Sahya Saheki

Sahya Saheki

Originally from Brisbane, Sahya began focusing on Ballet from a young age. She was involved heavily in competing in stage performance/eisteddfods including solos, duos and groups. She commenced full-time training at Queensland Dance School of excellence at age 14 where she discovered herself as a dancer. Throughout her training Sahya has completed numerous levels of exams in CSTD and RAD. Her love for dance and movement was developed further when she was introduced to other genres such as Acrobatics, Tap and Hip Hop at Brisbane dance schools such as Conroy Dance Centre and Kids and Co. After many years of training Sahya found her true calling was for a Musical Theatre career when she was accepted into Australian Dance Performance Institute full-time Musical Theatre Advanced Diploma course.  Throughout these 2 years of intense training and stage experience in performing she grew not only as a dancer but also as a person. As her desire to Dance grew stronger she made the move to Sydney in 2009 seeking opportunities to perform.

She currently studies Bachelor of Dance/Education at the University of New South Wales in order to fulfill an intellectual understanding of the theory aspect of dancing. She has been involved in performing at venues such as The Entertainment Centre, the Opera House, Hair Expos and frequent gigs as a featured artist.

As a teacher Sahya wishes to use her passion for performing to inspire to students. She hopes to create an environment of which students can make mistakes and be themselves in order to find their personal direction as a dancer.

Thomas Egan

Thomas Egan

Thomas is a performer and choreographer internationally and throughout Australia. He made his debut at the age of 10 in “The Boy From Oz” (1995), moving on through his teens in musicals such as “Singing in the Rain”(2000) and “Oliver” (2003). He later moved to Sydney working with world class acts and choreographers such as Project Moda, The Next Step, Tap Dogs, Squared Division, Tapworks and J-Town. He can be seen on TVC’s for So You Think You Can Dance, Foxtel, the Discovery Channel and has been a featured dancer for musical superstars such as “Kylie Minogue”, “Cassie Davis”, “Sneaky Sound System” and “TimOmatic”.

In 2010 he toured with the musical “FAME”, performing to sold-out theaters in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, which won the “Helpmann Award” for Best Choreography by the outstanding Kelly Abbey.
He has appeared regularly in TV shows such as “Australia’s Got Talent”, “Mornings with Kerrie-Anne’, “So You Think You Can Dance”, “X-Factor” and on “Channel V”. Throughout 2012 he has been with the cast of “Tap Dogs” traveling across Australia and he has finished an exhilarating extended season at Jupiter’s Hotel & Casino.  He is one of the founding members and creative team, of the up and coming Rat Pack inspired show “The Tap Pack” which is set to be a huge hit. Shortly he will be seen as a specialist dancer in Baz Lurhman’s new Blockbuster film “The Great Gatsby”

Dan Huet

Dan Huet

Originally from France, Dan completed his Certificate IV in Performing Arts at Urban Dance Centre. “Dan Hu”, has traveled the world through dancing for the past 12 years. Previously in LA and Tokyo, Dan has now found a new home in Australia since November 2010. His credits includes several dance video clips shot in London and Tokyo (Gap, Sony, Uniqlo, Casio) and most recently in Sydney on “Celebrity Apprentice”.  Dan has appeared several times on national Dance TV program in Japan (Fuji TV), and has also featured in Bollywood movies in Mumbai. A few years back, Dan represented Ireland at the World Salsa Congress in Miami. In 2012, he was invited to teach and perform at Sydney Cuban Festival. Dan has taught Hip-Hop and Salsa for the last 10 years and is very excited about his new adventure here in Australia. Since living in Australia, Dan has taught in several different studios in Melbourne including: Jason’s Coleman Ministry of Dance, The Space Art Centre, Unitd Stylez, PSA, Fusion Dance Studios, and many more…
Dan was invited to teach at the Australian Dance Festival in 2011 and 2012, where his work has received very exciting and positive feedback.

Chrishanthi Nagendra

Chrishanthi Nagendra

ARAD, LCDD  teaching Dip London, RAD Examiner.  With over 40 years of  valuable , wonderful teaching and coaching  experience in Classical Ballet at excellent schools, Chrishanthi is delighted to be part of the faulty of UDC this year.

Jordan Hanna

Jordan Hanna

At age four, Jordan knew that dancing was going to be part of his future.  Growing up in Perth, Western Australia he trained at studios in jazz, modern, tap, acrobatics, lyrical, hip hop and singing.
Jordan has been very lucky to be a steady student of a Russian Olympic Gymnastics coach, from age seven he has been absorbing and pushing himself to the limit, which has resulted in learning a number of advanced acrobatic tricks. Jordan completed his Certificate IV in Performing Arts at Urban Dance Centre on a full scholarship, learning from the best in the industry.

Jordan has travelled to the United States with The Hollywood Summer Tour in Los Angeles, California, performed on So You Think You Can Dance USA, Dont Forget The Lyrics, Telethon and was a principal dancer in Jordan Setacci’s music video, New Girl On The Block and You Got Me. Since arriving in Sydney Jordan’s credites include: Nokia TVC, Ubisoft EB Games Expo, Telstra Netboys, Celebrity Apprentice,  Australasian Hair Expo, Australian Dance Festival and more!!!
His Acrobatics has given him the ability to be a sponsored dancer with the National Basketball Association, Perth Wildcats.  He danced all home games, which involved opening and time outs for the entire season.

Jordan is a dedicated and hard working individual not only in dance but in life.  He is ready to take on new opportunities, challenges, and to express himself as an individual.

Amy Chamberlain

Amy Chamberlain

Amy Chamberlain started Classical Ballet training at the age of 4 completing her R.A.D Ballet syllabus from Pre-Primary, receiving honors in her Advanced 1 major classical exam.  Amy grew up in a small country town realizing her love and passion for dance at a young age so moved to Sydney at the age of 16 where she started taking casual classes around Sydney to get to know more about the industry. In 2010 Amy completed her Certificate IV in Performing Arts at Brent street Studios, then furthered her training at Urban Dance Centre completing her Certificate IV in Performing Arts. Amy is trained in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Singing, Acting, Musical Theatre, JFH, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical and Acrobatics by renowned choreographers and teachers such as Juliette Verne, Veronica Beattie, Julie Williamson, Douglas Blaikie, Kym Parrish, Matt Lee, Kelley Abbey , Sally Hare, Jason Winters, Paul Saliba, Rosa Aguis, Tiana Joubert, Michael ‘Sisqo’ Francisco, Stephen Gow and Laurence Stark.

Amy Has been involved with Urban Dance Project traveling to Melbourne for the Australian Hip Hop championships and performing around Sydney with Femme Fatales.

Recently Amy traveled overseas for a resort contract in ABU DHABI where she was performing in a number of pieces with in the show Cartoonival

Karlee Misipeka

Karlee Misipeka

Karlee trained at The McDonald College and TDHS, and completed Fulltime at Brent Street Performing Arts. She has studied all facets of the performing arts, from RAD Ballet to acting, to competing in a hip hop crew, holding the philosophy ‘versatility is the key’.
Her credits include: ‘Dance Academy’ ABC television, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Grand Finale for Network Ten, The Helpmann Awards at the Opera House, and ‘Mornings’ breakfast program Network Nine where she sung ‘What I Did For Love’.
Karlee made her Musical Theatre debut in 2009 in Disney’s ‘High School Musical Live On Stage’ where she was the understudy to ‘Kelsie’.
In 2010-2011 Karlee was cast in David Atkins ‘Hairspray The Musical’ understudying Little Inez and also the three Dynamites, which played both Sydney and Melbourne.
She then went on to play the role of ‘Diana Morales’ in the hugely successful musical ‘A Chorus Line’, which visited 6 cities including Singapore, spanning 2011-2012.

Andrew Worboys

Andrew Worboys

Andrew co-wrote and arranged “HEY SYDNEY” the opening number for the 2002 Sydney Gay Games opening ceremony; he did orchestrations for HUGH JACKMAN’s arena version of THE BOY FROM OZ, he co-produced the Original Australian Cast recording of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, he produced, played piano and sang on Jimmy Somerville’s album SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER as well as musically directing Jimmy’s EVOLVE tour. Andrew conducted the Ceremonials Orchestra for FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE at the Sydney Opera House in 2012, and is currently musical director for Lisa Adam’s Amy Housewine – Back to Crack, Toby Francis THE KING IS DEAD LONG LIVE QUEEN and he also creates musical arrangements for the Sydney Theatre Company Wharf Revues.

Andrew’s has written several musicals, his new work ‘Showtrain’ premiered this June 2012 in Orange.

Louie George

Louie George

Energetic, passionate, uplifting, moving, entertaining and engaging! That is how one best describes Louie George, the exceptionally talented dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and teacher. From starring in shows such as Funny Girl, Sweet Charity (role of Big Daddy), Miss Saigon, Mame, Sisterella, and the Burt Bacharach Show, to his immensely popular television career on the Mike Walsh Show, Hey Hey It’s Saturday, Countdown, the acclaimed Logie Awards, Commonwealth Games, AFI Awards and Good Morning Australia, Louie has gained further regard for his lively choreography for stage and screen, his wonderful singing, and has been one of the most popular dance teachers for over a decade.

Most recently, Louie has been a main choreographer for “So You Think You Can Dance” in New Zealand.

A passionate teacher and an advocate of dance as a discipline and art form, his aim is to bring this wonderful gift of dance to students of all levels and ages.

Adrian Van Winkelhof

Adrian Van Winkelhof

Adrian started his training at the McDonald College at 15, and was accepted into the final two years of the Australian Ballet School at 17.In his final year of the Australian Ballet School Adrian was chosen to represent Australia in the International Ballet competition in Japan, where he was a medallist. During his career Adrian danced with the Berlin Ballet, Aterballetto (Italy) and finally Opéra National de Lyon (France).  Adrian performed principal roles in both the classical and contemporary repertoire; including works by William Forsythe, Mats Ek, John Cranko, Maurice Bejart, Nacho Duato, Jiri Kylian Magy Maurin and Ohad Nahrin. In 1997 Adrian was a guest artist with Frankfurt Ballet. And in subsequent years performed in international galas in Berlin, Paris and Florence and toured North and South America, Asia and Europe. Adrian has completed a tertiary degree and is fortunate to be able to teach for both European ballet companies and various schools in Sydney as well as being a ballet tutor at the University of New South Wales.