MEET THE TEAM

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  • Stephanie has a dance and teaching career that spans over 30 years. Stephanie has a double degree in Dance and Education (BA (Dance) BEd, UNSW), and at an early age fell in love with all things dance, finding joy in the technical challenges of RAD ballet, BAL tap, contemporary and jazz. In 2004, whilst studying, Stephanie opened Ignite Dance Co. (then known as SD Dance Studio).

    Stephanie’s teaching style is grounded in a strong technical base, anatomy, teaching pedagogy, dance theory, and performance art.

    Stephanie taught for many years at local schools whilst building Ignite, completing her accreditation with the NSW Department of Education. These years cemented her teaching skills, her understanding of children, how they learn, develop and grow.

    As a trained flautist and teacher, a deep love and knowledge of music helps Stephanie to teach dance from a musically guided approach. Stephanie teaches her students how to really listen to the music, how to use it to express their emotions and how to manipulate music to make their choreography more dynamic and enjoyable.

    Stephanie has a special place in her heart for contemporary dance. She continually builds on her education and skills, striving to always better herself and her teaching. She believes that every child should have the chance to experience dance and the joy it can bring. The best part of her job is seeing her students grow into responsible and kind adults and loves keeping in touch with all her students and their families from over 20 years of studio ownership.

    Stephanie currently teachers all senior contemporary classes, and juggles directing the studio with her busy family life and three young children. But she wouldn’t have it any other way!

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  • Caitlin is a classically trained teacher, with experience across ballet, jazz and contemporary. Caitlin started her teaching journey with Ignite whilst training as a young dancer.

    Armed with a Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood (BEd (Early Childhood), MQU) and years of experience in early childhood and primary school settings, Caitlin turned back to her real passion - dance - rejoining her sister at Ignite Dance Co.

    Combining the joy of dance with the theory and practice of early learning quickly became a steady heartbeat of our studio. Our littlest dancers find their feet in our studio and continue on into their senior years.

    In 2012, with the steady growth of Ignite, Caitlin moved into the role of Co-Director. Caitlin loves being a part of each student’s (and their parent’s) dance journey, watching them grow from tiny dancers into confident, talented young adults!

    Caitlin currently creates and runs all of our Ignite Kids program, along with teaching jazz, ballet, performance teams & technique classes amongst our youngest age groups.

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  • Lucy is one of the first faces you’ll see when walking into our studio, as Ignite’s receptionist and administration.

    After completing full time dance studies with Classe Ballet Academy, Lucy has 15 years experience as a ballet teacher, studio manager and studio owner.

    Whilst gaining her Bachelor of Arts (BA (Political Economy & Environment), a Certificate in Business Management and Certificate in Public Engagement, Lucy continued teaching classical ballet. She then moved to the business management space, working with small, creative businesses.

    In 2021 Lucy opened her own dance and movement studio for kids and adults on the south coast. In 2023 Lucy joined the Ignite team.

    Lucy loves being surrounded by the dance world and strives to create a supportive, safe, joyous studio space for the students of Ignite.

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  • Having been heavily involved in award-winning live entertainment projects from a young age, Aaron decided to focus his efforts on tap dance in 2015. After receiving an Emerging Artist award from the Australian Tap Dance Festival in 2017, he featured in the inaugural performance of Tom Egan’s Forge Tap Company, Alpha, and created the tap duo Two Soles with Tania Gould. After spending the summer of 2020 in Auckland teaching classes and choreographing competition pieces, he spent the subsequent lockdowns directing a long-distance video collaboration between 20+ tap dancers from across Australia and beyond.

    Since then, Aaron has been on the teaching faculty at some of Sydney’s most successful full-time dance institutions, including Brent Street and Ev & Bo. He has been on the faculty lineup for the Australian Tap Dance Festival and the Sydney Tap Festival, and is a fixture of the Australian tap festival scene. He also donates his time annually to Cancer Council’s Stars of the North event as a dance coach, even leading his dance partner to a Judge’s Choice award in 2024.

    Aaron spends his time teaching tap all over Sydney, training students of all ages and ability levels. He especially enjoys teaching improvisation and thrives on watching his students’ confidence and personal style grow.

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  • Carla is a dedicated ballet teacher whose passion for ballet began at the age of four. Her journey with the Royal Academy of Dance is lifelong; completing all RAD ballet examinations up to Advanced 2, including Grades 6, 7, and 8, consistently achieving distinctions and high distinctions.

    In 2019, Carla attained Registered Teacher Status with the RAD, and over the past 10 years has taught at numerous competitive dance schools across Sydney, working with a wide range of students including those affiliated with the Australian Ballet School’s ITP.

    Carla has guided thousands of students through RAD examinations with high achieving results. Carla’s love for ballet and passion for sharing her knowledge is evident in every class she teaches, inspiring the next generation of dancers to strive for excellence.

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  • Takali Hoogendyk is a recent graduate from ED5 International gaining an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts under the esteemed mentorship of William A. Forsythe.

    At just 8 years old, Takali landed her first professional musical theatre role as Marta in The Sound of Music, performed at The Capitol Theatre in 2016. Since then, she has remained dedicated to honing her craft, now completing her Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts at ED5 International. Takali’s experience also includes performing in the 2025 Carols in The Domain, Premiers Gala, 26th Annual Emerald Ball, WBBL performances, television commercials & various dance projects for diverse clients.

    Takali’s training began at KC Dance Co, later continuing at GY Dance, where she graduated in 2023. Takali is extensively trained in a wide range of dance styles, including Hip-Hop, Commercial Jazz, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, Tap, and Elite Troupe. In addition to her dance expertise, she is professionally trained in singing and acting for both stage and screen.

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  • Ex-Ignite student Jas’ dance journey began with a strong love for hip hop, then broadening out to a wide range of styles including jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, tech, tap, and ballet. Jas has a strong history of competing, shaping her skill and deep appreciation for teamwork, discipline, and performance.

    In 2024, Jas furthered her training by attending Ettingshausens PRO, and during this time discovered that her true passion lies in teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers. Jas is now pursuing her degree in Primary Education at ACU Strathfield, combining her love for dance and teaching in the most meaningful way.

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  • Miss Estelle is thrilled to be apart of the teaching team at Ignite. Beginning her dance training at the age of two, she has trained in a range of styles, including jazz, ballet, lyrical, contemporary, tap, hip-hop, and musical theatre. With 15 of her 16 years of training spent at Ignite, she brings both a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the studio.

    As a dedicated student, Miss Estelle successfully completed the DanceStep program, which played a significant role in shaping her journey as an educator. She was also the first student to complete Ignite’s full DanceStep Teaching Training Program and graduate into a permanent teaching role in 2024. She is excited to share her passion for dance and contribute to the continued success of Ignite’s students.

    Over the years, Miss Estelle has proudly represented Ignite as both a winning soloist and a troupe member in numerous competitions, showcasing her passion and commitment to dance.

    Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Primary Education at Macquarie University, Miss Estelle is eager to share her knowledge and inspire students at Ignite, fostering the same love for dance that has profoundly influenced her own life.

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  • Riley (they/them) is a professional performer and passionate performing arts educator with over 10 years of experience in the industry.

    With a number of professional credits to their name, Riley was an original cast member in the Australian and international tour of & Juliet the musical. They continue to work professionally and audition while teaching students of all ages and abilities across Sydney.

    Known for their high energy, creativity, and care, Riley is all about helping students grow their confidence and skills while having a whole lot of fun

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  • Miss Santiana is our resident Hip Hop teacher here at Ignite

    Santiana studied a Diploma in Performing Arts (Elite Performance) from Brent Street Studios and has always had a passion for dancing and performing since her early childhood. She started training seriously to become a professional dancer when she was 12.

    She has trained in jazz, hip hop, tap, contemporary, lyrical, musical theatre and ballet and has been part of many prestigious competitions and shows. Santiana has developed her own urban/commercial style of dance and loves to share the knowledge and experience she has acquired with her students.

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  • Chloe began her dance training in 2017 and grew up dancing in Canberra, where she developed a strong passion for performance. She has competed for many years, achieving numerous championships and titles throughout her competitive career. Chloe has also successfully completed her Royal Academy of Dance Advanced 1 Ballet examination.

    Chloe has now made the exciting relocation to Sydney to undertake full-time dance training at Ettingshausens, continuing to expand her skills and professional development by studying her Diploma of Professional Dance. She has a strong passion for teaching and finds great joy in helping her students to not only grow as dancers, but as confident individuals. Chloe is dedicated to creating a supportive, structured and encouraging learning environment where students feel confident and empowered to flourish.