Miss Stephanie: Director
Mr Jordan: RAD Ballet
Mr Jordan graduated from the Australian Ballet School in 2017 with an Advanced Diploma of Dance and a Graduate Diploma of Classical Ballet. He has also performed with the Australian Ballet’s Regional Tour in both 2016 and 2017.
Jordan has a passion for teaching strong dependable technique that supports his students so they have the ability to explore their artistry through movement. Jordan is also a current student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music studying a Bachelor of Music (Performance) in their Music Theatre degree.
Miss Bella: Jazz
Bella grew up in Canberra, Australia where she took her very first dance class at just two years old. She and her family eventually moved to Sydney where she decided to further her studies in dance at the prestigious Ettingshausens Pro Elite Fulltime school at the age of 17.
After two years of intense training, Bella recieved a Diploma in Dance, as well as the “Professional Excellence” award of her year group. This included a scholarship at the world renowned Broadway Dance Centre in New York City and representation from the leading dance agency in Australia.
Whilst in her second year of training, she was offered a contract with Norwegian Creative Studios who have allowed her to visit 53 countries and perform some of their most current and challenging shows at sea within the last 2 years!
Miss Santiana: Hip Hop & Contemporary
Santiana studied a Diploma in Performing Arts (Elite Performance) from Brent Street Studios and has always had a passion for dancing and performing since her early childhood. She started dancing at the age of 6 and started training seriously to become a professional dancer when she was 12.
She has trained in jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre and ballet and has been part of many prestigious competitions and shows during her high school years. During these years, Santiana has developed her own style which is more of an urban/commercial style of dance and loves to share the knowledge and experience she has acquired so far with Ignite students.
Mr Aaron: Tap
Having been a part of 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 co-created the tap duo Two Soles with Tania Gould.
Aaron spent the summer of 2020 in Auckland teaching classes and choreographing competition pieces, and the subsequent lockdowns directing a long-distance video collaboration between 20+ tap dancers from across Australia and beyond.
Currently, Aaron spends his time teaching tap all over Sydney, training students of all ages and ability levels, including advanced diploma students at Brent Street. He also conducts workshops, either organised himself or as part of the Australian Tap Dance Festival’s Sydney masterclass line-up. He especially enjoys teaching improvisation and thrives on watching his students’ confidence and personal style grow.
Miss Takali: Troupe & Musical Theatre
Takali Hoogendyk, is currently pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts at ED5 International under the esteemed mentorship of William A. Forsythe.
Takali’s passion for the performing arts began at an early age—she started dancing at 3 and singing at 6. Her training began at KC Dance Co, later continuing at GY Dance, where she graduated in 2023. Takali is extensively trained in a wide range of dance styles, including Hip-Hop, Commercial Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tap, and Elite Troupe. In addition to her dance expertise, she is professionally trained in singing and acting for both stage and screen.
At just 8 years old, Takali landed her first professional musical theatre role as Marta in The Sound of Music, performed at The Capitol Theatre in 2016. Since then, she has remained dedicated to honing her craft, now moves into onto her second year at ED5 International. Takali’s experience also includes television commercials, modelling, WBBL performances, and various dance projects for diverse clients.
Takali is thrilled to join Ignite and is eager to share her passion for musical theatre and dance with the next generation of talented students.
Miss Estelle: Jazz, Contemporary & Tap
Hi, I’m Miss Estelle and I’m so excited to start teaching at Ignite. I have trained as a dancer in all styles for 16 years with 15 of them being right here at Ignite. Being a student at Ignite provided me with the opportunity to complete the DanceStep program, which has lead me to where I am now. I’ve also represented Ignite as a soloist and a troupe member throughout the years.
I am currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education and a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Macquarie University.
I’m looking forward to working with all the students at Ignite and I hope to pass on the same love of dance that was created for me at Ignite.
Miss Eliza: Acro
Eliza is a passionate and accomplished dancer, training in numerous styles since the age of two. Growing up in Canberra, she began her dance journey with ballet (RAD), and soon expanded into jazz, musical theatre, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and acro. Eliza has also ventured into lyra and silks, continuously seeking to refine her skills and explore new avenues.
Throughout her dance journey, Eliza has had the opportunity to train with inspiring teachers, deepening her love for performance and technique. After completing a Cert IV in Dance from EV and Bow (2021) and an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts from Ettingshausens Pro (2022), she completed her third year of full-time training at Dargie in 2024, where her passion for jazz, technique, and cabaret flourished.
She enjoys sharing her knowledge of various dance styles, ensuring her classes are not only enjoyable but also rooted in proper technique. Eliza performs regularly in showgirl-style gigs around Sydney and aspires to perform in the Moulin Rouge in Paris one day!
Eliza believes in nurturing both the physical and emotional aspects of dance, creating a positive and expressive environment for her students whilst helping them find joy in their growth and artistry.
Stephanie has a dance/dance teaching career that spans over 30 years. Starting at the age of 5, she quickly fell in love with dance, ballet and contemporary in particular. She completed her RAD examinations through to advanced levels during her teenage years, also sitting for examinations in tap. She began teaching at her local dance studio at 17 years of age. At 18 she began her double degree of Bachelor of Dance/Bachelor of Education at UNSW. This degree included such studies as anatomy, teaching pedagogy, dance theory, technique classes and regular performance work. At 21 years of age and while in her third year of university, she opened Ignite Dance Co. (then known as SD Dance Studio) and her studio director journey began!
Stephanie taught for many years at local schools in the area whilst building Ignite up, slowly growing to the point she could rely solely on the studio. During this time she completed her accreditation with the NSW Department of Education. These years of working in schools, whilst running Ignite, only cemented her teaching skills and understanding of children and how they learn.
A love and knowledge of music also helps Stephanie to teach dance from a different approach. Having trained as a flautist for 15 years, she also taught music while studying at university. This knowledge allows her to show her students how to really listen to the music they are dancing to, how to use it to express their emotions and how to manipulate music to make their choreography more dynamic and enjoyable.
Stephanie has a love for contemporary dance in particular but enjoys teaching all styles, especially technique classes. Having trained mainly in RAD ballet, BAL tap, contemporary and jazz she has a strong technical base to work from when passing on her knowledge. She continually builds on her education through courses and being involved in teaching associations, striving to always better herself and her teaching. She believes that every child should have the chance to experience dance and the joy it can bring. The best part of her job is seeing her students grow into responsible and kind adults and she loves keeping in touch with all her students and their families from over the years.
She currently teaches all contemporary classes, troupe and soloists.
Stephanie has two young children and while busy juggling family life with running a studio, wouldn’t have it any other way!
Miss Caitlin: Co-Director
Beginning her first dance classes at the early age of 4, Caitlin trained in a number of dance styles over the years including ballet, jazz, contemporary & tap, however focused mainly on classical ballet, training in R.A.D through to advanced levels.
While continuing with dance training and starting to take on teaching roles within Ignite, Caitlin took on a different route in her early adult years – she followed another growing passion of hers and completed a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood at Macquarie University. This led to a number of years of experience working closely with young children, in both early childhood and primary school settings.
However, while maintaining her dance teaching during the early years of Ignite, and after a few short years focusing on teaching in a school setting, Caitlin chose to turn back to her real passion in dance and being able to gift this to her students. The combination of the joy of dance along with the theory & practice behind early learning quickly became a new focus for her and one that is now steadily thriving within the studio.
In 2012, with the steady growth of Ignite, Caitlin moved on from only teaching a number of classes per week by taking on the role of Co-Director. She has been heavily involved in the management of all aspects of the studio since. Being part of the studio in this way has been so rewarding, especially due to truly being a part of each student’s (and their parent’s) dance journey, and to watch them grow from tiny dancers into confident, talented young adults!
Caitlin currently creates & runs all of our Ignite Kids program, along with teaching jazz, ballet, performance teams & technique classes amongst our youngest age groups.
Miss Lucy: Reception/Administration
Lucy has been immersed in the dance world for over 25 years, with 15 years experience as a teacher, studio manager and studio owner. Lucy completed her full time ballet training with Classé Ballet Academy in 2012, studying under esteemed teachers such as Garth Welch, former principal with the Australian Ballet.
Lucy continued teaching classical ballet throughout gaining a Bachelor of Arts, Science & Economics, a Certificate in Business Management and a Certificate in Public Engagement. She then moved to the business management space, working with small, creative businesses.
Lucy loves being surrounded by the dance world and strives to create a supportive, safe, joyous studio space for the students of Ignite.