Our Team
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
Double Degree in Bachelor of Arts (Dance) & Bachelor of Education
Advanced Diploma in Musical Theatre
Platinum Level Certification for Ready Set Dance
SAHYA SAHEKI
STUDIO DIRECTOR
Originally from Brisbane, Sahya began focusing on Ballet from a young age during which she has completed CSTD and RAD exams. She attended full-time training at Queensland Dance School of Excellence, followed by a full-time Musical Theatre course at Australian Dance Performance Institute (QLD) where she graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Musical Theatre. From a young age, Sahya has educated young performers in a dance-school setting and her passion for teaching dance was ignited. Once moving to Sydney in 2009, she commenced tertiary studies and graduated with a Double Degree in Bachelor of Arts (Dance) & Bachelor of Education at the University of New South Wales. Sahya has then gone on to teach at several educational schools such as SCECGS Redlands, Darlington Public School, Epping Boys High School and Forest Lodge Public School. She has focused not only on teaching but also choreographing productions for amateur theatre groups, school performances and running holiday workshops. Sahya wishes to use her passion for performing to inspire the students to achieve goals and embrace their creativity. She is thrilled that her dream of one day owning a dance school is now a reality.
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
Hamilton the Musical | Swing
Platinum Level Certification for Ready Set Dance
‘New MacDonalds Farm’ | Dancer
‘Saturday Disney’ | Dancer
‘Redfern Now’ | Extra, Actress
Wayne Kermond’s musical ‘The Candyman’ | Dancer
The Sydney Hair Expo (Hairdresser Of The Year Performance) | Dancer
EB Games Expo ‘Just Dance 2017 Promotion’ | Dancer
NRL Luncheon for singer Bonnie Anderse | Dancer
Luna New Year at The Star Events Centre | Dancer
Daihatsu product launch | Dancer
Sydney Hair Expo 2017 | Dancer
Bonnie Lythgoe’s pantomime production of Cinderella in Sydney & Melbourne | Dancer
Bonnie Lythgoe’s pantomime production of The Adventures Of Peter Pan and Tinkerbell in Syd & Melb | Dancer
Australian Magician and Illusionist Sam Powers | Primary Assistant and Dancer
emmy saheki
CO-DIRECTOR
Currently a Swing for Hamilton the Musical.
Emmy began her dance training in Brisbane from the age of 2 completing CSTD, RAD, and Trinity College Singing and Drama exams. Emmy attended the Newtown High School Of The Performing Arts once moving to Sydney and graduated in 2015.
Emmy began assisting alongside her older sister in classes and in 2014 began teaching. Emmy believes in applying her knowledge and experience from working in the industry in her classes and spreading her joy and passion for performance with the kids.
PROFESSIONAL CRedits
‘The Projectionist’ Film | Actor
‘Chosen’ (Netflix), ‘The Script of Life’ (Amazon) | Film/TV
‘Hacksaw Ridge’ | Film/TV
‘Get A Life, alright!’ | Film/TV
‘Rhapsody of Love’ | Film/TV
‘Unsound’ | Film/TV
‘According to Otto’ | Film/TV
‘After Nightfall’ | Webseries
‘The Wild Orchards’ | Webseries
‘Mortal Kombat’ | Webseries
‘Ben Hur’ (ANZ Arena Spectacular) | Theatre
‘Giving Up the Ghost’ (Limelight on Oxford) | Theatre
‘Diva Wars’ (Limelight on Oxford) | Theatre
‘Noli Me Tangere’ (Riverside Theatre) | Musical Theatre
‘Movember’ | TVC/Corporate
‘NIB Insurance | TVC/Corporate
‘Brawl Stars’ | TVC/Corporate
‘Bundaberg Rum’ | TVC/Corporate
‘Belong’ | TVC/Corporate
ANDREW WANG
Private tuition + MUSICAL THEATRE
Andrew Wang is a Sydney based singer and actor. He has completed his Bachelor of Music majoring in Musical Theatre from The Australian Institute of Music (Sydney), as well as training with various other acting institutes including the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), New York Film Academy (NYFA), Screenwise and the Sydney Actors Association (SAA).
Andrew has also performed in China participating in two nationwide televised singing competitions, one of which was ‘Watercube’ 2013 where he was one of the finalists. With over 9 years of teaching experience, Andrew is thrilled to be able to use his industry knowledge and experience to help nurture young performers and their craft.
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
‘Rogue Traders’ - Music Video | Dancer
‘Aria Music Awards for The Preset’ | Dancer
‘Foxtel IQ’ TV commercial | Dancer
‘Anna Polyviou’s event Sweet Street’ | Dancer
‘Samba Brazil Entertainment’ performing live Brazilian drumming ‘Batucada’ along with Samba dancers, as well Capoeira and breakdance. They have put on shows all over Australia for local events, corporates, charities, weddings, P&O cruises. As well as International events, most recently in Taiwan at the International Floral Expo, with 30,000 plus spectators and broadcast live throughout Taiwan and other Asian countries.
MARKO TAOPO
HIP HOP + BREAKDANCE
Marko is a professional choreographer, dancer, has black belt in Korean martial arts Tang Soo Do and founding member of breakdance group S.I.K (Style Impressions Krew). Originally from Darwin NT, he worked as Youth Dance Animateur for Tracks Dance. Performing lead roles in shows such as Rivers of the underground, Ingite, Fast.
Moved to Sydney in 2005, he received a scholarship at Urban Dance Centre. Became part of a performance group Urban Dance Project, winning multiple Hip-hop events all around Sydney. Since then, he has taught at dance schools including Urban Dance Centre, Gold Starand Dance First Academy.
PROFESSIONAL CRedits
The Forge Tap Project
Tap Dogs
Australian Tap Dance Festival 2017
‘Alpha’ - The Forge Tap Company
Co-creator of Two Soles
AARON NOBLE
TAP DEPARTMENT
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.
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
Certificate 4 in Dance
Performed on “Pieces of Her” - TV Show
Creative Process for “Phantom Of The Opera on the harbour” and “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here”
LEYTON HOMEBURG
LYRICAL, JAZZ + ACROBATICS
Originally from Queensland Leyton graduated from Village Nation Performing Arts and has his Certificate 4 in Dance. From the age of 11, Leyton loved the expression dance conveys. He has trained in all areas of dance including, jazz, ballet, contemporary, musical theatre and acrobatics.
Leyton has danced in TV shows such as “Pieces of her” and he has been lucky enough to be apart of the creating processes in “Phantom Of The Opera on the harbour” and “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here”.
Leyton is a teacher who runs all his classes with fun being first priority, along with a strong technical background to make every class a memorable experience.
SARAH TOMLINSON
Ballet Divison 4, 5 and 1
Sarah is currently completing a Bachelor of Dance and Physical Development Health and Physical Education at the Australian College of Physical Education. She has completed the A&L Division examinations and the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus.
As a graduate of Angus and Lucinda’s Academie de danse, she has trained in classical, contemporary, and commercial styles of dance including progressing ballet and contemporary technique. Sarah has gained vast experience in dancing and learning teaching styles around Australia, France and Denmark. She is an energetic teacher who believes that all students deserve to train in a fun, respectful environment that builds student’s confidence and passion for dance.
Sarah is excited to bring strong foundational technique and love for ballet through her classes. She is occasionally asked to perform around NSW in both contemporary & musical productions as well as teach in studios & schools across NSW.
As a team member of Studio 17, Sarah will bring a more open ballet class approach similarly seen across European styles of ballet. This will be a core contributing factor for students who love ballet to increase their dance quality. Sarah has the knowledge and teaching experience to teach students who wish to take ballet to the next level or just would like to do ballet for fun and exercise.
PROFESSIONAL CREDITS
Teachers Certification Level 1 - Progressing Ballet Technique
Teachers Certification Level 1 - Progressing Contemporary Technique.
Currently studying Bachelor of Dance and Physical Development Health and Physical Education at Australian Collage of Physical Education.
OLIVIA SMITH
Jazz, Hip Hop + ACROBATICS
Growing up in Canberra, Olivia started dancing, singing and acting from a young age and fell in love with performing. Throughout her training she completed her RAD and ATOD examinations, and studied as a double major dance and drama student.
Olivia moved to Sydney at the start of this year to pursue her passion in performing arts and is currently a full-time student at ED5INTERNATIONAL.
With 6 years of teaching experience, Olivia is super excited about joining the Studio 17 team! She thrives to nurture and inspire her students creativity and passion in performing arts.
JIMMY DEADMAN
READY SET DANCE
I’m Jimmy Deadman, I’m an energetic and positive soul who is always having an “amazing day”! I started off my journey at GY Dance as a teenager then moved to ED5INTERNATIONAL for my professional training in acting singing and dancing! My not so hidden talent is that I’m an aerial artist too specifically in Lyra. I have been mentored by some brilliant directors and choreographers like William Forscythe, Nathan Sheen, Leslie Bell, Daniel Assetta, Phillip FILO and so many more professionals!
I’ve been apart of a Nickelodeon dance parade as a Dancer, The Northern Bears Cheerleading squad as a Host/Singer/Dancer, Romeo & Juliet Australian Ballet as an actor and recently just got a contract with “The Wiggles”.
I hope to see and meet everyone at the studio!
PROFESSIONAL CRedits
Completed Full-Time Training at ED5INTERNATIONAL
Skilled in Aerial and Lyra
Dancer for the “Nickelodeon Dance Parade”
Host/Singer/Dancer for “The Northern Bears Cheerleading Squad”
Actor for "“Romeo & Juliet Australian Ballet”
Currently on a contract for “The Wiggles”
PROFESSIONAL CRedits
Trained at “The Australian Ballet School” in their interstate training program
Full-Time Training at “Tanya Pearson Academy”
Trained at the “Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago” for three years
Studio Company member at “Ballet Arizona”
Performed with “The Wiggles” for a TV Series
Filmed for “Progressing Ballet Technique” Syllabus
georgia stig
Ready Set Dance + MINI MOVERS & FLOW
Georgia has been dancing since 5 years of age. She has trained at “The Australian Ballet School” in their interstate training program, “Tanya Pearson Academy” where she trained full time in their classical ballet program, she trained at the “Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago” for three years, and was a Studio Company member at “Ballet Arizona” where she was lucky enough to perform in company productions throughout their 2022-2023 season.
Georgia has had the opportunity to perform with “The Wiggles” in one of their TV series, and recently filmed with “Progressing Ballet Technique” for their new and upcoming website.
Georgia can’t wait to start at Studio 17 and share her passion of dance with the students! Listening to country music, working out, Pilates and spending time with my blue cattle puppy are a few things she enjoys doing when she isn’t teaching!
ANI SINCLAIR
lyrical and Ballet
Ani has always had a love of dance since starting at the age of 3. After graduating from high school where she studied IB Dance, she moved from Brisbane to Sydney, to follow her dancing ambitions and study an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts at Ed5 International. Through her studies she has worked with a wide range of industry professionals to extend her experience in all range of styles including ballet, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, musical theatre, singing, hip hop, tap and more.
Ani has a love for teaching and she wishes to pass on her passion for dance by bringing fun, creativity and discipline to her lessons. She enjoys building lasting impressions with her students by passing on the knowledge she has learnt through her studies and always encourages aspiring dancers to do their best.
PROFESSIONAL CRedits
IB Dance
Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts at Ed5 International