Dance Canberra 2026

Dancers not en pointe are welcome to do this component of the class in flats or demi pointes. About Matthew: Matthew enjoyed an international dance career across France, Switzerland, and Italy, performing in over 20 countries worldwide. He made his principal debut as Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty at Venice’s iconic Teatro La Fenice. Following his performing career, Matthew served as Ballet Master for companies in Nuremberg, Gießen, Chemnitz, Dessau, and Leipzig. He has staged over 60 ballets for leading global choreographers—including Uwe Scholz, Johan Inger, and Ohad Naharin—and worked as a Guest Ballet Master for Cape Town City Ballet, Dresden Semperoper, and Lucerne Theater. About Annelies: Annelies trained at the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung in Munich before beginning her professional ballet career with Mainfranken Theater Würzburg. She then performed with Staatstheater Schwerin, Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, and at the Musikalische Komödie in Leipzig. Throughout her career, Annelies appeared in a wide range of classical and contemporary productions, with memorable performances in The Rite of Spring, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, and Coppélia, where she performed the role of Swanhilda’s friend. She also danced the role of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. A versatile performer, Annelies also brought her stage presence to musical theatre, appearing in productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Anything Goes, West Side Story, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After touring extensively throughout Europe, she concluded her stage career with her final production, performing Carmen in Carmen.

Dancers not yet en pointe are welcome to do this component of the class in flats or demi pointes. About Annelies: Annelies trained at the Heinz-Bosl-Stiftung in Munich before beginning her professional ballet career with Mainfranken Theater Würzburg. She then performed with Staatstheater Schwerin, Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, and at the Musikalische Komödie in Leipzig. Throughout her career, Annelies appeared in a wide range of classical and contemporary productions, with memorable performances in The Rite of Spring, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, and Coppélia, where she performed the role of Swanhilda’s friend. She also danced the role of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. A versatile performer, Annelies also brought her stage presence to musical theatre, appearing in productions including Jesus Christ Superstar, Anything Goes, West Side Story, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After touring extensively throughout Europe, she concluded her stage career with her final production, performing Carmen in Carmen.

About Tannos: Stephen Tannos is arguably one of the most innovative minds in Performing Arts in Australia. His unique and exhilarating choreography, combined with his infectious personality and incredible work ethic has quickly established Stephen, as the most in-demand Choreographer in the country. Stephen has trained extensively in all styles of dance as well as singing and acting. His credits include Cats and Fame -The Musical, Carmen (choreographed by Kelley Abbey) and playing Graffiti Pete in In The Heights at the Hayes Theatre. Stephen has performed with Artists such as Ricky Martin and Natalie Bassingthwaite, featured as a Top 20 contestant in the 2009 season So You Think You Can Dance Australia and appeared in various television advertising campaigns - with a memorable lead role in a ‘Carlton Draught’ TVC. However, Stephen’s choreographic skills and creative direction prowess that have truly making the industry sit up and take notice – both locally and internationally. Stephen’s choreography has been featured at large scale events, on blockbuster TV shows and utilised by some of the world’s biggest recording artists.

About Tannos: Stephen Tannos is arguably one of the most innovative minds in Performing Arts in Australia. His unique and exhilarating choreography, combined with his infectious personality and incredible work ethic has quickly established Stephen, as the most in-demand Choreographer in the country. Stephen has trained extensively in all styles of dance as well as singing and acting. His credits include Cats and Fame -The Musical, Carmen (choreographed by Kelley Abbey) and playing Graffiti Pete in In The Heights at the Hayes Theatre. Stephen has performed with Artists such as Ricky Martin and Natalie Bassingthwaite, featured as a Top 20 contestant in the 2009 season So You Think You Can Dance Australia and appeared in various television advertising campaigns - with a memorable lead role in a ‘Carlton Draught’ TVC. However, Stephen’s choreographic skills and creative direction prowess that have truly making the industry sit up and take notice – both locally and internationally. Stephen’s choreography has been featured at large scale events, on blockbuster TV shows and utilised by some of the world’s biggest recording artists.

About Demi: I’m a performer, content creator, and creative freelancer originally from Brisbane, Australia. My work blends movement, colour, and storytelling—often on roller skates, sometimes with a hoop and always with intention. Over the past few years, I’ve built a global community through sharing honest, joyful moments online. My content is rooted in self-expression, nostalgia, and celebrating individuality. Whether I’m creating a video, teaching a workshop, or performing onstage, I aim to inspire people to take up space, move their bodies, and do things their own way.

About Dylan: Dylan Bull is a Sydney-based dancer, choreographer and movement director known for his versatile approach to commercial dance. His performance credits include Opera Australia, Amazon Prime, Stan Australia and Strut & Fret, while his choreography has been commissioned by artists including Gold Fang, Dante Knows, Rebel Wilson, Keiynan Lonsdale and Eurovision artist TRONG. A sought-after guest teacher across Australia, Dylan brings an energetic teaching style that blends commercial choreography with strong technical foundations, musicality and performance quality.

About JW: JW Murray is a Sydney-based tap dancer, choreographer and educator who has become one of Australia's leading voices in tap dance. Founder of the Sydney Tap Dance Festival, JW has taught and choreographed at more than 50 studios across the country and has shared his expertise internationally, including at Los Angeles' renowned Edge Performing Arts Center. His dynamic classes combine musicality, precision and performance quality, creating an energetic and inspiring experience for dancers of all levels.

About JW: JW Murray is a Sydney-based tap dancer, choreographer and educator who has become one of Australia's leading voices in tap dance. Founder of the Sydney Tap Dance Festival, JW has taught and choreographed at more than 50 studios across the country and has shared his expertise internationally, including at Los Angeles' renowned Edge Performing Arts Center. His dynamic classes combine musicality, precision and performance quality, creating an energetic and inspiring experience for dancers of all levels.

About Jasmin: Originally born in Hong Kong, Jasmin Durham moved to Canberra with her family at just three months old. She began dancing at the age of three, training in ballet before expanding into jazz, tap and contemporary. In 2009, Jasmin relocated to Melbourne to study at The Australian Ballet School. She performed with The Dancers Company in 2010 and 2011 before joining The Australian Ballet in 2012. Over her 12-year career with The Australian Ballet, Jasmin rose to the rank of Coryphée and established herself as a versatile and expressive performer. Her repertoire included leading character roles such as the Queen of the Wilis in Giselle, the Stepmother in Alexei Ratmansky's Cinderella, and the Lead Hungarian in Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake. She also performed in acclaimed works including Jiří Kylián's Petit Mort, Richard House's Control for the Bodytorque DNA program, Christopher Wheeldon's An American in Paris, and Carousel. Throughout her career, Jasmin worked with some of the world's most celebrated choreographers, including Jiří Kylián, Twyla Tharp and William Forsythe. Now sharing her wealth of professional experience through teaching and mentoring, Jasmin is passionate about developing strong technical foundations, efficient movement and sustainable training habits. With qualifications in RAD Teaching, Rambert Contemporary and Reformer Pilates, she is a strong advocate for safe dance practice, injury prevention and student wellbeing. Her approach combines high standards with genuine care, helping dancers build the confidence, resilience and artistry needed to thrive.

About Halimah: With over two decades of experience as a performer, Halimah brings a wealth of professional expertise, stagecraft, and passion to every class. A scholarship recipient at Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, she earned her BA (Hons) in Musical Theatre before embarking on an international career that has taken her from the stage to the screen. Her performance credits include featured roles in the Netflix series *Heartbreak High* and *Breakpoint*, as well as collaborations with leading brands such as Commonwealth Bank, Opal Healthcare, IVF Australia, Cancer Council, StarTrack AusPost, and Confitex across television, online platforms, and voiceover campaigns. Career highlights also include appearances on *The Voice Australia*, performances at Disneyland Hong Kong, and entertaining audiences at Universal Studios Singapore and Japan. Her musical theatre repertoire features beloved productions such as *Starlight Express*, *Forbidden Broadway*, *La Cage Aux Folles*, *Aladdin*, and *Kismet*. What to Expect: Our class will be high-energy, stylish and focussed. We’ll be introducing musical theatre movement, starting with corner progressions and then transitioning into a character-driven combination. Musical theatre demands personality and creativity so once we master the choreography we’ll begin working on performance layers within this genre.