Teachers
Our greatest asset
The best thing we can offer prospective students is the skill and love each of our teachers bring to the classroom. Each member of our staff is uniquely experienced to offer the diversity of skills required to bring out you or your child's best.
Elizabeth Loft
Dancing and performing always came naturally for Liz. From the ripe old age of 6 she began to steal hearts as she danced her way into peoples' lives. Liz's younger years were frequented with competitions, concerts and completing the Commonwealth Society of Dance exam syllabus. Many trophies and medals could be displayed from a youth of successful endeavours.
Liz's exam honours include winning the Perpetual Trophy for Theatrical at the age of 14. This honour was presented to the dancer with the highest score.
At 14 Liz began to broaden her mentors and attended Tony Bartuccio's Studio where she concentrated on classical ballet and jazz. By 15 Liz was a professional dancer and become one of the Carlton Bluebirds for the next 2 years. During this time and beyond she also danced her way through pantomimes, theatre productions, advertising commercials, events, festivals, performed floor shows at restaurants and as a resident go-go dancer for a year at one of Melbourne's prime night clubs.
She was lucky enough to crown Molly Meldrum as King of Moomba, a gala unto itself. During her youth Liz was also an excellent pianist and over a 10-year period completed theory and practical exams up to HSC. Yes those fingers can fly!
Liz then entered into motherhood. She began her teaching career at this time and shortly after the birth of her second child, she began studying Perceptual Motor Programs. This was the seed for the Preschool Program that many of our students have enjoyed while at First Steps.
This program was devised to enable very young children to benefit from gross motor skills, dance and music. It has now been running successfully for 10 years.
Louise Davies
Performing has always gone hand in hand with walking for Louise. She was one of those children who learned to walk late but took up dancing very soon after. Many years were spent successfully attending competitions, completing the Commonwealth Society of Dancing exams and of course concerts, where Louise realised that dancing was truly a passion that contributed so much to a fulfilling, creative and joyous life.
Louise danced her way through productions including West Side Story, Sweet Charity and Pippin where she was successful in her portrayal as the Lead Player, a most challenging and rewarding opportunity.
For many years Louise tried her hand in other careers where teaching dancing was a minor aspect but the burning sensation to teach children would not take a minor part. During this time Louise assisted as stage manager on and behind the scene in other aspects of First Steps. The torch had been reignited and teaching was to bring Louise back to her passion on a much greater scale.
While visiting her sister in Austria in 2005, Louise was asked to teach at one of Liz's prominent dance studios. This was to preclude to Louise finally joining the First Steps team in 2006 as a teacher of theatrical dance both in Werribee. Louise is also a member of the Preschool Program and Little Fairies. Teaching children to dance is an honour and a privilege, a magical world. Lou is currently on maternity leave and will hopefully return back to our studio soon.
Holly Wearn
Holly is a Kiwi from the 'Land of the Long White Cloud' and started shaking her groove thing at the age of four. She has danced all her life and trained in classical with the Royal Academy of Dance, Jazz and Tap with NZ Association of Modern Dance Syllabus.
She competed as a gymnast from a very young age and won many trophies and medals in competitions all around NZ. At 18 years of age when she moved to Melbourne, her passion became more obvious and she quickly became involved with a hip how crew, 'Tantrumm'. This made her realise that dance was a major part of her life.
The Performing Arts and Dance course at the Dance Factory in Melbourne beckoned her. She was lucky enough to have had a dance teacher in her life who inspired her to always follow her dream! Holly hopes over the coming years to fulfil some of that dream by encouraging and inspiring students at First Steps and Stepping Out Performing Arts to do the same by exposing them to the wonders of dance.
Dancing is all about losing yourself in the moment, feeling the music, feeling the emotion and most of all enjoying yourself. Holly is a fantastic teacher in our preschool program and little fairies classes and although these classes are challenging she has the gift of patience and loves these classes.
Shane Preston
Shane studied tap in Newcastle with the late Les Griffith, winning his first tap championship at age seven. Tap is now his forte (25 years experience), although Shane trained in Jazz, modern, classical and acrobatics as a child.
During his career so far Shane competed in countless eisteddfods and danced in two Fred Astaire Performing Arts Championships - one of which was in Miami USA. In total he received six gold medals, highest point score and three scholarships (Fred Astaire scholarship, Capezio Ballet Makers scholarship).
Stage performances include the 1988 World Expo dancers in Sydney, and his video credits include “Turn Onto Tap” - an instructional tap dancing video with Jack Webster.
Shane has been teaching and choreographing for 12 years in Sydney, Newcastle and now Melbourne. He was an integral part of the tap department at Brent Street Studios in Sydney for four of those years (2002-2005), each year his fulltime routines won or placed at the "City of Sydney" eisteddfod.
Shane has taught numerous workshops in Australia and Europe. In 1996 he was a cast member of Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs, which toured Australia, New Zealand, India, South Korea, Peoples’ Republic of China, Hong Kong and Japan. On completion of the Australasian tour of Tap Dogs in 1998 he joined the cast of Dein Perry’s Steel City - touring Australia and America (Radio City). He later joined the European company of Tap Dogs touring England, Germany, France, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Austria, Venezuela and South Africa.
Shane’s most recent work has been with groups “Rhythm on Tap” and “The Next Step”, performing throughout Australia. He also co-choreographed a performance with his friend Paul Davis, “One Big Blur”, which was performed at Melbourne’s International Tap Festival ‘06 gala performances.
With Paul, Shane has been commissioned to revise and create the ATOD (Australian Teachers Of Dance) tap syllabus.
Stefanie Turner
Stefanie began dancing at the age of four, and by the age of 6 was successfully competing in solos and troupes in various eistedfords around the state. Though she always loved all styles of dancing, it wasn't until around the age of 13 that Stefanie started to focus much more specifically on ballet. During high school she completed her major classical ballet exams in the Cecchetti syllabus, as well as studying dance at high-school and as a VCE subject.
In 2002 she toured New Zealand with her school dance company "Outreach", and in 2004 was selected to perform in the "Top Acts" and "Top Class" concerts as part of the "VCE Season Of Exellence" for obtaining a perfect score in her own choreographed composition solo. Choreography is something which Stefanie loves, and would therefore like to persue a career in choreography in the future.
Stefanie has performed in various corporate gigs all over the country including at promotional functions and shows for Sony, Honda, Australia Post, World Vision, Harley Davidson, L'Oreal, McDonalds and Samsung, as well as in many cabaret floor and stage shows. In 2007 Stefanie completed a six month contract as a dancer on a cruiseship where she performed twice nightly in 5 different production shows per week. While living on the ship for six months she was able to discover beautiful destinations of the South Pacific and make great friends, but her favourite part was getting to dress up as Marilyn Monroe for the 1950's theme party every week!
Stefanie's goals for the future include performing in professional musicals. She is always constantly working on her dancing skills, however this year is working especially hard at practicing and improving her singing ability!
James Thomas
James began his dance training (ballet, jazz, modern, and tap) at Isolation Performing Arts Studio, where he has trained at various times for 11 years. James was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School in 2001, where he found his passion for ballet.
He has also taken classes or workshops with The Edge PAC (USA), The Australian Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Company and the Broadway Dance Center working with some of the world’s leading trainers and choreographers.
James’ television, stage and performance credits include annual performance seasons with VCASS in 2001-2004, Neighbours (CH10), Here for Life (CH9), Cabaret: The Musical (Brisbane, 2004), S33 Crew and has danced for Vanessa Amorosi. James has continued to share his love of dance by teaching various classes to all ages.
Melanie West
Melanie West trained for 8 years at the VCA, during which time she worked with various choreographers of note including Anna Smith, Jonathon Taylor, Sandra Parker, Alida Segal.
She has been teaching classical and contemporary dance for 16 years and currently holds Associate status with the Cecchetti Society of Ballet.
Marco
Marco is no stranger to performing arts. He started formal training in singing acting and dancing at the age of three.
Marco studied singing and dancing with Tony Bartuccio before focusing on his vocal studies when he was accepted into the Janzz School of singing were he studied for 7 years. Marco also studied classical singing with Antonio Maria Lancuber for 5 years.
As well as competing in numerous competitions, eisteddfods and concerts in and around Victoria, Marco’s professional credits include performing on the Logies as part of the 35 years of children’s television celebration were he worked with Alyssa Jane Cook and Big Bird, working with Opera Australia and Opera Victoria on productions of Don Camilio, Amahl and the Night Visitors - playing the lead role of ‘Amhal’ - and also appearing in numerous television commercials. Marco also performed in the Italian festival of song where he entered as both a singer and songwriter.
In 2002 Marco made his amateur musical theatre debut staring as the ‘Artful Dodger’ in Oliver for which he earnt a nomination from the Victorian Musical Theatre Guild. Other theatre credits include playing the role of ‘Ren’ in Footloose, ’Peppe’ in West Side Story , ‘The Tin Man’ in The Wiz, ‘Growl Tiger ’ in CATS and also representing Estonia, Italy and Russia in Eurobeat.
Joy Solomano
Joy has been dancing since an early age starting with ballet and tap and then moved onto ballroom dancing which she has been doing ever since. She has completed medals in all three styles and achieved two Mickey Powell Awards. After completing all these she then moved on to the competitive world of Dancesport. Joy and her partner competed for over two years and travelled to many Dancesport competitions.
The love of ballroom has never left and over the years has assisted in teaching social classes. Joy hopes to pass the love of ballroom onto her students.