Excellence in Performing Arts Education
MEET OUR TEACHERS
NICOLE EVERETT
DIRECTOR - BACHELOR ARTS (DANCE)/BACHELOR EDUCATION
For over 30 years, Nicole has been a leader and innovator in Performing Arts education making a significant impact in both primary and secondary schools, private studios and the wider community. As a Learning Leader of Dance/Drama, she has crafted engaging curricula and programs that inspire creativity, confidence, and self-expression in students of all abilities.
With extensive experience teaching dance from 18 months old to VCE Dance and directing/choreographing around 32 musical theatre productions, Nicole is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of directors, choreographers, and actors. Her strong academic background, complements her passion for delivering exceptional performances.
Her focus in tertiary dance was the Contemporary style as well as anatomy, choreography and history of dance and she completed her Cechetti ballet exams with the renowned Cheriil Rowston. Later in her career, jazz and tap became her focus as she developed these technical skills through performing in and choreographing Musical Theatre.
First and foremost she is dedicated to enriching the lives and minds of young people through the transformative power of arts and culture. Attention to student well-being is at the forefront of her teaching philosophy and the reason she opened Stage Door Academy. Excellence and well-being can absolutely co-exist.
TIFFANY FULLER
STUDIO OPERATIONS MANAGER
Tiffany’s connection to dance spans more than 20 years, first as a dancer and now as a dance mum to 2 talented children. Having experienced the studio world from both sides, she understands the role a supportive, positive community can play in a performer’s journey.
With a professional background in audit, risk and process improvement, Tiffany brings a practical, organised and people-focused approach to studio operations. She enjoys creating structure behind the scenes and finding ways to make things work better for everyone.
She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment where students feel supported, families feel connected and teachers can focus on what they do best — inspiring the next generation of performers.
She loves the community that the performing arts creates and the positive impact a great studio can have on its students and families.
NATALIE BRAY
DANCE TEACHER
Natalie Bray is a classically trained dancer and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) registered teacher with a strong foundation in both performance and pedagogy. Trained under Jane Moore, Natalie completed all RAD ballet examinations up to Advanced 2 and went on to study at the prestigious Australian Ballet School in 2010.
Following her professional training, she became an RAD registered teacher in 2018 and later graduated in London in 2019, further deepening her commitment to nurturing the next generation of dancers.
With a passion for technical excellence and expressive movement, Natalie combines classical training with a contemporary approach to teaching and choreography. She continues to inspire students across various levels through thoughtful instruction and performance-driven mentorship.
GARRY STOCKS
DANCE TEACHER
Garry Stocks is a Melbourne-based tap dance artist. Whether it be teaching, performing, or creating new work, he welcomes them equally with passion, dedication, and artistic freedom.
His dance journey began in the little country town of Bathurst in New South Wales, and since he has been surrounded by dance. Initially, he was drawn to the world of tap dance training as a 7-year-old with the Les Griffiths Tap Dancing Syllabus. Subsequently he began exploring any style of dance and ballet became a new challenge he wanted to explore to its fullest. Moving to Melbourne at 15 to study at The Australian Ballet School Garry joined the Australian ballet in 2005 under the direction of David McAllister AC.
Garry has performed on iconic stages including New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo, Shanghai and Auckland, as well as home stages such as the Sydney Opera House and Melbourne's State Theatre. After 10 years performing with The Australian Ballet, he has returned to his first dance style and finds himself focused on bringing deep and impactful percussive dance work to the stage and educating the next generation of passionate artists.
His career with The Australian Ballet allowed him to dance both modern and classical works by some of the world’s leading choreographers such as Graeme Murphy AO, Jiri Kylian, Alexei Ratmansky, Krzysztof Pastor, Rudolf Nureyev, Stanton Welch, John Cranko and Kenneth Macmillan.
He has seen firsthand how the movement of the human body can convey powerful emotions to an audience. By combining his technical proficiency in tap, classical and contemporary dance, he is exploring how this primarily auditory art form can also be an aesthetically powerful and moving storytelling medium.
He is passionate about pushing the boundaries of what we know as tap dance today and challenging the preconceptions of this art form by collaborating and exploring the unlimited possibilities of music and movement. This African American art has been passed down through the generations and he feels honoured to be able to share in this transformative percussive art.
CHARLOTTE LEWS-WILLIAMS
DANCE TEACHER
Charlotte is a passionate and dedicated dance teacher with over 15 years of experience across multiple disciplines, including Ballet (Cechetti), Jazz, Tap, Acro, and HipHop, as well as 12 years in cheerleading.
With an impressive track record of both national and state championship titles in cheerleading and HipHop, Charlotte knows first-hand the commitment, precision, and energy it takes to excel in dance and competition. As a coach, she led her team to the 2024 State Championship and has been inspiring and guiding dancers and cheerleaders for 7 years.
Beyond competition, Charlotte’s creative vision and leadership shine through in her choreographic work. She served as Dance Captain and choreographer for productions of Legally Blonde in 2023 and High School Musical Junior in 2022 and previously led as Dance Captain for the 2021 production of Matilda. With experience performing both nationally and internationally, Charlotte brings a global perspective and unyielding drive to each class, aiming to inspire students to reach their fullest potential, whether on stage or in the studio
BELLA ORCHARD
DANCE TEACHER
Bella has 15 years of dance experience, with classical training in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, musical theatre and hip hop. Bella danced for 12 years at Jane Moore Academy of Ballet, where she completed all RAD syllabus exams. Additionally, with a love for theatrical styles, she competed solos, duos and troupe routines at several competitions across Melbourne.
Bella’s teaching journey begun with an assistant choreographer position for Mentone Grammar’s impressive production, Grease in 2024. Additionally, she continues to uplift and inspire students, assisting with Mentone’s Grammar’s co-curricular dance program.
Bella’s creative passion drives her love for teaching dance. She is dedicated to develop technique, musicality and performance skills with her students.
Bella is thrilled to be teaching the superstars of Stage Door Academy!
TENAE SMITH
DANCE TEACHER
Tenae [she/they] is a contemporary-trained dancer and dedicated teacher, choreographer, and producer. She has worked across creative communities in Australia, New Zealand, Wales, and Europe.
Tenae completed her training at Transit Dance in 2019, graduating with a Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) and a Certificate IV Dance Teaching & Management. Tenae has since undertaken professional development opportunities with Sydney Dance Company, Assembly 197, Footnote New Zealand, Yellow Wheel Youth Dance Company, Babel Theatre and B12 Berlin. Her performance credits include First Floor (Tasdance), Multitud (Tama Cubas), Sincerely, Survivor (Grace Dance Company), and Us And All Of This (Liesel Zink).
Tenae is currently a practicing independent artist, and co-founded CoExist Collective in 2019. Through CoExist and other initiatives, Tenae has facilitated creative developments and performances, curated opportunities for recently graduated artists, and produced events with a focus on community connection and sustainability.
Tenae’s teaching ethos prioritises fostering a space where students feel safe, can be creative, and encourages community and a love of movement! She aims to promote contemporary dance as a means of expression and hopes to guide students toward discovering their own creative pathways while building resilient, inclusive dance environments.
ERIN KENNY
DANCE TEACHER
Erin Kenny is a Melbourne-based dancer, who has been training extensively since 2013. Over the past decade, she has developed strong technical and performance skills across a wide range of dance styles, including jazz, contemporary, lyrical, tap, ballet, hip hop and musical theatre.
Erin completed VCE Dance Units 1–4 at Kilbreda College, where she further developed her choreographic, performance and analytical skills. Erin is currently studying the Full-Time Performing Arts Course at Patrick School of the Arts while also undertaking ongoing vocal training. Throughout her training, she has performed in numerous professional and pre-professional productions and showcases, Tannos Collective, Stella Youth Collective, The Dream Creative and Boss Generation. She has also appeared in commercial projects such as Futuration at Crown Melbourne and the music video Backstabber.
Erin continues to refine her technique, artistry, and professional skills as she works towards a career in the industry
MAYA CORBETT
DANCE TEACHER
Maya has trained extensively in classical ballet (RAD), tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop at Sharon Lawrence Academy of Dance. She served as Dance Captain in 2025 and has spent the past two years working and assisting as a dance and musical theatre teacher, while
training under industry professionals Lisa Herbert, Gill D’Monte, and Jack Egan.
Maya made her professional musical theatre debut as Sophie in School of Rock the Musical (GWB Entertainment), touring Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland. Other stage credits include Annie, Matilda Wormwood (Matilda), Gabriella Montez (High School Musical Jr), and Peggy
Sawyer (42nd Street).
She has appeared in national campaigns for Coles and Spotlight, as well as for dance and fashion labels. Additional highlights include concert and eisteddfod performances, lead vocalist for PAC/Found Home, solo performance of the Australian National Anthem for RSL Anzac
Day Commemorations, and appearances on Australia’s Got Talent and Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight.
In 2026, Maya will commence full-time tertiary musical theatre studies at Patrick School of
the Arts.
KATE AYRES
DANCE TEACHER
Kate Ayres is a Melbourne based dancer with a strong passion for dance and teaching. She joined the Dance Prescription family at just 8 years old and participated in the program until 2020. Kate danced at the Sharon Lawrence Academy of Dance from 2018 to 2023 and performed in the Boss Dance Company Youth Program from 2019 to 2024. She has recently commenced a full-time tertiary dance course at Patrick School of the Arts.
Her work experience includes assisting Lisa Ellis with jazz technique workshops across Australia and the UK, modelling for Couture Costume Dance-wear, and performing with Katy Perry at the AFL Grand Final pre-game. Notable achievements include representing the Victorian Calisthenics Club in 2015, winning a scholarship for the Boss Dance Company Youth Program, earning a VCE VET Dance study score of 50, and performing two solos at Top Class 2024.
MATT HETHERINGTON
VOCAL TEACHER
Matt Hetherington is a multi-award-winning actor / singer. Matt has won two Australian Green Room Awards and a Helpmann Award (Australia's Tony Award) as lead actor in a Musical. He was also a live finalist in season one of The Voice – Australia.
Matt has starred in over 15 major theatre productions in Australia: The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, North by Northwest, Next to Normal, South Pacific, Hair, Rocky Horror, The Last 5 Years, Sweet Charity, Damn Yankees, Sugar. TV; City Homicide, The Dr. Blake Murder
Mysteries, Stingers, Marshall Law and Sea Change.
Matt lived and worked for 7 years in Los Angeles and New York. He guest starred on The Detour (TBS) and originated the role of Eddie Starr in Jerry Mitchell’s ‘Becoming Nancy’ at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Featured performances AFL Grand Final, the Cox Plate, Alan Border Medal, the 2012 National Rugby League State of Origin and the John Newcombe Medal.
His teaching / coaching experience is extensive having worked for 4 years at Anthony Meindl’s Actors Workshop in LA and New York City. He works with the Theatre and Drama departments at various secondary schools around Victoria and does private coaching for actors from all over the world. His commitment to create a challenging but nurturing environment for people to reach their potential has made him an extremely successful coach.
GEORGIA MCALEER
VOCAL TEACHER
Georgia is an up-and-coming performing artist and creative based in Melbourne. Growing up surrounded by good entertainment (and good wine) in the Yarra Valley, Georgia found her passion for all things performing arts at a young age. While studying a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University, she has had the opportunity to work on productions such as Into The Woods (dir. Alister Smith), Jane Eyre (dir. Dr Ross Hall) and Tribe (dir. Anthony Crowley).
Georgia has performed as a Resident Artist with Broadway Unplugged in 2023 and performed as “Lenny” in Melbourne Fringe Festival’s season of Searching For Betty. Currently, Georgia is following her love of vocal teaching at Freedom Music Studios
