With over 30 years of dance experience Melanie holds her Advance Diploma of Dance, Certificate 3 & 4 in fitness and is a qualified teacher, trainer and assessor.
Born on the Central Coast Melanie has studied Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern Dance, Tap and Musical Theatre before moving to Sydney at the age of 20 to dance full time.
In her early 20s Melanie toured with Laycock Dance Theatre and Central performance project (Contemporary/Ballet companies) as well as performed weekly in and around sydney as a corporate and commercial dancer.
Melanie developed a love for Hip Hop and street dance in the early 90s and developed her skills here in Australia as well as in New York, Los Angeles and Japan over the past 25 years. She began practicing Hip Hop in 1996, Breaking in 2002, Popping and Locking in 2004, Krump in 2005, House dance in 2006, Stepping in 2009 and Chicago footwork in 2015.
Over the past 25 years she has founded, choreographed and danced with crews such as Caramell, Found8ion, Rhapsody & Sweet Elite (Australia’s first B-girl crew). She has competed Nationally and Internationally with Crews and as a solo freestyle dancer.
Melanie is a Judge of one of the biggest Hip Hop competitions in the world 'Hip Hop International" and has judged many street dance competitions including Freestyle session, Battlegrounds, Crown & Numerous local battles as well as adjudicated at many eisteddfods.
Melanie’s choreography credits include: Sony Artist Johnny Ruffo, Danielle DeLaite, Senani, Amanda Perez, Israel, Random, Selwyn, Lordz of the Fly, Maya Jupiter, Foreign Heights, Sneeky Sound System and Joseph Gatehau of Australian Idol.
Other Choreographic achievements include: The Opening of the Urban Music Awards 2006/2007, Big Day Out, Sweatfest / Ministry of sound, Battle of the Year, Sleazeball, Johnny Ruffo Australia & Macau tour, Corporate entertainment for Hewlard Packard, Apple Ipod, Telstra & Adidas, Iggy Azalea Bonds Campaign.
Pre covid Melanie Battled in Amsterdam at 'Summer dance forever' and won the Real Estate House Battle in Brisbane.
Melanie has been a teacher at Sydney Dance Company studios for over 10 years and operated one of sydney's leading Hip Hop studios 'Caramell Dance Studio' in Camperdown from 2007-2012 mentoring the next generation of hiphop and street dance teachers in sydney.
Melanie is the Director of Brookvale Dance Centre as well as Street Dance Australia. She has been judging, teaching and running workshops/events for well over 20 years and is currently in high demand as one of Sydney’s Leading and most experienced dancers, teachers and choreographers.
Leanne has had a passion and love for dance since a young age, in 2004 she graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Creative Arts majoring in Dance.
In 2005 Leanne began teaching in a local dance school in Jazz, Ballet and Hip Hop to Children aged between 2 and 8 years. In 2007 Leanne pursued Early Childhood Education where she incorporated her love of dance into the daily program as well as hiring a local hall to continue teaching classes after school.
Leanne went on to gain a Diploma in Children’s Services and then went on to become a Director in a local Childcare centre where she lead the team to achieve an Exceeding rated Centre.
Leanne then became the Mother of two young daughters and has been working at Brookvale dance centre as our Student success manager and head of Adventure since 2020!
Born in Italy, (Sicily) Ginevra studied classical ballet and contemporary dance with Megakles Ballet, Compagnia Petranura Danza. In 2008 Ginevra studied Greek Drama and Modern Theatre. Throughout her career Ginevra performed in some iconic locations including the Greek Roman Theatre in Catania, Greek Theatre In Syracuse, Scenario Pubblico , Festival d’ Avignon in France, the RomaEuropa festival, Palazzolo Acreide Greeck Theatre. In 2014 Ginevra established herself in Australia where she worked as a freelance dancer, model and teacher specialising in Progressive Ballet Technique & Progressive Contemporary technique. In 2022 Gineva was selected for Modem Pro with Compagnia Zappala’ Danza. Currently undertaking a Postgraduate Degree with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Kris began his journey with dance at the age of 17, learning to break and pop at community training sessions. When he realised it was his passion he dived in and began training over 20 hours per week in Hip Hop and urban style classes. learning quick and and developing his skills and personal style.
In 2018 and 2019 Kris competed in Hip Hop International (HHI) with Kookies n Kream coming 3rd in Australia in 2018 and 2nd in 2019. He has also had the opportunity to perform for Sydney Kings NBL and NRL West Tigers, and on stage with choreographers such as Nicole Kirkland, Jane Chynoweth, and Zac Milne. As Kris continues his journey with dance he is super excited to have the opportunity to share his craft, his passion and his experience as a dancer to his students.
Residing in the Western suburbs of Sydney he is regarded as one of the leaders in the current Australian popping scene. His genuine love and open-mindedness towards the dance make him an asset to the whole dance community.
Part of the Hybrid Formz crew (Bankstown), he has performed in numerous events such as the Sydney Festival (2009 & 2013), Platform 2 (2009), World Youth Day Sydney (2008) and the PCYC Gala Dinner (2006). He has also appeared in the music video titled "Some More" by Tegan Rogers feat Audius, Australia's Got Talent Semifinals for the Other Superman (2013) and Australia's Guinness world record for the fastest moonwalk (2010).
Dennis has entered many battles and competitions throughout his dancing career. One of his proudest moments was winning his first battle competition in 2004 (Dancekool Vol.10) and taking 1st place in the 2008 Looze Control Championships with a Wizard of Oz Adaptation choreography.
In 2013 he was elected to be the UTS Hip Hop Society 2014 president, with his leadership and vision he led the society to win Club of the Year for 2014.
As the years progressed, Dennis transitioned into an organiser & management role for the community. He organises major and minor dance events (eg PCYC Super Round Box II & III, Platform 5, the Popping & Hip Hop Nation Dance leagues), and has also judged many dance battles/contests. In addition, Dennis runs a regular podcast show (OPS PN Popcast) to help document the popping scene in Australia. He still regularly competes & attends events as a gesture of support.
Maria, a 23-year-old dancer from New Zealand, brings a wealth of experience and passion to her teaching. Hailing from Auckland and Queenstown, Maria began her journey in dance at a young age, teaching ballet, contemporary, and jazz at the Queenstown School of Dance. By the age of 16, she was already choreographing show and competition pieces, showcasing her talent and dedication to the art form.
In addition to her dance expertise, Maria has also performed as an aerial hoop artist, adding a unique dimension to her repertoire. At 17, she took a significant step in her career by moving independently to Christchurch, NZ, to pursue full-time pre-professional training at the prestigious Anneliese Gilberd Academy.
In April 2021, Maria relocated to Sydney, Australia, to join the renowned "Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year" course. Although the course was interrupted by the Covid-19 lockdown and personal reasons, Maria's commitment to dance remained unwavering. She returned to Christchurch in June 2021, where she continued her training and began teaching contemporary technique, improvisation, tumbling, and repertoire classes for the full-time program at Anneliese Gilberd Academy. She also taught ballet and conditioning classes at Flow Academy in Christchurch.
Since November 2022, Maria has been residing in Sydney, where she has shared her expertise with multiple dance schools across the city. Her diverse background and dedication to dance education make her an invaluable asset to any dance community.
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Kayla has been on the stage since the age of two. She holds honours in both Royal Conservatory of Music, BATD and Royal Academy of Dance examinations, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Theatre Performance from Canada’s highly reputable Sheridan College. She has taught in various studios across Canada, aiming to create studio spaces where play and learning are equal. Miss Kayla encourages setting goals and removing boundaries to allow growth and learn to our fullest. Practicing technique to inform and enhance our performance while also exploring and respecting the ever-changing art form. Kayla is thrilled to be working with Brookvale Dance Centre, teach Jazz and Musical Theatre.
Born in England and raised in Adelaide, Maisy is a versatile performer with training in dance, vocal performance, and acting. Currently pursuing her Diploma of Musical Theatre at Sydney’s Brent Street, Maisy has an impressive track record, having written three original musicals, choreographed eight productions, directed four, served as music director for two, and performed in over 25 productions, while also earning her Cert III in Dance.
Maisy’s career has seen audiences worldwide, performing at three Disneyland’s including Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Florida, and even aboard a cruise ship in the South Pacific Islands. Beyond the stage, Maisy has contributed her talents to various projects, including voice and dance work for commercials, performances in New Years Eve events and opening ensemble for CanDance For a Cure. Maisy has gained experience in several youth productions as leading roles all throughout her schooling. Maisy was lucky enough to be the head of the contemporary program and co-head of the Musical Theatre department for SA Performing Arts back in Adelaide. At this studio Maisy also taught multiple award winning solos for competitions and a few group routines before she moved to Sydney.
Maisy is excited to be on the teaching faculty at Brookvale Dance Centre where she can share her experiences and became a family with the students and parents.
Sammy has been breaking for over 20 years and is well-known for his creative style and original moves. Sammy has earned a range of local and national titles and honours for his dancing, both individually and with his crew 143 Liverpool Street Familia. He has a swag of singles, doubles, and crew competition titles including being a 3-time Sydney Bboy League Champion. Sammy has extensive judging experience across breaking and all-style competitions and has judged multiple Destructive Steps Breaking World Finals.
Sammy loves sharing his passion for breaking with students of all experience levels. With over 10 years teaching experience, Sammy has taught at some of Sydney’s premier hip-hop studios including Crossover Dance Studios, Dancekool, and Urban Dance Centre. He is also a NSW state coach for the Australian Breaking Association’s Olympic development squad and was the Australian team coach for the 2021 World Breaking Championships in Paris.
With over 15 years of dance experience, Steven is a versatile and passionate dancer specialising in hip hop, acrobatics and Breakdance. Over the past decade, he has shared his expertise through numerous dance workshops, impacting aspiring dancers and enthusiasts alike.
Steven holds an educator degree in European Bachelor, which equips him with the skills necessary to effectively teach and mentor students. His classes are dynamic and engaging, emphasising technique, strength building, creativity, and personal expression.
In addition to teaching, Steven has a rich performance background, having graced numerous stages with his talent. His performances blend technical precision and emotive storytelling, leaving audiences mesmerised.
As a dance educator and performer, he continues to inspire and lead by example, contributing significantly to the dance community.
Steven's goal is to instill a deep appreciation for dance in his students, believing in its power to transform lives, build confidence, and foster a sense of community.
Jireh began his dance journey as a predominantly self-taught dancer with a passion for street dance styles. In December 2019, he enrolled at Brookvale Dance Centre, where he honed his skills under the guidance of Melanie, the studio director. Over the past four years, Jireh has flourished and earned the respect and admiration of all students at BDC.
This year, Jireh transitioned into a teaching and mentor role, sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of dancers. He has also participated in various dance battles and performed in multiple music videos, showcasing his talent and versatility.
Looking ahead, Jireh is excited to pursue full-time dance studies in 2025, furthering his commitment to the art form he loves.
Darrio “Manifest” Phillips is a pioneer and OG of The Sydney Australian Street Dance and Krump Movement.
He started his career in Australia in performing Locking , Popping and Hiphop/Street Dance in 1982 with The Double Ds dance team traveling around around Australia and overseas starting in 1982
Originally from the US and living in Australia. His intention was to spread Street Dance culture throughout Sydney, Australia and the world. In 2003 he was the founder of the first Krump family ‘Eminent Family’. After practicing, developing the foundation and our understanding of Krump, The Eminent family spread it through a series of performances and street sessions, tv appearances, and travelling.
“After a few years into the culture I created the name MANIFEST for spiritual reasons and how I deal with circumstances in and out of dance. My message is about pursuing the philosophical approach to dance and my life.
My goals are to spread the love for Krump culture everywhere and to encourage and perhaps motivate others to take part and enjoy Krump culture, particularly Youth communities, Before and after school programs, Youth prisons, Dance and performance studios. As the Founder of LABBRATZ, A concept based off the importance of “practicing” I’m also looking forward to travelling to connect with other Street Dancers and Krumpers out of Sydney and other parts of the world.”
Darrio stays teaches his ‘Life Skills Thru Dance Programs’ enabling students to figure out who they are, develop strength of character and confidence while they grow through dance.
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