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Yvette Lee is a choreographer, creative director and creative producer who has become renowned as one of the most versatile creatives in Australia. She is renowned for her work in television, theatre and live touring events. 

Yvette’s television credits include Dancing with Stars , Asia’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, Australian Idol, Neighbours, The Masked Singer, Dance Boss, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and the ARIA Awards. 

Yvette has choreographed musical theatre productions such as ‘In the Heights’,  Rock of Ages, Shout - The Legend of the Wild One ,Dusty - The Original Pop Diva, Sweet Charity, Managing Carmen, and Just the Ticket.

Her music industry credits include choreography for major music labels Sony, Universal &Warner for artists such as; Guy Sebastian,  Zara Larsson, Samantha Jade, Jessica Mauboy, Ricki Lee, Tim Campbell and Bobby Fox.

Yvette has also worked on a range of live events including; the AFL Grand Final with Robbie Williams and the Victorian State School Spectacular. She loves working as artistic director for VDF and has recently launched her own activewear range by Energetiks. 

 https://www.yvettelee.com/

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Yvette Lee is a choreographer, creative director and creative producer who has become renowned as one of the most versatile creatives in Australia. She is renowned for her work in television, theatre and live touring events. 

Yvette’s television credits include Dancing with Stars , Asia’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance, Australian Idol, Neighbours, The Masked Singer, Dance Boss, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards and the ARIA Awards. 

Yvette has also worked on a range of live events including; the AFL Grand Final with Robbie Williams and the Victorian State School Spectacular. She loves working as artistic director for VDF and has recently launched her own activewear range by Energetiks. 

 Join Charlie as she asks the hard questions in this performer profile.
Find out all the things you have always wanted to know about your favourite performers, but never had the chance to ask.

https://www.yvettelee.com/

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Soraya Zapata’s love for dancing started when she began taking classes at Sher's Studio of Modern Dance at the young age of 3. She continued her training at WHSPA (Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts) as a dance student. During her time there Soraya was thrilled to be given the role of a featured dancer Schools Spectacular.

She was also company member of The Forge Tap Project and is a member of ‘Girls on Tap’. In January 2018, Soraya was honoured to obtain a position in the Dream Creative Oz and was given the opportunity to perform along with the Dream Dance Company at the Australian Dance Festival. In 2019, whilst completing her CERT IV in dance at Village Nation Soraya was given the opportunity to be a featured Dancer in Guy Sebastian’s hit single ‘Choir.

Soraya was successful in gaining a contract with Royal Carribean cruise line as a dancer and left for Miami in December 2019 unfortunately due to COVID19 had to returned home earlier than planned. She loved performing and misses it but is enjoying being back at home auditioning for roles and teaching. 

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Jeff  Dimitriou is a megahouse Industry choreographer, director, and artist.
He  is renowned for the energy and passion he instills within and around him in projects  that include Film, Television, World Ceremonies, Theatre, Live events, and art installations. 
Jeff has an extensive list of film and television credits including ; Schitt’s Creek, The Next Step, Blues Clues & You, ODD Squad, Anne of Green Gables, Lucky Seven, Carrie, Degrassi: Next Class, Hellcats, Twilight: Breaking Dawn Saga, Mirror, Mirror, So You Think You Can Dance Canada, and SuckerPunch. 
Jeff was named Head Choreographer of the 2015 Pan American Games Closing Ceremonies and the 2015 Parapan Opening Ceremonies.
He was a key member of the choreography team with the critically acclaimed Cirque Du Soleil, where they choreographed and directed the 2012 Opening Ceremonies for the FIFA World Cup in Azerbaijan. 
Jeff has created his own company and serves as Artistic Director/CEO of JDX Entertainment.
Whilst Jeff has had a career filled with incredible achievements it is the struggles and challenges behind these achievements  that will have you captivated. This is an honest and raw interview about the person behind the strong and serious exterior. Join us for this inspirational insight into Jeff Dimitriou.

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Jeff Dimitriou is a dancer, choreographer, director, company owner and artist. He has been involved in incredible projects including working on; The Next Step, Odd Squad, Anne of Green Gables, Lucky Seven, Hellcats, So You Think You Can Dance, Sucker Punch, Twilight; the Breaking Dawn Saga and Mirror Mirror. 
Here is your chance to get to know the man behind the amazing choreography and dancing. Charlie asks Jeff the tough questions including; his favourite ice cream, favourite board game and the dance style he finds the hardest. She even gets introduced to Jeff's pet dog Marty. 
Learn facts you never knew about your favourite people in the Performing Arts industry with Charlie's quick fire round of questions. 
Jeff's full interview will be available this Saturday in episode 85 of Dance Matters Podcast.

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Isobel Kinnear is an 18 year old dancer with the world at her feet.Currently training at Brent Street Studios Isobel has a wealth of experience for such a young age. She has been crowned both Showcase Dancer of the Year and Get The Beat National winner. Isobel has travelled overseas to compete and dance on a number of occasions. Recently she was signed to Presley Management, a fresh direction for Jeep Management. She is currently gearing up for her performance in The Dream Dance Companies Iconic show alongside other guests including; Elle Dimos, Paris Cavanagh and Mitch Wynter.

Isobel is a down to earth, humble and joyous person to talk to. We can’t wait to see where her journey leads her. 

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Lisa Anne Hammer is the Director and Founder of TDC The Dance Company in Melbourne.

With a background in acrobatics and all areas of dance training, Lisa identified a gap in the dance studio market for technique-focused training for dancers who aspire to dance on a more “serious” level. She launched TDC in 2010 as a dedicated training facility to develop dancers using her own unique methods and approaches to performing arts training. 

With an Honours Degree in Child Psychology from The University of Melbourne, Lisa’s unique perspective, experience and abilities with children of all ages allows her to get the very most out of them - in and out of the studio.

Lisa has a true passion for connecting with and training eager students to help realise their potential as performing artists - which is demonstrated year after year with TDC and the talent it produces.

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Dustin Wolf is a professional dancer and choreographer from Canada. He has stared in film/television, national commercials, modelling, print, and product design. Dustin has appeared in Netflix’s Julie and the Phantoms and the latest upcoming film from Disney, Sneakerella. Over the course of his career, Dustin has accumulated many acclaimed recognitions and awards. Having been awarded the titles of junior, teen and Mr. Dance of Canada, NYCDA junior and senior male outstanding dancer, JUMP VIP, multiple highest scoring soloist, and many more. Dustin was scouted at the NYCDA nationals where he was awarded a prestigious dance scholarship to attend Point Park University. Dustin then moved to Los Angeles where he was scouted and signed by one of the top talent agencies. During his time in LA, Dustin trained and worked under some of the best in the business. He is currently working with various studios, nationally and internationally as a teacher and choreographer.

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Dustin Wolf is a professional dancer and choreographer from Canada. He has stared in film/television, national commercials, modelling, print, and product design. Dustin has appeared in Netflix’s Julie and the Phantoms and the latest upcoming film from Disney, Sneakerella.
Here is your chance to get to know the man behind this amazing career as Charlie asks the tough questions such as what is your favorite song  and what is the worst food you have ever eaten. 
Learn facts you never knew about your favourite dancers with Charlie’s quick fire questions. 
Find out more about this amazing Canadian before his full interview is released on Saturday in episode  82 of Dance Matters Podcast.

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Chris Haines is a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher. He began his training at the Vanessa Lee Dance Academy in Wollongong, a school where he now teaches future generations of performers. Chris completed his Certificate IV in Performing Arts at Brent Street Studios before embarking on an exciting journey as a featured dance on Carnival Cruise Lines.

Chris has also performed in the Ben Hur Arena Spectacular, The Island Of Doctor Moron, the Michael Jackson Tribute Concert Gone Too Soon, So You Think You Can Dance Australia, Dance Academy and Bonnie Lythgoe’s Cinderella.

Chris is passionate about sharing his training, knowledge and experience with the next generation of dancers. 

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Stephanie Rutherford is an award winning choreographer and teacher based out of Canada.  She has managed to create an established career in the industry primarily focused in directing and choreographing commercial and contemporary dance . Stephanie has received much  recognition in both professional, convention and competitive environments for her thought provoking work. She is the artistic director and founder of the professional dance company "Rutherford Movement Exchange" as well, the host of the annual elite dance workshop entitled "The Dance Intensive". Stephanie was selected as a finalist for the Capezio Ace Awards for Choreographic Excellence in New York City.  She has also traveled to Vietnam as a selected international guest choreographer for HTV's So You Think You Can Dance Vietnam and worked with networks such as   MTV Canada and  Slice TV. 

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Morgan Choice grew up dancing and training at Brent Street in Sydney Australia. She landed her breakthrough job dancing in Fame the musical and never looked back. Since then her career has sky rocketed. Morgan has danced for many International Artists and Australian artists such as Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue, Ricky Martin, Jessie J, Wynter Gordon, Sam Sparrow, Jessica Malbouy, Flo Rida and Tina Arena. She has also been a resident and featured dancer on shows such as The X Factor Aus, The Voice Aus, Australian Idol, American Idol, and So You Think You Can Dance Aus. 
Morgan has also appeared in blockbuster  movies including  The Great Gatsby, Dirty Deeds and The Matrix Reloaded. She even landed the dream job of dancing in the Britney Spears "Piece of Me" residency in Las Vegas.
Her journey, however, has not been without its challenges and struggles. In this interview Morgan opens up about her darkest moments and how she managed to come through them. You won’t want to miss this inspirational story.

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Lauren Ritchie grew up as a highly competitive dancer with big dreams to make it professionally. The reality of the difficulties that come with making  that transition and the challenges Lauren faced herself led her on the journey to become a mental skills coach. In researching and educating herself she realized that there was a lack of these skills being taught to young dancers. Lauren now facilitates and speaks at a number of workshops and studios throughout Canada. Her goal is to guide dancers to overcome their mental barriers and break through to a new personal level of excellence. Lauren also hosts The Dance Podcast which has some incredible guests with the most inspirational stories. Make sure you head over to thedancepodcast.com to check it out. 

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Soraya Zapata’s love for dancing started when she began taking classes at Sher's Studio of Modern Dance at the young age of 3. 

She was a company member of The Forge Tap Project and is a member of ‘Girls on Tap’. In 2019, whilst completing her CERT IV in dance at Village Nation Soraya was given the opportunity to be a featured Dancer in Guy Sebastian’s hit single ‘Choir.

Soraya was successful in gaining a contract with Royal Carribean cruise line as a dancer and left for Miami in December 2019 unfortunately due to COVID19 had to returned home earlier than planned. She loved performing and misses it but is enjoying being back at home auditioning for roles and teaching. 

Join Charlie as she asks the hard questions in this performer profile.
Find out all the things you have always wanted to know about your favourite performers, but never had the chance to ask.

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Sarah Alice Burns is a professional dancer, model and artist development coach who grew up in Australia.  After several years of working overseas as a dancer, Sarah took a leap of faith and moved to Los Angeles. After several setbacks and countless no's, she soon became accustomed to understanding that the LA dance industry was not for the faint of heart. Sarah's fierce determination for success and extreme passion meant that she didn’t give up. After landing her first job as a dancer  for Usher at the 2010 American Music Awards her career skyrocketed. 

She landed the Dream  job dancing for Beyoncé for 4 years. Sarah performed with Beyoncé at Super Bowl, various award shows, feature films, multiple world tours, music videos and the worldwide IVY PARK campaign. She has also worked with musical icons: Brandy, Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, Meek Mill, Drake, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, Kelly Rowland, Usher and Ne-Yo.

In 2019, Sarah created Industry LA; a professional dance program designed to educate professional dancers from all over the world on how to understand, navigate and gain success in the highly competitive LA dance scene.

In this chat we don’t just touch on the highs but we dig deep into the biggest challenges and setbacks that Sarah has faced. It’s one you don’t want to miss. 

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Tara Bajan is an incredible dancer known for her amazing turns and phenomenal leaps. Her flexibility and strength are insane. Today I find out all about the person behind the dancer. We have a fun chat about her favourite song, movie and even her least favorite food. 
Make sure you check out Tara’s full interview in episode 76 of Dance Matters Podcast. 

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Tara Bajan is a young woman with the world at her feet. She first strapped her dancing shoes on at the age of 4 and hasn’t looked back since. Tara has won countless titles and championships at various competitions in and around Australia. She has been crowned:Miss Rainbow Australia, Miss Starpower Australia, Follow your Dreams National Champion and GTB Overall Highest Scoring Teen. Tara has also worked in Singapore with Get The Beat and performed in the 2019 Dream Junior show, as well as Dream Junior Australia. She has travelled around the world assisting Rebecca Davies on her Radar Technique Tours. Tara is renowned for her incredible turns and leaps. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.
This episode is proudly bought to you by Studio7 Dancewear.  Check them out at  https://studio7dancewear.com 

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Matthew Gode is an artist renowned for his unique and creative choreography. Growing up Matthew struggled with the idea that he never quite fit into the predesigned model of what people thought a dancer should be. Instead of letting that defeat him he used it to his advantage. Through that experience he decided to embrace his individuality and create an iconic style. Heavily influenced by the world of fashion Gode’s choreography is cutting edge and always pushes the boundaries. We chat all about the challenges he faced and the person he became because of them. Matthew continues to choreograph for television , corporate functions, charity events, music videos and live performances both nationally and internationally. He works extensively in the fashion and performing arts industries and continues to bring his individual style to everything he works on.

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Mitchell Jackson grew up training in Ontario Canada in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and musical theatre. Within two years as a competitive dancer, he had won multiple awards. He then went on to train in Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. As a dancer, he has appeared in multiple television shows and music videos by leading artists. In Los Angeles, he taught at the Millennium Dance Complex. His students have gone on to perform with music stars like Carly Rae Jepsen and Justin Bieber and appear on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Mitchell continues to work with dance studios and competitions across North America as a choreographer, teacher, and adjudicator. He has also created his own dance competition OTF – The Ultimate Dance Experience and is the director of Intrepid Dance Company. Mitchell works closely with Briar Nolet and even choreographed for her on World of Dance and when she toured with Jennifer Lopez. 

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Holly Robinson is a dedicated and passionate young lady with the world at her feet. At ten years of age she already has a number of national and international titles to her name. Holly has been crowned Dancer of the year twice, won Get the Beat national champion  and Dancelife Unite national champion. She has also competed overseas and was awarded KAR Miss USA. Holly is an assistant for Rebecca Davies Radar Technique which has given her the opportunity to travel around the world. She has also been selected as a Bloch young artist and is an ambassador for a number of dance companies. This young hardworking dancer has many ambitions and is one to keep your eye out for in the future. 
Don’t forget to listen for the link to follow for your chance to win a Bloch Australia gift voucher. 

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Jessica McGaugh and Roma Sur are two film makers who have been brought together through their mutual love of storytelling. 

Jessica McGaugh is an award-winning independent film director, cinematographer and editor. Her work has been screened internationally including the Mumbai International Film Festival, Denver Film Festival, NDTV and Rocky Mountain PBS. Jessica received an MFA in Film from Syracuse University and is currently teaching in the Film & Television Program at the University of Colorado Denver.

Roma Sur is a filmmaker and faculty member at the Film and Television program at the University of Colorado, Denver. Her feature documentary, "The Golden Hour" won the Best Documentary Award at the Indian Film Festival of Houston, 2013, and was broadcast nationally on NDTV, India in 2015. She recently completed co-editing her feature documentary titled Changing Tides about a paraplegic swimmer reclaiming his life.

Together they have created a new film celebrating the way people connect through the performing arts. Three Worlds, One Stage tells the story of three immigrant artists from three regions of the world who have made Colorado their second home. It captures their journey of staying connected with their roots via performing arts. The film is set to be released this month, February 2021.

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Growing up in New York City Monica Delehanty started training in dance at age 3. She danced competitively for a number of years winning numerous regional and national competitions. She was also named as Dancer's Inc.'s "Dancer of the Year". Monica also achieved Onstage New York's Top Scoring Senior Soloist for her solo where she was then scouted by an agency.

Monica went on to train at The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC under their Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program. She danced at Broadway Dance Center and became a member of Team Capezio. From there she moved to Los Angeles to follow her career in Commercial Dance. She attended Studio School LA and has since been seen on Modern Family, Comedy Central, and Big Little Lies. Monica continues to dance, model, choreograph and teach.

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Amy Tasker is the founder and owner of Groove Nation. Groove Nation is a company she founded to deliver quality, engaging dance programs to schools. 

A dancer all her life, Amy knew the benefits that dance could bring to every child if it was taught in the right manner. Growing up training in all styles, Amy completed full time ballet training before later going on to complete a bachelor of science majoring in psychology and nutrition. She also later completed a bachelor of primary teaching.

Amy now spends her time sharing her passion of dance through her groove nation company. A company designed to support teachers, foster student diversity and inspire creativity and confidence.

If you are looking for a way to engage and inspire children through dance make sure you head to https://www.groovenation.com.au/ to check them out. 

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Growing up in Queensland, Michaeljon headed over to the United States after winning the Australian dancer of the year and a full scholarship to attend American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis school. From there he became the first Australian to be accepted into the prestigious Juilliard school in New York. 

In 2009 MJ made his debut on Broadway as the dance captain on West Side story. He continued working on Broadway in productions such as Billy Elliot, How to Succeed in Business without really Trying, Evita, Matilda and Hello Dolly.

During that time he performed with people such as; Daniel Radcliffe, Ricky Martin and Bette Midler. 

Since shifting his career to focus on choreography MJ has worked on many successful Broadway shows including Mrs Doubtfire.

Listen in to discover what it is truly like to work on Broadway in New York. Don’t forget to check out our profile of MJ in episode 4 of Chatting with Charlie. 

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Dominique Kelley is an incredible dancer and choreographer. He may not have started his formal dance training until he was 9 but by the age of 12 he was already on his first Broadway tour. 
At the age of 16, he co-choreographed his first musical named “Wild Women Blues” in Germany.
Dominique combined his love of musical theatre and commercial dance in order to become a highly sought after dancer and choreographer. 
He has worked on film including; “The Princess and the Frog”, “The Smurfs Movie”, “Bring It On: Fight to the Finish”, “Jump The Broom”, and “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special”.
His television credits include; “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing With The Stars”, “The Masked Singer”, “American Music Awards”, “The Late Late Show with James Corden”,  and “Lip Sync Battle”.
He has also worked with top recording artists including; Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, P!nk, Usher, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Flo Rida. 
Not leaving out sports entertainment, he has been one of the main choreographers for such sports teams as the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics,  LA Clippers, and many teams around the country. Dominique’s goal and endeavor is to bring movement and dance artistry to every facet of the entertainment industry.

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Michaeljon Slinger has had a phenomenal career. He was the first Australian to be accepted into the prestigious Julliard School in New York. From there he performed in many Broadway hits before moving into directing and choreographing for shows on Broadway. Throughout his time living and working in New York he has worked with some amazing performers including; Ricky Martin, Daniel Radcliffe and Bette Midler. 
Get to know the man behind this amazing career as Charlie asks the tough questions such as who is your favourite singer and what is your favourite food. 
Find out more about this amazing Australian before his full interview is released on Saturday. 

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Starting out as a young gymnast who just wanted to dance with her friends. Paris Cavanagh quickly found that her true passion lied in dance. At 13 she headed off to the talent development high school at Brent street where she trained extensively.

Since graduating Paris has become a highly sought after choreographer. She has worked with Guy Sebastian, Samantha Jade, Delta Goodrem, TLC, Little Mix, Jessie J just to name a few.

Paris is highly sought after for her teaching and choreography and has recently been named as the choreographer for the Dream Dance Companies 2021 show. Join us to find out what inspires and motivates one of Australia’s most highly sought after young dancers. 

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Alex Dunlop  is a Professional Dancer who started when she was only 2 years old. Throughout her childhood she trained in all dance styles and competed Nationally and Internationally.  Alex went on to have contracts with Opera Australia and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.  Now Alex enjoys choreographing, teaching and being a mum. 
You can check out Alex's full interview on episode 46 of Dance Matters Podcast. 
This episode was recorded live at Shire Dance Workshops.
In this interview our youngest guest ever makes a cameo appearance. Charlie chats with gorgeous 15 month old Billie and asks mum Alex the tough questions. Find out her favourite food and what children's song sends her loopy. 
Don't miss gorgeous Billie sharing her favourite shape and colour. 

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Growing up as a young boy in a small town in launceston Tasmania Locky followed his sisters into the dance studio and never looked back. Despite years of traumatic teasing by the local boys Locky knew dancing was what made him happiest and so he peservered. Moving to Sydney to train at Brent St studios Locky completed his full time training and moved straight into a role in Wicked the musical. But after a long stint in the show he knew there was other opportunities out there that he wanted to pursue. LA was calling him and despite a few hiccups along the road Locky made it to LA. Since then he has gone onto dance on television shows such as Glee and perform around the world with numerous musical artists. Katy perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears just to name a few.
Now Locky is gearing up to run Tasmania Dance Expo and bring people from all around the world to dance in Australia.
Join us as we explore the highs, the lows and the many lessons learnt along the way. 

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Locky Brownlie is an Aussie Dancer living in LA. He has danced for many amazing dancers including; Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears. 
In this preview of our full interview, to be released Saturday, Charlie asks the tough questions. From what he would cook her for dinner to his go to singing song in the shower. Join us for a hilarious insight into this incredible dancer. 

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The baby of Dance Matters Podcast where host Charlie delivers a short, sharp, quirky and funny profile of some of your favourite people in the dance and performing arts industry. Charlie will preview our feature length interview by asking those questions you’ve always wanted to know about your favourite dancers. Find out their favourite foods, places to travel and movies. 
Check out this episode to find out more of what you can expect from Chatting with Charlie and a little more about host Charlie.
Looking forward to sharing these quick fire interviews with you. 

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Season One of Dance Matters Podcast was massive. Now we are back with a bang for Season Two. Join us for a preview of what you can expect to hear in what is destined to be an epic season. 
In this preview we reveal our first guest for Season Two. 

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As 2020 comes to a close and we sit on the edge of a new year  it’s time to reflect, refocus and achieve results. Every year people set new years resolutions in the hope of changing something about their lives but most people don’t have the tools to set up goals that they may actually achieve. Did you know that 95% of New Years resolutions are never actually achieved.
Don’t be one of the statistics. Check out this episode to find practical and realistic ways to set goals that are not going to gather dust in the cupboard but that are actually going to form the cornerstone of your road map for 2021.
There are many simple actions you can take to make your goals a reality.
Join with me and take back control of 2021. 
Most importantly remember success is a journey not a destination.

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You won’t find a more dedicated and hardworking dancer then the incredible Holly Doyle. Since staring dancing at the age of 3 she has never looked back. Attending Newtown Performing Arts High School, Holly took out first in the state for classical ballet during her HSC and was also awarded the prestigious dedication to dance award. From there Holly threw herself into chasing her performance dreams. She worked hard in open classes where she was noticed by Rafael from Sydney Dance Company. From there Holly spent 7 years dancing all around the world with Sydney dance company. Despite some serious injuries Holly continued to dance on. You can now find Holly working on choreographic pieces all over Australia. 

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Katie Ortencio is a Professional dancer and actress. She is best known for her role as Lilly in The Next Step. Beginning dancing at the age of 4, it wasn't long until Katie found herself in the competition team. She danced competitively for years, winning numerous awards . Katie is trained in all styles of dance and continues to further her training in both dance and acting. We talk all things The Next Step including behind the scenes information. Katie shares her training, experience and knowledge with us as well as her dreams for the future. 

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Dominique Kelley is an incredible dancer and choreographer. At the age of 16, he co-choreographed his first musical named “Wild Women Blues” in Germany. He has worked on film including; “The Princess and the Frog”, “The Smurfs Movie”, “Bring It On: Fight to the Finish”, “Jump The Broom”, and “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special”.
His television credits include; “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing With The Stars”, “The Masked Singer”, “American Music Awards”, “The Late Late Show with James Corden”,  and “Lip Sync Battle”.
He has also worked with top recording artists including; Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, P!nk, Usher, Gwen Stefani, Chris Martin, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and Flo Rida. 
Join Charlie as she asks the hard questions in this performer profile.
Find out all the things you have always wanted to know about your favourite performers, but never had the chance to ask.
https://www.domkelley.com/

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It’s no secret that it takes years of hardwork and determination to become a successful dancer. However, we often overlook the role that good nutrition plays in  supporting that journey and in helping dancers achieve their goals. We chat with Holistic Nutritionist and Professional Dancer, Meg Cartwright to find out how to best fuel our bodies. Meg grew up dancing competitively and gave it away when her struggle with body image and food outweighed the joy dance brought. Determined to create a better educated relationship with food and herself, Meg became a qualified holistic nutritionist. Once she had developed that knowledge her connection with her body improved and she once again found her love for dance. Meg now works as a Holistic Nutritionist supporting dancers in particular. Once again dancing and working as a professional dancer, Mindfully Meg (as she is known to her Instagram followers) is passionate about helping young dancers develop their knowledge around nutrition. We delve into what fuels dancers bodies best and ways they can best meet their nutritional requirements.

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Ben Zammit has the world at his feet. He is a talented dancer, teacher and choreographer. As a young dancer he was extremely successful winning national titles and even a scholarship to train at Broadway Dance Centre in New York. After completing full time training at Ev and Bow, Ben went on to perform as part of the Dream Dance Company. He has also worked with Opera Australia and danced on the Australian leg of the Hugh Jackman tour. In this episode we talk all things performance, choreography and dance teaching. 

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Will Sanchez is proof that dance can be so much more than a hobby or sport. By his admission it is dance and the people who brought it into his life that changed his pathway dramatically and saved him from the slippery slope he was on.

Growing up in the Bronx he discovered dance through his mentor the legendary Crazy Legs. Under his guidance Will managed to travel the world dancing at festivals and competitions. Will has travelled the world as a professional break dancer representing the USA Breakdancers and has performed on Broadway as well as countless movies, music videos and TV shows in the US. Having worked with international artists like Kanye West, Ciara, Neyo and Twister, he brings a wealth of industry moves, knowledge and experience to Australia where he continues to dance, model and now pursue his other love of cooking.

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Kaylie Yee is proof that hard work and determination leads to success. From a shy child growing up dancing in Sydney at her parents dance school to performing in Las Vegas with Britney Spears, Kaylie shows that dreams can come true. Starting her  career touring Australia with Nikki Webster as a preteen, Kaylie has gone on to work with artists such as Kylie Minogue, Taylor Swift, Nick Jonas, Ke$ha, Sam Smith, Katy Perry and J Balvin. Her musical theatre credits include Miss Saigon and Candyman. She was also a featured dancer in movies Happy Feet 2, The Great Gatsby and Goddess, and worked on 3 seasons of The X Factor before heading to Las Vegas to join Britney Spears as a dancer and then dance captain in her Piece Of Me show. Since then Kaylie has joined with The Squared Division to take on other creative roles such as their associate choreographer and assistant creative director.

She has been responsible for hiring a number of professional dancers and throughout this chat Kaylie not only shares her own incredible journey but gives us an amazing insight into the process of applying, auditioning and landing these dancing jobs.

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In this episode we join forces with Mille Slennett from The Dance Pod to chat all things dance and Dance Matters Podcast. In a role reversal, Kali and Charlie are put in the hot seat to answer questions. Get to know a little more about your host, cohost and how Dance Matters Podcast came about. 

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This episode features a very special double interview with two absolute superstars from The Next Step. You might know Liam Mackie as Finn on The Next Step. Liam began dancing competitively at the age of 6 and was a part of Team Canada at the World Hip-Hop Championship. Apart from The Next Step he has also appeared in Disney Descendants 3. Liam continues to dance, act, teach and choreograph as well as pursuing  his new interests of DJing and working behind the scenes on film and television.

Our second guest Carter Musselman has been dancing since he was 9 and you might know him best as Heath in the Next Step. Carter has had the opportunity to train with some of the best in the industry at several dance conventions and has had the honour of assisting Blake McGrath and Ian Eastwood. He was also a guest dancer for Janet Jackson during her unbreakable tour. Apart from the next step Carter has also appeared In Stephen King’s IT and the television show Backstage.

In this episode we chat all things The Next Step, Including; the audition process, filming process and how it all comes together behind the scenes. 

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Shannon Atkins is an Australian success story. From directing and owning a leading performing arts school on the Gold Coast and working at the Queensland Conservatorium in Brisbane, Australia, Shannon has made the transition to successfully working in New York City. 

Since the move, her talent and passion for dance has led her to travel throughout the US, UK, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and Australia regularly judging and setting award-winning choreography and company repertoire. She is a coach for the USA Dance Team/American Dance Company, who represent their country in the International Dance Organization’s annual competition in Poland. She is also a judge for the World Dance Championships and has appeared on TV’s Dance Moms. In this chat Shannon shares her knowledge and experience as a; performer, choreographer, studio director, adjudicator and teacher. 

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Dr. Lisa Ellis holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (Hons) and is currently working as a doctor in Melbourne, Australia. She has over 15 years of experience as a dance coach with expertise in jazz technique, classical ballet and ballet conditioning. She holds her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management and an Associate Diploma in Cecchetti Ballet. She also holds her Advanced II Cecchetti Ballet Certificate, attained with Honours. As well as running her DANCE PRESCRIPTION program based in Melbourne, Australia, Dr. Lisa tours nationally and internationally with her Just What The Doctor Ordered Workshops. In this episode we chat all about strength and flexibility training as well as how to improve your kicks, leaps and turns.  Dr Lisa provides us with a lot of tips to help get the most out of your dance training. 

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Sage Linder is a Canadian dancer and actress best known for her role as Summer in The Next Step. Sage’s career in entertainment developed from an early age when she attended the Professional Program at her Dance Studio, and the program for gifted children at her high school. Sage booked her first stadium performance as a guest dancer with Janet Jackson on her Unbreakable World Tour in 2016 at the age of 15. She has also appeared on Riverdale, Motherland: Fort Salem, and Disney’s Descendants 3. We talk all about the world of professional dance and acting. We chat about everything you need to know to become a professional dancer and actress. From her training, finding an agent, the audition process and then what actually happens on set, we cover it all. Of course we also chat all things The Next Step. 

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Katie Sanchez is a highly sought after Australian commercial dancer and model. After completing her full time training at Brent Street Katie went on to have a very successful dance career. Katie has worked across Stage, TV, Film, Fashion and advertising over the past 13 years - both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. As a dancer, Katie has travelled around the world, performing alongside artists including Pink, Jason Derulo, Kylie Minogue, Flo Rida, Ricky Martin, Zara Larsson, Black Eyed Peas, Ricki-Lee, Jessica Mauboy and Havana Brown. She has also featured in music videos for both local and international artists like Beyonce, Ricki-Lee, Havana Brown and Natalie Bassingthwaighte. Katie works alongside Marko Panzic with his Dream Dance Company and is a course co ordinator for their show business course. We chat all things dance and the dance industry as well as how she is feeling about becoming a first time mother. 

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Angelique is a true triple threat performer, excelling as an actor, singer and dancer with an extensive list of Australian stage and live theatre credits. Angelique began training for a performance career with The Dance Works in Brisbane, Australia and furthered her studies at The Australian Dance Performance Institute. She made her professional musical theatre debut in Annie in 2000.
She recently starred as Cassie in A Chorus Line (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) for Sydney Festival and the Sydney Opera House and is freshly back in Australia after appearing in the disco cabaret extravaganza, Velvet for its Hamburg, Germany season. Angelique has also appeared in ; American Psycho at the Sydney Opera House, Pippin, Hair , Saturday Night Fever, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Carmen, Rent, Strictly Ballroom, King Kong Live on Stage, Mary Poppins, High School Musical, Guys and Dolls and Handa Opera’s outdoor extravaganza Sydney Opera House - The Opera, The Eighth Wonder. Angelique has performed to critical acclaim in her one-woman show Guilty Pleasures.

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Lauren Kate Seymour is one of Australia’s most sought after commercial and contemporary dancers who has found success both in Australia and the UK. In season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance, she was crowned Runner Up. Landing roles in films including Happy Feet 2, Goddess and Rocketman, Lauren has experienced great success in her career. 

She has also performed with Kylie Minogue, Liam Payne, Jessie J, Zara Larsson, Robbie Williams, Lunchmoney Lewis, Delta Goodrem and Kelly Rowland. Lauren also took on the Dance Captain role for the Australian commercial dance company, The Dream Dance Company for the first three seasons. We chat all things dance and about the opportunities and challenges with finding work in Australia and The UK. 

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Milaina is a Canadian dancer and actress best known for her role as Zara in The Next Step. Milaina has been dancing for more than 18 years and has trained in all styles. In addition to her role in The Next Step,  you can also find her in Freeform's Motherland, Descendants 3, Riverdale and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.  She has performed for Harlem Globe Trotters, the Briar Cup, Continental Cup, Sharing Dance, WE Day, BMW's Cabriolet Gala and Family Channel's Big Ticket Summer Concert. As well as pursuing her professional dance and acting career Milaina now travels across Canada, teaching and adjudicating. We sit down and chat with her all things dance, the dance industry and The Next Step. Milaina gives some great insight into working as a professional dancer and actress. 

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Charlie Powell, is an Australian born actress and dancer from Sydney. Charlie grew up with a passion for performing. Prior to pursuing acting, she trained as a dancer for seventeen years. Charlie attended high school at Newtown Performing Arts and was accepted into the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School.  She was also awarded the Broadway Dance Professional Scholarship in New York City and received the Highest Female Scholarship to Point Park University. Charlie is a recent graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and has studied at Australia's prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Arts. She chats with us about her journey to Los Angeles to pursue her acting and dancing career.