Faculty

Kristy has studied Dance and Singing for many years at well-known schools including The Danz Factory under the tuition of the fabulous Chris Duncan of DanceLife Australia, Sydney Dance Company, The Elite School of Singing and Platinum Vocal Studios. Kristy studied for a Bachelor of Arts Degree Majoring in Dance and Drama @ U.N.S.W and has also completed her Certificate of Ballet Teaching (CBTS) with the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and is now a registered teacher with the organisation. Her performance career has stretched from Australia to USA and has included dancing and singing in many venues including supporting acts to Australian and international artists. She has performed in shows in and around Sydney with choreographers such as William Forsyth, Aaron Farley, Ramon Doringo and Michael Boyd. She has also choreographed and performed in her own corporate professional shows. She was a lead singer in a Blues/Rock/Funk band “The Blues Raiders” for several years performing in pubs and clubs across NSW. Kristy was also the BJP Physical Culture National Champion in her division for 5 years running 2012 – 2016. Kristy was employed as Regional Dance Coordinator and instructor for Dance First Academy @ Fitness First for 10 years before opening her own Studio, Evolution Performance Centre. Kristy has a combined performance and teaching career of over 30 years and looks forward to sharing her studio vision with you all.

Mahlia King is a Sydney based performer, teacher and choreographer who trained at Evolution performance centre then went on to graduate at ED5 International with a Diploma in Performing Arts in 2021. Mahlia has worked with choreographers William Alexander Forsythe, Shannon Burns, Daniel Assetta, Ryan Smith, Dolce Fisher, Caroline Kaspar, Blake John Wood and more. Mahlia’s love for singing has been fostered by singing coaches Martin Crewes and Phillip Filo. As a performer, Mahlia HAS had the opportunity to perform with professional contemporary company Twisted Element, showcasing two works, “Ritual” and “Opus”. Mahlia has also provided roving entertainment as part of the Queen Victoria Building’s “Beating Heart of the QVB” Installation. Mahlia has choreographed and danced in the Hot Potato Band’s music video “It’s your own body”. Mahlia has been involved in Australia Day TVCs, as well as appearing in the film “Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway”. Mahlia is really passionate about teaching in a fun, positive and engaging way, specifically fostering elements of creativity and individuality in all her students. Mahlia has now taken on our Front Desk Administration role and is looking forward to learning how it all works behind the scenes.

Caitlin Nilon began dancing at age 3 at Eden Dance Academy. In 2017, she was invited to train with LA dance company MusEffect as part of their summer program. She has continued to train with them as the opportunity arises both in the US and Aus. Caitlin performed under Jessica Starr at Choreographers Carnival in Hollywood as well as the Vans US Open of surfing, White Light White Night Gala Ball, featured in Spencer Ludwigs Music Video “I Just Wanna Dance” and Muse Dance Medias film “The Cure” which premiered at the Industry Dance Awards in Hollywood. In January 2020, Caitlin trained and competed with Diverse Elements in Phoenix, Arizona before returning home. Closer to home, Caitlin was a featured dancer in Schools Spectacular landing lead roles in the show in 2019. She was also in the NSW Public Schools State Dance Ensemble from 2014-19 training, performing and undertaking workshops in Horton Technique with Dance Iquail. Caitlin began teaching and choreographing in 2018 and has since won awards at competition for her choreography. Caitlin completed a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management with Ev and Bow in 2020.

Lauren commenced dancing at the age of four learning the Cecchetti method of classical. She later moved to North Shore Dance Academy where she studied RAD Classical Ballet, Contemporary, National Character and Jazz. During this time, Lauren undertook her RAD examinations at both graded and vocational levels receiving Distinction. Lauren was an eight time winner of the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod across classical and championship sections, including winning The Robert and Elizabeth Albert Junior Ballet Scholarship. Lauren holds Registered Teaching Status with The Royal Academy of Dance, having completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies in 2010. Lauren is a Mentor, Tutor and Practical Teaching Supervisor for those aspiring trainee teachers currently enrolled in the Certificate and Diploma programmes with the RAD. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science with a Major in Neuroscience; a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours; a Masters of Health Laws, all received from The University of Sydney along with having a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice. Lauren is a recognised teacher of the Ballet Conservatoire syllabus (Vaganova) through The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet having completed teacher seminars in 2017 and 2021. Lauren has gained her Licentiate Diploma through the Australian Institute of Classical Dance (Borovansky syllabus) granting her teaching membership. Lauren is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dance Education with the Royal Academy of Dance/University of Bath for which she received the Iris Truscott Memorial Scholarship for academic achievement. In 2021, Lauren was the recipient of the inaugural RAD Teachers’ Scholarship Fund for proactive contribution to the wider dance community. Lauren’s students have gone on to receive notable success on the international platform, having won at competitions such as YAGP, Prix de Lausanne and Alana Haines. Her passion is instructing RAD classical ballet at all levels from Pre Primary through to Advanced 2 for both male and female students and her results are consistently in the top percentiles. Lauren’s students have been successful in securing placements at top finishing schools such as The Australian Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School and Queensland Ballet Academy, to name a few. Lauren currently has many students who are currently involved in the Interstate Training Program of The Australian Ballet School. Lauren employs a holistic approach to her teaching practice, inspiring her students to reach their technical and artistic potential.

Australian Certification Health & Physical Fitness

Studio Owner - Bullsbrook Dance Academy (1993 - 2021) Perth Western Australia

Tanya started dancing at the age of 2yrs with the Sharon Biddle School of Dance in Perth Western Australia under the tuition of Sharon Biddle. After completing all CSTD Examinations, Tanya was successful in passing the highest public examination Senior Performers Shield with honours and completed her Full CSTD Teachers Diploma in 1992. Tanya has certification with Australian Institute of Health & Physical Fitness, is Acrobatic Arts certified and has a Secretarial Diploma which helps with the running of her own dance studio. Tanya opened her own dance studio in 1993 and is the successful studio director of the Bullsbrook Dance Academy in Perth. She has nurtured many students throughout her 28 years, some of which have gone on to have successful dance careers performing at Moulin Rouge in Paris, Michael Jackson Tour in UK, Disneyland Japan, National Institute Of Circus Arts Melbourne, Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy Sydney, Lee Academy, Patrick Studio Melbourne, Victorian State Ballet Company to name a few. Tanya moved to Sydney in 2015 and is a freelance acrobatic teacher whilst running her dance studio remotely in Perth.

Miss Katrina started dancing when she was five years old and attended her local dance school ‘The Mandy & Shirley Morris School of Dancing’. When she was just sixteen years old she was awarded a place at ‘The Urdang Academy’ in London’s West End. She spent the next three years completing her professional dancers training with a focus on classical ballet. Following this, a year at ‘The Royal Academy of Dance’ where she gained her RAD Diploma & Teachers Certificate. Katrina danced professional overseas in Japan, Hong Kong & China for many years, she then continued working overseas as a RAD ballet teacher in the United Kingdom, Italy, Dubai & now Australia. Since moving to Australia in 2017, Katrina taught in a number of schools across Sydney before joining the team at Evolution. She is a fully registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance with extensive teaching and professional performing experience. Katrina is a strong choreographer with modern and classical influences. She is dedicated and committed to teaching students of all ages and abilities how to embrace the art of dance. In addition to her passion for dance, Miss Katrina is also a Registered Paediatric Nurse, specialising in community public health nursing. Find Miss Katrina teaching our RAD Ballet examination students on Saturday mornings. Miss Katrina is trained in First Aid & CPR and has a current Working with Children Check.

Having been heavily involved in award-winning productions from a young age, Aaron decided to focus his efforts on tap dance in 2015. He has received training from The Forge Tap Project, Tap Dogs and other leading figures in Australian tap dance. After receiving an Emerging Artist award from the Australian Tap Dance Festival in 2017, he featured in The Forge Tap Company’s inaugural performance, Alpha, and co-created the tap duo Two Soles. Since then, Aaron has taught students of all ages and all ability levels at dance studios all around Sydney. He spent two months in Auckland dance schools teaching classes, choreographing competition pieces and conducting workshops. During the 2020 lockdowns, Aaron organised and produced a long-distance video collaboration between 20+ tap dancers from across the length and breadth of Australia and overseas, which released in 2021.Aaron frequents tap festivals around Australia, continuing to learn from the best tap talent from around the country and the world to pass this knowledge on to his students. This includes the Australian Tap Dance Festival, for which he has been invited to teach. He especially enjoys teaching improvisation and thrives on watching his students’ confidence and personal style grow.

Kirra started dancing at the age of 3 at Marnis Studio of Performing Arts on the central coast. In 2017, Kirra moved to Sydney and joined Evolution Performance Centre, training in lyrical, hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, acrobatics and broadway jazz. Since 2018, Kirra has been highly successful competing with troupes and solos at both regional and national competitions. Kirra also frequently trains with experienced choreographers at workshops and conventions and is always looking for ways to extend her knowledge of dance. She was awarded EPC’s Dancer of The Year 2021. Kirra started assistant teaching at evolution in 2021 and is eager to continue to teach this year in 2023.

Nerissa began her classical ballet training with Janece Graham and Tanya Pearson in Sydney at the age of 4. She trained in multiple different styles of dance throughout the years and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the The University Of Western Sydney. Nerissa danced abroad in Japan and Taiwan and also on The Star cruise liners. Following these contracts, she began her teaching career and in 1997 she gained her RAD Teachers Certificate with Distinction. With over 20 years of teaching experience, Nerissa has taught in a number of dance schools across the northern beaches and has successfully entered many students for their RAD ballet exams, ensuring each student is prepared and ready to achieve their individual potential. Nerissa hopes to continue her passion to educate and inspire the next generation of young ballet dancers. She loves to watch them improve, flourish, and achieve their goals.

Olivia began dancing at the age of 3 in Melbourne. After moving to Sydney she began training with Evolution Performance Centre in 2019 where she trained in lyrical, hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, acrobatics and broadway jazz and competed in both regional and national level troupe competitions. Olivia then went on to continue training at Dargie Entertainment Fulltime completing a Diploma in Performing Arts in 2023 and currently completing an Advanced Diploma in Elite Performing Arts 2024. After being signed to Dargie Agency Olivia has worked on set for TV Shows such as “Last King of the Cross” and has also provided roving entertainment for Westfield events across Sydney

Georgia Cosgrove began dancing at age 10 at Valerie Smith Stage School, where she excelled in various styles, particularly ballet. She completed her first few RAD exams, from Grade 4 to intermediate, with high distinctions, and also competed in RAD’s Isabel Anderson Awards, where she was a finalist for two consecutive years. While focusing primarily on ballet, her proficiency in other styles such as commercial jazz, lyrical, contemporary, neo-classical, and musical theatre also thrived, earning her numerous solo awards. At age 14, Georgia embarked on her full-time ballet training at Tanya Pearson Academy, where she successfully completed the remaining RAD exams with high distinctions. During her time at Tanya Pearson Academy, she participated in several prestigious ballet auditions and competitions, securing scholarships and awards along the way. After three years of dedicated ballet training, Georgia decided to return to her passion for commercial dance and is currently pursuing full-time training at HUBPAC to become a showgirl. She recently secured a position with one of Sydney's largest entertainment companies, Series of Events, where she performs at spectacular events. Alongside her performing career, Georgia has developed a passion for teaching dance, specialising in RAD coaching and providing strong ballet and technique training. Teaching allows her to impart her knowledge and passion to the next generation of dancers, a role she cherishes deeply.