MEET THE TOEPAZ TEAM 2021
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MEET THE TOEPAZ TEAM 2021
STEPHANIE NELSON
Director of Toepaz Dance
Stephanie is a unique and versatile Principal and Teacher who is highly dedicated, organised and
passionate Director of Toepaz Dance Studio. She specialises in all areas of dance such as
SFD classical ballet, SFD Jazz contemporary, lyrical, stretch and technique, Pilates, body
conditioning, competition troupes and Pre Primary. After dancing professionally within Australia
and overseas, credits include; a selected dancer representing ATOD, Victoria at age 17 in Hong
Kong, a dancer for Princess Cruises, Contemporary Company dancer for company ‘Vertical
Shadows’ director Stephen Agisilaou and ‘Locreado’ director Loredo Malcolm, NBL Melbourne
Tigers Cheerleader, dancer for Hannah Montana Tribute show which toured Australia and other
exclusive Crown Events, she had always come back to her teaching and the dream of running her
own dance school.
Previously to being Principal of Toepaz Dance she had been teaching at many well-established
schools all around Melbourne. Not only passionate about her teaching, Stephanie also teaches
Pilates and body conditioning for both adults and dancers. Stephanie believes, alongside with its
highly dedicated and qualified teachers and staff, Toepaz has what it takes to create the new
generation of upcoming and well-rounded talented dancers and performers. In 2019 Toepaz Dance
Studio was nominated for The Whitehorse Excellence Business awards. Stephanie was a guest
speaker in which Toepaz Dance students performed as entertainment for this prestigious event.
In 2020, Stephanie co-founded ‘ONE’ – A Bushfire Appeal.
This event raised money and awareness for the Australian Bushfires raising over $13,000 which
collaborated both the dance and performing arts held in Melbourne.ALYSHA MCKNIGHT
Alysha is one of our own and incredible Toepaz Teachers who has been with us for 7 years!
Manager We see her take on the new role as Manager of Toepaz Dance in 2021!
Competition Teacher, Stretch & Technique &
Acrobatics She is a versatile teacher and creative team member that teaches all our elite teams, soloists and
advanced acrobatic students.
Alysha has an extensive background in Dance, Cheerleading, Circus and Musical Theatre Dancer/
Performer for AFL Footy Show 2014 Dancer/ Performer Channel 10’s City to Sea Trained at the National
Institute of Circus arts in areas such as Rope, Tissue, Hoop Diving and Tumbling.
Alysha has an enormous passion for the Dance and the Performing Arts and teaching.
She is an extremely versatile dancer and choreographer with talented ideas that always impressed
Toepaz Dance audience and pushes our Toepaz students. Alysha manages to get the best out of each
dancer and has encouraged our students to achieve so much in their dance training.
Alysha has a Certificate in Dance and Certificate in Acrobatic Arts.
Our Toepaz students absolutely adore Alysha and she is well respected by both
her students and team members.
EMMA WOLFE
Director of PPP, Musical Theatre,
Singing and Head of Pre Primay
Emma graduated from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy in 2012, where she completed a
Bachelor of Arts (Music Theatre). Emma is both and experienced performing arts teacher and children's
entertainer. Emma has been apart of the Toepaz dance family for over 6 years teaching a range of
styles including Musical Theatre and Street Tap. Emma has toured both locally and Internationally with
many high profile kids brands. Credits include Peppa Pig Live, Ben and Holly Live- both Life Like Touring,
Baby Shark, My Little Pony, Sesame Street and Spiderman- The Entertainment Store, just to name a few.
Emma has also been performing around Melbourne in various corporate events and calendar musts.
Highlights include Host/MC for the Ballpark, Kids zone at The Australian Open (5 years) and Vision
Australia’s Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Ball for 5 years running as apart of the kids
entertainment. Emma also proudly works for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, helping to bring smiles
to sick kids around Australia. Most recently Emma has produced her own kids YouTube Channel show
called Ems World.ELISE
Senior Ballet Teacher
Elise’s love of dance began at the age of 3 when she attended the Sharon Lawrence School of
Dance. Although being trained in jazz, tap and ballet, by the age of 9 Elise felt her calling was a classical
ballet and she auditioned to attend the Australian Ballet School where she remained training in the
Russian Vaganova method until she graduated at 18 years of age with a Bachelor of Classical Ballet.
During her time at the Australian Ballet School she was awarded two scholarships of Excellency and
toured Australia with The Australian Ballet Regional Tour. Some of the highlights of her dancing career
were performing in The Australian Ballet’s Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake and Sir Peter Wright’s
Nutcracker. At 18 she travelled around Europe and upon her return she joined the Victorian State Ballet
and was promoted to Leading Soloist at the conclusion of 2019. Highlights have been performing
‘Gulnare’ in the Australian premiere of ‘Le Corsaire’ and performing the lead role of ‘Belle’ nationally and
internationally in Victorian State Ballet’s ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Elise also teaches Pilates and Pilates
Barre to both adults and dancers.
ABBEY
Abbey started dancing at Toepaz Dance in 2004 aged 4 in its first year of business and has since developed a love
SFD Teacher, Open Teacher, and passion for dance and the performing arts. She is trained in ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, acrobatics
Competition Teacher and Admin and commercial jazz. Abbey is a big part of the Toepaz Dance Community and is well respected by all her peers and
is looked up to by all students.
She was an assistant teacher for 4 years, alongside principal Stephanie & a Rising Star Team member since 2014.
She has represented and competed in Dance Competitions for Toepaz Dance since 2009 and was the Team Captain
in Rising Stars 1st year in 2014. She was the Overall solo winner for 2016 ‘So You Think You Can Choreo’ which meant
she got to perform her winning piece at the Toepaz Annual end of year concert. Other credits include Abbey being
with MP Talent Agency for 2 years and since joining Abbey has received feature and extra roles, modelling shots
and television shows including ‘Ja’ime Private School Girl’, ‘Hunters an American TV Series’, ‘Upper Middle Bogan’
and ‘Nowhere Boys’. Abbey successfully auditioned and was chosen to be a backup dancer for the David Jaanz
Singing Showcase and in 2016 and was a Team Member of the Haileybury Girls College National Championship
Team.
Abbeys proudest dancing moment was being chosen to dance as ‘Dorothy’ for Toepaz in the 2016 End of Year
Ballet. In 2018 Abbey completed her SFD Jazz Teaching Certificate and 2019 was Abbey’s
15th Year dancing at Toepaz!ROSEMARY
Progression Ballet Technique &
Senior Ballet Teacher Rosemary is passionate about teaching ballet, and about sharing what she has learnt in her over 40
years of teaching experience. Rosemary began teaching when training with BBO examiner Pamela
Shield in Sydney after leaving school. In 1970, she joined Qld Ballet Company for a state wide schools'
tour of Coppélia Act 2, which is where she met her husband, NZ Ballet dancer Waynne Robenn. She has
operated her own ballet schools in NSW and Tasmania, choreographing and producing several full-
length ballets. In 1986 she gained her RAD teaching certificate during the several years she taught for
RAD examiner, Prudence Bowen in Sydney. In 2003, Rosemary was invited to teach at Kondo Ballet
Studio in Japan for 6 months, which was an amazing experience for her. She has been back several
times since to guest teach. After returning from Japan, Rosemary held the position of Senior Teacher at
Elancé Adult Ballet School in Melbourne for 12 years, which included the development of a 12 month
program for beginners as well as teacher training. As part of her philosophy that the joy of ballet should
be available to everyone, she is developing an innovative program for blind students and has
found working with them an inspiration. She is also a registered teacher of the Progressing Ballet
Technique program and finds it an invaluable complement to students’ ballet training.
JEM
Hip Hop and Competition Teacher
Having lived in the countryside for over 10 years, Jem moved to the city to purse her dancing dreams. Jem haver
been dancing her whole life starting at the age of 4 but specifically started hip hop when she was 11 years old. Jen
studies a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance at Deakin University. She is currently dancing in Arna Singletons dance
company ‘The Legacy & Co’ for her second year. Jem competed with A2D Dance Studios for 3 years in the Open
Crew placing high nationally and in Victoria on a number of occasions. Jem has been involved with a variety of gigs
such as performing at the Redkin hair show and dancing at Ego Expo as well as dancing in
Masters of Choreography Productions. In 2019 Jem was involved with the new Urban Dance Company called
‘Legacy Co’ and performed in their seasons shows.
We are so excited to have Jem on board who is always bringing a fresh new, trendy vibe to the studioMADISON
Acrobatic, Stretch & Technique &
Competition Teacher Madison has been dancing and performing for over 20 years around Melbourne. Madison has been
teaching classes at Toepaz for a year including her sub senior rising star students and acro. Her
professional career started as an entertainer for large corporate events around Melbourne, where she
choreographed and danced as a back up dancer for Stan walker. Madison continued her dance training
at a tertiary level when training in contemporary dance at Deakin University(bachelor of creative
arts(dance)) for 3 years, before becoming a national talent recruitment coordinator where she also
wrote school holiday programs for children. Madison most recently has been teaching school holiday
drama/dance and singing camps for children in Melbourne and also won a honourable mention for best
female actor in a short play at arkfest. Madison’s love for dance and performance has continued to
explode over the years which led her to follow her passion for teaching and sharing dance with students
around Melbourne. She has been teaching dance for the past 10 years and doesn’t ever see herself
stopping. She has enjoyed learning about the unique students at Toepaz and continues to share her
knowledge with her students. Madison describes her self as a dedicated dance teacher a creative
choreographer who lives to share the art of dance with her students.
KATHERINE
SFD Teacher & Open Classes
Katherine has completed her 2 Years of Full Time Dance
at Spectrum Dance, During that time her credits include being a main Dancer in Australia’s Got
Talent Live Decider Show 2012 Ensemble Dancer in the Victorian State Schools Spectacular 2012-2014
Performed in multiple charity events including Violet Diamond Gala, Dance Aid and more..
She has completed her VCE Dance and in 2015 was the main featured dancer “Alice” in Toepaz Dances Ballet of
“Alice Goes to Wonderland. She received 100% in her SFD Jazz 8 Exam - Honours with Distinction and is now
completing her SFD Jazz Teaching Certificate in 2018. Performed at many corporate events in 2016 including The
Footy Show and Red Ball Gala. Katherine discovered her love for teaching and helping younger dancers while
assistant teaching and hopes to inspire and share her love and passion for dance with her students. She is an
extremely motivated, driven and organised teacher.
In 2021 she will be getting married which we are so excited for her!SOPHIE
SFD Teacher & Open Classes
Sophie was born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula, where she quickly realised her dreams of being a
member of Hi-5 weren’t going to come true unless she got into a dance class! She was trained at Peninsula School
of Dance in Cecchetti Ballet from the age of 3 under Sandra Allan, OAM, and in Modern Jazz, Tap, and
Contemporary under Melanie Gard. As soon as she could, she was assisting her teachers in junior classes, and for
the last 5 years she has continued to develop and nurture her skills and passion for teaching students of all ages
and abilities.On completing her year 12, she successfully auditioned for the BFA (Dance) at the Victorian College of
the Arts, and graduated from the course in 2019. During her time at the VCA, she worked with a range of renowned
independent contemporary artists, and was given the opportunity to study and train in France.Sophie describes
herself as a life-long learner, and her passion for sharing and learning translates into her classes. She runs all her
classes with laughter, joy, and a focus on students’ experiences in their own bodies. She plans to return to study in
2022 to become a qualified physiotherapist.
IVY
Stretch & Technique &
Competition Teacher
Ivy's passion for performing arts began at the age of 8 and it has continued to grow ever since. Her
training began at Center stage Performing Arts School, then she advanced onto full-time studies at
Patrick School of the Arts where she completed a Certificate IV in Dance and a Diploma of Musical
Theatre, under the direction of Andrew Hallsworth. Ivy has performed in many stage productions
throughout her time at these schools including Chicago, Heathers and Guys and Dolls, whilst also having
experience with corporate gigs, singing and cabaret performances. Her choreography skills include
teaching and creating choreography pieces for PSA Full Timers under the guidance of Andrew
Hallsworth and Todd Patrick. Ivy is a triple threat but her real strengths are jazz and musical theatre.
She wishes to provide the students with the knowledge and tools to grow in the industry and aims to
spread the same love for dance she had growing up to the youth of today.ELOISE
Singing Teacher & PPP Co Director
Originally from Tasmania, training at Jenina’s Dance Workshop and ExitLeft, Eloise is a graduate of the 2012
SHOWFIT Musical Theatre course at Centrestage Performing Arts School.
Eloise has toured extensively with LifeLike Touring and The Entertainment Store (TEG) to Hong Kong,
Singapore, Middle East & Australia in Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom, Peppa Pig Live Big Splash, Peppa Pig Live
Treasure Hunt and Bob the Builder, and Songs of Frozen and Princess Anthems for the Australian Open.
Corporate work includes performing at AON Platinum Club, Festival of Broadway, Pride of Australia Awards,
David Jones ‘Santa’s Grand Arrival’ and Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight.
Eloise was a Top-30 Semi-Finalist in the 2013 & 2015 Rob Guest Endowment Award, and has performed in her
self-devised cabaret shows: Confessions of A Golden Child directed by Sara Grenfell and This Is 23 directed
by Melissa Langton & Mark Jones. Most recently, Eloise was part of SONDER - A Charity Concert (Sonder
Theatre Co.) at The Alex Theatre, The Songs of Drew Gasparini (EJ Productions) at Chapel Off Chapel, and
Les Miserables directed by Chris Parker (ExitLeft Productions).
Eloise has been a private singing teacher for the past 10 years and has taught musical theatre at various
dance and theatre schools across both Tasmania and Victoria, with students reaching great success across
the board; gaining admission to tertiary courses, successfully auditioning for professional musicals, and
achieving amazing results in AMEB examinations.
Eloise is so excited to be apart of the new Performance Pathway Program working along side Emma and the
Team at Toepaz Dance!You can also read
