Miss Abbey: Ballet
This is Abbey’s first year teaching at Ignite. She has recently completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching studies and is now a registered RAD teacher. She has been teaching all styles of dance for 5 years and loves pushing her students to the best of their abilities.
Abbey has 10 years of Ballet, Jazz and Contemporary training and has completed all RAD Ballet examinations. She was lucky enough to perform overseas at Disney World and Universal which were amazing experiences. Sharing her love for dance is a major passion of
Abbey’s and she loves coming into the studio and sharing her knowledge and experiences with all her students.
Miss Tiarna: Ballet
This is Tiarna’s second year teaching at Ignite. She has 21 years of dance experience and has been trained at studios in the Sutherland shire. Tiarna’s training has been by leading choreographers in the industry including Kelly Abby, Stephan Tannos, Carly Copper, Blake Wood, Cassie Bartho, Jason Coleman and Natasha Crane. Tiarna has been trained in the styles of Jazz (FATD), Tap (FATD & Glenn Wood) and Classical ballet (RAD). She has competed at many eisteddfods in both groups and solo sections since she was young and now continues her performance experiences through dance gigs including performing back up for Jacinta Gulisano, Christmas Rockettes at Sydney Star casino, The footy show and performing with the NRL Sydney Roosters cheerleaders squad for her second year in a row. Tiarna has taken many workshops such as at New York City broadway dance centre intensive and the New York City Rockettes intensive program. Tiarna loves pushing people to the best of their abilities. She enjoys seeing each student every single week and putting a smile on their face, watching them grow into the beautiful dancers she knows they can become. Tiarna’s qualifications include certificate IV in dance, certificate IV in dance teach and management, first aid, working with children check and diploma in early education.
Miss Tahlia: Acrobatics
This is Miss Tahlia’s 2nd year of teaching at Ignite, after being a students here for many years! Miss Tahlia started gymnastics when she was 6 years old in 2007 and slowly made her way up to competitive gymnastics, She was a competitive gymnasts for 7 years, and competed in women’s artistic gymnastics from levels 1-6 . She competed until she was 16 and reached up to level 6. She began coaching gymnastics at the YMCA when she was 17, completed her beginner coaching course and started out coaching recreational gymnastics. She has made her way into coaching competitive levels gymnasts ranging from level 1 -4. She has loved passing down her knowledge to future gymnasts and is extremely passionate about what she teaches. She is now an advanced coach, which incorporates tumbling and spring. She is also a beginner level judge which helps her understand the judging side of competitive gymnastics.
She started dancing at Ignite Dance Co in 2016, loving contemporary, jazz and hip hop. She danced until 2019 and once she had finished dancing, began teaching Acro. This has been a huge passion of Tahlia’s, as it combines her love for both dancing and gymnastics. She loves teaching Acro to all age groups and is motivated to teach her students the proper strength and flexibility involved in doing acrobatic skills.
It is her goal to ensure that everyone enjoys their Acro class and has is able to learn the strength and flexibility required to do the skills.
Miss Stephanie: Director
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 is married with 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 Megan: Hip Hop, Tap, Jazz, Technique & Troupe
This is Megan’s 10th year teaching at Ignite. Megan has awed crowds across the globe with her ability to perform. With 24 years of professional training in all styles of dance, Megan has achieved high standards in many aspects of the entertainment industry.
Since graduating from Brent Street with a Certificate IV in Performing Arts, she has had a great deal of success with-in her field. Her credits include dancing for REDFOO, Kelly Rowland, David Guetta, Bag Raiders, Showtek, Paulini, Johnny Ruffo, Justice Crew and The McClymonts. Megan has also danced at several corporate events Nationally and Internationally for leading companies such as; BMW, Mercedes Benz, Emirates, White Water World Australia, Michael Hill, G.H Mumm and more.
Megan’s expertise extends beyond live performance. She has also been involved in commercials for MTV, BONDS, Schweppes, Peugeot and Earth Hour among numerous appearances on TV such as Underbelly Season 2, The NRL Footy Show, the So You Think You Can Dance Finale, Carols in the Domain, Sunrise, The Morning Show and Disney Channel Australia.
Megan’s choreographed for Australia’s Got Talent contestant Genesis, X-Factor and Home and Away star Johnny Ruffo, Australian Fashion Graduate Week, Loud Shirt Day, Disney Fanfest, TIGI Hair Show and recently was creative director for EduTech National and International Expo Gala dinner.
Miss Kirstie: RAD Exam Ballet
This is Kirstie’s 3rd year teaching at Ignite. Kirstie began her dance training at the early age of 5. Kirstie is trained and experienced in all genres of dance; ballet, jazz and tap just to name a few. As a young performer she developed a love for ballet, which led to amazing opportunities to perform overseas in London, Paris, Malaysia, and Singapore. Kirstie was encouraged by her dance teachers to pursue her studies in ballet. In 2008 Kirstie enrolled in a 2 year full time classical ballet coaching course, at Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy.
Whilst studying classical ballet Kirstie became a member of the Australian Ballet Interstate program in 2009 and the Sydney City Youth Ballet Company. During her time in the Sydney City Youth Ballet she performed in Swan Lake, Cinderella, Polar Express Ballet and Nutcracker. Kirstie completed all RAD ballet examinations during her years of dance. She received a high distinction in her RAD Advanced 2 Ballet, which is a major ballet examination worldwide. Kirstie also studied the Cecchetti Classical Ballet style and completed her major exams with high distinctions.
Upon finishing her full time classical ballet studies, Kirstie enrolled in the RAD, Royal Academy in Dance, Certificate in Ballet Teaching, completing the course and is a now fully registered RAD ballet teacher. Experienced in all RAD grades and vocationals; male and female Primary to Advanced 2. Kirstie also completed CUA50311 Diploma of Dance Teaching & Management and CUA40211 Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management. Kirstie has also studied the British Dance Association and Glenwood tap syllabuses, completing her teacher’s certificate through both BDA and Glenwood tap. During Kirstie’s dance performing career she performed with 6 pack productions performing as NRL Football entertainment, Christmas shows, charity balls and events. Kirstie has had the opportunity to star in Televisions shows of Colin Buchannan’s children’s DVD play school, the ABC TV series dance academy and dance academy 2 and channel 10 series so you think you can dance group.
Kirstie has enjoyed her years of performance of dance and through the achievement of ballet studies would love to pass on her knowledge, experience and love of dance to the up and coming new ballerinas.
Miss Cassie: Musical Theatre
This is Cassie’s 2nd year teaching at Ignite. Cassie is a unique and versatile performer and has been dancing since age 4. Completing her Certificate IV in dance at Ettingshausens Pro in 2018, training intensively in Ballet, Musical Theatre, Commercial, Heels, and many other styles. Cassie has followed to become a part of the current Cronulla Sharks Mermaid cheerleading team.
Also a graduate of Sport and Exercise Science, Cassie has an increased knowledge of human movement and injury prevention.