer, having trained for 25 years under the guidance of Diane Blaas. She is the studio principal of The Project in Woonona and the director of The Project Network Agency, winning awards such as Wollongong's Young Citizen of the Year 2018. She has also been a finalist for Best BusinessPerson, Outstanding Dance Studio, and Specialized Business and Golden Globe Best Actress. Ebony is currently a Dance and Drama teacher at Amity College Shellharbour and proudly worked as a Hip Hop tutor at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts. With extensive experience in the industry, she has performed and choreographed multiple works for Film, TV and Theater, including projects for Crayola, General Pants, Honey Birdette, Jessica Mauboy, Samantha Jade, Commonwealth Games, Oliver (RTC), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (RTC), The Boy From Oz (RTC) and We Will Rock You (RTC). She is currently choreographing American Psycho for Rising Arts Productions held at the iPac. Since 2018, Ebony has been a production choreographer and performer for Illawarra's prestigious Drag Queen, Roxee Horror. Additionally, being no stranger to the stage and camera, she has also performed as a backing vocalist and choreographer for the glam rock band Crosson, and has appeared on multiple TV shows and commercials, including Luxe Listing, Heartbreak High, Target, Married at First Sight, Paper Dolls, and many more. This is Ebony's third year with Stars of Nowra, and she has previously taught at Stars of Wollongong last year and again in 2024. She is honoured to be a part of the team and dances in memory of her Grandma, Ma, and Aunty Jay.
Tahlia Leonard
Tahlia’s journey with dance began at the age of three, and her passion for it has only grown stronger over the years. A proud dancer with KJ Dance since the age of four, Tahlia has explored a wide variety of dance styles, including jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, musical theatre, and hip hop. Some of her most cherished memories include her first performance at a local Eisteddfod in 2016, where she won first place in her Ballet and Lyrical solos, and dancing at Dreamworld in Queensland. Tahlia’s dedication to her craft has led her to perform in numerous solos, duos, trios, troupes, and local ballet productions. Her motto, “All you need is to believe in yourself,” fuels her passion and reminds others that technique is important, but it’s the passion that truly defines a great dancer.
Beyond her life as a dancer, Tahlia is also completing a Bachelor of Social Work at Wollongong University and works part-time at Coles. She is deeply committed to using her platform as a dancer to advocate for cancer research and raise awareness for those affected by cancer. By participating in Stars of Wollongong, Tahlia hopes to contribute to fundraising efforts and bring the community together in support of this important cause. Her involvement in the event not only connects her with a cause close to her heart but also fosters unity, which she believes is essential in the fight against cancer. Tahlia’s passion for dance, combined with her dedication to social causes, makes her a strong advocate for both the arts and the community.
Issy Brightman
Issy has been dancing her heart out at Miss Zoe’s School of Dance since 2011, mastering everything from ballet and jazz to broadway jazz, contemporary, acro, hip hop, pointe, lyrical, and solo performances. She loves any opportunity to perform, whether it’s at fetes, flash mobs, or concerts! Teaching for 5 years now, Issy is thrilled to be working with her Star to create a showstopper of a performance for this special charity event.
When she’s not dancing, Issy is busy studying Paramedicine at Western Sydney University, and you can often find her at the beach, volunteering at her local surf club, or simply soaking up the sunshine outdoors. A true highlight of her career has been watching her students—big or small—achieve their goals, with their proud smiles making all the hard work worth it. Issy’s volunteering for this event because she believes in the power of community, and she’s excited to give back and contribute to such an amazing cause!
