Staff Profiles

Dancefever staff are of the highest calibre and are trained in dance by Chris Milburn. Chris is an expert in the field of dance, with a background in performing, coaching and adjudicating. Chris is a former Australian Champion and World Ten Dance Finalist, who also performed in the closing ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Chris is a Level 3 Adjudicator, having represented the Australian panel at various World Championships and World Cup events. Chris is also a qualified Level 2 Dancesport Coach. All Dancefever staff are trained in classroom and behavioural management, communication skills and presentation by Maria Russo. Maria has an extensive background in working with children and event management. Maria coordinated Queensland largest three night, 750 people, fully booked fashion parade.

Chris and Maria travel interstate for weekly staff training sessions, to ensure that all Instructors maintain the high quality programme that Dancefever is reputed for. The Dancefever family also meets twice a year for the “Dancefever Training Week”, where staff are involved in intensive training workshops, led by highly respected guest presenters in the Education and Dance industry.

Dancefever staff have years of training and performing in either Latin, Ballroom, Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary dance or Acting skills. All are highly skilled, including NSW staff member Gabrielle, who has represented Australia at World and International Latin Championships and is ranked 5^th in Australia. This is the standard of expertise that Dancefever can offer. Individual staff profiles for QLD and NSW can be found below.

Dancefever teams consist of one male and one female who bring our programme to your children. We have found this to be the best approach, in being able to offer individual attention to students, whilst creating a disciplined yet fun environment for all. Not only are the Dancefever Instructors extremely passionate about their work, but they thrive on gaining the best possible results from every class and every child.

Happy Smiling Faces are Our Rewards!

Queensland Team New South Wales Team

Steven .

Alicia .

Hannah .

Ashleigh .

Michael .

Miss J .

Mr D .

Ezra .

Tai .

Lexi .

Enisa .

Miss C .

Mr M .

AJ .

Mrs G .

Hayley .

Mr P .

Steven .

Age: 42 years old

Dancing for: 10 years

Position: Public Relations Officer

Steven has been with Dancefever for 4 years and is one of the Company's most experienced Queensland Team members. During his time with Dancefever, Steven, has taught in our schools in Rockhampton, Gladstone, Biloela, Sydney, and throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Steven, who is the father of 4 children, comes from a Martial Arts background, but through his time with Dancefever has now become trained in Ballroom, Latin and Hiphop. He loves his fishing, lying on the trampoline looking at the clouds, keeping fit and spending time with his family giving lots of hugs and kisses.

He is known by the team and Management as "teachers pet" as he has such charm and personality with teachers. He always brings a fabulous packed lunch and sits and enjoys it with teachers in the staff room!! He is also known for having the best kept Company Car - always spick and span.

Steven has great belief and pride in his work and strives to have all his children gain confidence in their abilities. Being a dad of four children has certainly given Steven the experience to be able to understand and relate to children in a positive and caring manner. He always has the children's and Company's best interest at heart, wanting this "fever" to spread to as many children as possible in Australia. In 2009, Steven was promoted to Dancefever's Public Relations Officer, for his ability and commitment to the Company.

Alicia .

Age: 21 years old

Dancing for: 10 years

Position: Dance Instructor

Alicia is one of the new, fun and enthusiastic members of the Queensland Dancefever team. Within her work, she strives to produce confidence in each child that she works with in all facets of the programme. She has always been immersed in the world of dance and sport. From a young age, she was heavily apart of the swimming world. Within this time, she swam at Queensland level several times and placed in numerous finals. Over the past 10 years, she has also been apart of numerous netball representative teams in Queensland teams competing in the Brisbane School Girls Sport Association, Netball Australia State Age Competition and Queensland Catholic Netball Association. She was selected as Mt St Michael's College 2008 Netball Captain and was awarded the "Clapp Family Shield".

One of the main drives that lead her to Dancefever was her interest in personal success and development, especially in children. With the experience of herself completing the Dancefever programme in her own Primary School years from 1999 to 2003 at Queen of Apostles Primary School at Stafford, she has been able to bring many attributes learnt during that time. Alicia is the first female past Dancefever student to now become a full time team member of Dancefever.

Her goal for each of her students is to produce confidence and self esteem, to allow personal growth and to develop new interactive skills in a dancing environment.

Hannah .

Age: 20 years old

Dancing for: 8 years

Position: Dance Instructor

Hannah is one of the newest members to the Queensland Dance Fever team and has a background in the performing arts, which she has been involved in for the last 10 years. Hannah began acting at the age of 10 with the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy. She studied there and performed in a number of showcases for 4 years, and she then went on to study with the Australian Acting Academy. Hannah spent 4 years with the Australian Acting Academy, performing in showcases and musicals, and in her last year there she was accepted to study in their prestigious School of Excellence program. At the end of her time with the Acting Academy, Hannah had the privilege of being asked to stay with the academy as a teacher. This is where Hannah discovered her love of teaching young children. Hannah is very passionate and enthusiastic in her work because she loves providing the opportunity for children to build self esteem and confidence in themselves, which gives them the power to discover who they are and who they want to become.

Through her many years of being involved in the performing arts, Hannah found adoration for movement, dance and choreography and has been trained in contemporary, hip hop and physical theatre. This adoration, combined with her drive to help the growth of young children, makes Hannah an exciting and enthusiastic new asset to the company. She brings together humour, vivaciousness, energy and dance in her classes and the children love to watch her perform.

Ashleigh .

Age: 20 years old

Dancing for: 1 years

Position: Dance Instructor

Ashleigh is one of the newest Dancefever Team members. She has been trained in contemporary, hip hop and jazz and has performed in dance concerts, musicals and rock eisteddfods. Ashleigh has always enjoyed all sports especially Netball in which she played competitively for 10 years.

Ashleigh was very keen to gain a position with Dancefever and to have the opportunity to work with children and dance. She has had an energetic and enthusiastic start to her Dancefever career and her goals are to help develop good social skills, fitness for good health, respect amongst peers and in particular confidence in children in all her classes.

Michael .

Age: 21 years old

Dancing for: 8 years

Position: Dance Instructor

Michael has been dancing since his primary school days and today is a Dancesport Competitor Level 2. He trains and competes in all three styles of Ballroom dancing, including, Standard, Latin and New Vogue. Michael is Dancefever’s very first male past Dancefever student who completed a traineeship with Dancefever during his Secondary school years and was then offered a full time position with the Company.

The fact that Michael himself as a child at Guardian Angels Primary School at Wynnum participated in the programme from Year 4 to Year 7 has certainly given him the distinct advantage of knowing how children feel during his classes, both with anxiety and enjoyment. He knows full well the benefits that he gained himself during his years as a child in the Dancefever programme and his goal is to ensure that the children in his classes benefit just as much as he did. Even though Michael only completed secondary school in 2008, he shows maturity well beyond his years and already is leaving his mark at every school he attends. Already this year, through his employment with Dancefever, Michael has had the opportunity of traveling to Mackay, Rockhampton and Gladstone. Michael is looking forward to a successful and enjoyable career with Dancefever now as an adult.

Miss J .

Age: 27

Dancing for: 10

Position: Dance Instructor

Jenny is highly skilled in dance and chorography. Whilst working for Dancefever, Jenny is studying Early Childhood Education at Macquarie University.

She has been dancing for 10 years and continues to train and learn an array of dance styles at the Sydney Dance Company and Brent Street. She is well trained in hiphop, funk and jazz. Since joining the Dancefever Team, Ballroom has now become of great interest and enjoyment to her as it shows such a traditional style of dance, bringing new skills in social and physical development for children.

Jenny feels she has the perfect job with Dancefever as it combines her love of children and dance.

Mr D .

Age: 20

Dancing for: 11

Position: Dance Instructor

New Zealand born Dean, moved to Australia at the start of 2010 to pursue a lifelong career in dance. Dean had been competing nationally and internationally since the age of 12 in Ballroom, Latin and New vogue. Dean is now competing at the highest level in Australia in Ballroom and New Vogue, and is ranked in the top 12 in Australia for his level.

Throughout his high school years, Dean performed in several stage shows, including his 2009 role in Cats as Mr Mistoffelees. Dean also competed at the National Sheila Winn Shakespeare Competition. Not only is Dean a dancer and performer, he also plays indoor and outdoor soccer and enjoys the challenge and fitness of rockclimbing.

Dean sees Dancefever as the perfect way to share his passion for dance with children. Seeing such positive changes in the social and learning behaviours of children that will affect their lives is what Dean finds the most rewarding about his role with Dancefever.

Ezra .

Age: 21

Dancing for: 13

Position: Dance Instructor

Ezra is an esteemed Hip Hop street dancer who moved from New Zealand in 2010 to experience the street dance culture in Australia. Ezra is a qualified Tap Dance teacher with Honours with 11 years training experience. Since moving to Sydney, Ezra has branched out into different dances styles including Freestyle and House Dance (a fusion of Hip Hop, Salsa and Tap).

Aside from teaching, Ezra is apart of a professional Freestyle dance crew which have recently been selected to compete in the National Street Dance Competition held at Sydney University.

Tai .

Age: 20

Dancing for: 7

COMING SOON!

Lexi .

Age: 18

Dancing for: 10

Lexie has been dancing since the age of 8 trained in Latin and ballroom with some of Australias best coaches. Currently competed in the South Pacific’s Championships, Professional and Amature event, placing first in the ballroom, second in the Latin. She was once crowned the U13s champion for all three styles dancing for an RSL organisation within the dancing field. She still trains hard and hopes to continue pursuing her dancing career in the long run.

Lexie has a love and passion for dancing she hopes her enthusiasm and pride in dancing will help
show the children who participate in Dance Fever the social aspects and social acceptance and how
fun dancing really can be. She has always aspired to teach dance once graduating from school, and
working with Dance Fever has allowed her to do just that. Lexi loves seeing the children grow within
themselves from week to week, proving they can do what they set their minds to do.

Enisa .

Age: 18

Dancing for: 8

Miss C .

Age: 25

Dancing for: 10

Lauren started training and competing in Women’s Artist Gymnastics from 6 years of age. Lauren was named Club Champion 3 years in a row during her time as a competitive gymnast at her club which is where she first became a role model to her fellow gymnasts and later on became an accredited gymnastics coach. Lauren has coached gymnasts at a state level and has had the amazing opportunity of coaching with the NSW Training disability squad where she along with others helped to coach a young gymnast to a bronze medal at the 2008 Special Olympics in China. Lauren had the great honour of both dancing at the Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremony and displaying her gymnastics abilities at the gold medal gala with all the gold medal winners from the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Lauren is a qualified Personal Health and Physical Education teacher. Her personal goal is to allow students from all backgrounds and abilities to experience the wonderful rewards from being active through a variety of ways and to increase the prevalence of lifelong learners of physical activity. Lauren wishes to provide opportunities for children to explore and grow both in team environments and as an individual. Lauren strives on seeing children achieve.

Mr M .

Age: 28

Dancing for: 9

Head of Dancefever Multi Sports

AJ .

Age: 24

Dancing for: 5

Aaron has been heavily involved in many sports since the age of 6. He has represented his school and various clubs in sports such as, athletics, swimming, cross country, tri-athlon, cricket, tennis, touch football, softball, netball and european handball. While at school Aaron represented Sydney West at state level in swimming and cross country. Aaron has also played representitive football(soccer) in the NSW cadet and youth leagues since the age of 11 and has played in the NSW super league for Mt Druitt Rangers, Granville Rage and Northern Spirit and is currently playing semi-professionally in the state league for Springwood Utd. In 2010 Aaron completed his bachelor of Health Science (PD/H/PE) at the University of Western Sydney were he studied under scholarship. During his time at university Aaron has undergone extensive coaching training in many sports and has qualifications in womens artistic gymnastics, AFL (level 1's), rugby, golf (level 0's) and also has a disability education certificate, bronze medalion in surf lifesaving and first aid. Aaron is passionate about young people, and aims to promote sport as a fun and enjoyable activity. Aaron promotes a healthy lifestyle, full of happy and active living.

Mrs G .

Age: 23

Dancing for: 9

Position: Dance Instructor (Senior Team)

Gabrielle has been dancing since the age of 11. She is now an elite Ballroom dancer specialising in Latin American. Gabrielle has been a representitive at the World Championships in Spain and Russia where she was placed in the top 24. She has accomplished many other great results in Adult Amateur Open Dancesport competitions with recently achieving in the top 12 in the IDSF Competition in Hong Kong where countries from all over the world were represented. At the last Australian Championships she was placed in the top 6 in Australia.

Not only does she bring such expertise in dancing but she is well known for bringing so much FUN! She received "Miss Punctuality" at the Dancefever Awards Night as she is always at least one hour early for classes!! Gabrielle is in high demand from our schools as she brings such dedication and warmth to the children. Gabrielle has been with the New South Wales Dancefever Team for 4 years and is strongly committed to the Company's ideals and values. She loves working with the children and seeing the growth that comes to all children. Children with special needs and learning difficulties in particular is the area she finds the most rewarding where so often the most powerful results are achieved.

Hayley .

Age: 27

Dancing for: 18

Position: Dance and Sport Instructor (Senior Team)

Hayley started dance at the age of five in Jazz, Funk and in particular Contemporary for which she still actively takes classes in and she is currently part of a performing collective group. Throughout her entire school life she was strongly involved in sport and dance. She represented her schools in District and Regional area swimming, athletics, cross country, water polo, netball, oz tag, AFL, touch football, soccer and volleyball. In dance she took part in many eisteddfods, concerts and performed at major events such as The Schools Spectacular and pre-match entertainment for Rugby Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup matches.

Her sporting and dance achievements in high school led to being named the schools “Senior Sports Person of the Year in 2002. Following high school, her love of sport and dance led her to complete a three year university degree in Exercise Science. Whilst studying she became involved in teaching dance at a high school which led her to choreographing the schools students Year 12 HSC Contemporary Core Performance routine. During this time she was working as a swimming instructor coaching children from beginners through to senior squad level.

Upon completion of her degree, she was employed by Dancefever Australia in Term 1 of 2007. Hayley is one of Dancefever’s most capable and committed employees, very highly respected by her employers and totally committed to her schools. Being part of the Dancefever team has given Hayley the opportunity to teach children something that she is so passionate about. Her goal is to instill in children the love, fun and healthy exercise that comes from dance.

Mr P .

Age: 35

Dancing for: 28

Position: Dance Instructor (Senior Team)

Petaia started training for competitions in Ballroom and Latin from the age of seven and was competing in the circuit for a number of years into his teens. He then chose to persue other sports by playing football and basketball for both school and club level. Petaia continued playing sports after leaving school and into the workforce, yet his love for dance had not diminished.

Petaia became involved in productions, choreography and set designs every chance he could. He never allowed the interest of dance to fade though he was not fully involved in the sport. Over the years, other dance styles influenced him including hip hop, tap and breakdancing which has assisted in the building of his repertoire in dance.

Petaia is now a team member of Dancefever and because of his love of football and dance he is certainly a wonderful role model to the children, especially the boys. Kindergarten are sometimes left in awe of Petaia’s size, but they soon realize he is nothing but a gentle giant!

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