OUR TEACHERS
Rebecca Liu-Brennan - Principal
Hi! My name is Rebecca and I am the principal of PAWS studios. I have been teaching for over 20 years and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on to our amazing students. I am a teacher and mentor with the Royal Academy of Dance. Some of my career highlights include choreographing for two groups for Australia’s Got Talent, choreographing for an opera and choreographing a piece for Delta Goodrem for Project Pink, a huge breast cancer gala. The thing I love most about PAWS is the incredible team we have here; the way all the teachers network, work together and learn from each other is what creates such and amazing facility for our kids to learn.
Shae and Taryn Beadman – Jazz & Musical Theatre
What is your ULTIMATE career highlight?
We are so grateful for so many experiences we’ve had, but a dance career highlight would definitely be dancing for Alexis Jordan at the Official Mardi Gras After Party. That was an awesome experience! For Drama we are super excited that our short film “Toxic”, which we created and played the leading roles in was selected into several Film Festivals across the globe!
What do you LOVE about working at PAWS?
Teaching at PAWS has truly been a major highlight in our lives for the past 12 years. It definitely doesn’t feel like “work”! We love the family environment that has been created over the years, and really enjoy building relationships with the kids and watching them grow into not only amazing dancers but human beings!
What are you GRATEFUL for right now?
We both have so much to be grateful for and make sure we write things down everyday! We truly are blessed to wake up every morning being able to pursue the things we’re passionate about. We are surrounded by so many amazing, inspiring people, who support us and encourage us to live the life of our dreams!
Vanessa Travis – Drama
What is your ULTIMATE career highlight?
The growth of drama classes at PAWS. Starting with 12 students in 2013, we now have 85+ students enrolled in drama classes. I have adored seeing students of all ages develop a love for drama, growing in confidence that assists them in all aspects of their life.
What do you LOVE about working at PAWS?
I love that PAWS fosters creativity and growth in all aspects of the performing arts; each art is valued for its own unique qualities and it is the most amazing community to be a part of.
What are you GRATEFUL for right now?
I am grateful for my family, my friends and the abundance of privilege that comes from living in our beautiful country. I love that my job allows me to nurture, guide and inspire young people to become capable, passionate and driven human beings.
Maddison Epthorp – Singing
What is your ULTIMATE career highlight?
Working on Hayes Theatre Co.’s New Musicals Australia program with the likes of Nancy Hayes, Lisa Campbell and Tony Cogin.
What do you LOVE about working at PAWS?
I love teaching at PAWS as I’m able to help foster each child’s individuality, creativity and confidence. I love that at PAWS I’m able to encourage my students to do the best they can, reminding them that no dream is ever too big.
What are you GRATEFUL for right now?
Right now I’m grateful for my creativity and for music.
Emma Lonard – Circus/Acro/RSD/RSB
What is your ultimate career highlight?
Having the opportunity to create and write a new Program with Rebecca and Tyler and having the chance to pass on my knowledge and love for circus to other studios and staff members.
What do you LOVE about working at PAWS?
I love working with like minded people who share the same values and goals. The staff and students continue to inspire me with their energy and support for one another as a family.
What are you grateful for right now?
I am grateful for my family for their continued support and love.
Jem Dermilio – Lyrical/Jazz/Tap
What is your ultimate career highlight?
My ultimate career highlight teaching at PAWS so far is probably growing up with these kids over a number of years. Watching these students develop into the performers they always dream of is very rewarding. I have taught some of the students I teach from when they were six and now they’re becoming adults about to move onto full time, university or the workforce. It’s crazy to think I have guided and helped mould them into the best dancers and people they can be.
Why do you love teaching at PAWS?
I love teaching at PAWS because not only do I get to achieve my own goals when creating a routine, I also help kids with their own goals. It’s super rewarding helping a student make a breakthrough.
What are you grateful for right now?
Right now, I am grateful for living in Australia, as opposed to any other country in the world. We are very lucky in so many different ways.
Tania Gould – Tap
What is your ultimate career highlight?
For the last three years I have been blessed to teach at Australian Tap Dance Festival. In 2019, when I was first invited to be a part of the faculty, I was truly over the moon. To be acknowledged as a highly skilled tapper and enthusiastic teacher in the Australian Tap Dance Community is an honour I will cherish forever.
Why do you love teaching at PAWS?
I want to work with passionate students who love to dance. Tap is a genre of dance that has so much groove, rhythm and style. I am excited to teach students how to listen and dance music in different ways; to allow each individual student to be a musician with their feet; and to guide and prepare any student going into an audition that has tap in it. I am truly eager to unlock the talent of the next generation of tappers at PAWS.
What are you grateful for right now?
I am grateful for the amazing support I have in my life. From my friends, to my family, to my amazing husband. Being a dance teacher and performer is an adventure. I constantly meet new people, see students flourish and provide inspiration to everyone I meet. But sometimes this can mean long days away from home or even weeks at a time. Without the unconditional love and support I receive, I would not be able to teach, perform or deliver the endless amounts of passion I have for my career.
Angela Corkeron – Ballet/Jason Winters Contemporary
What is your ultimate career highlight?
In 2010, my Dance Studio, Dance for Life, won the Australian Ballet ‘Dance the Dream’ competition and former Australian Ballet Principal Ballerina Lynette Wills came to Blackheath and taught a ballet masterclass for us.
What do you LOVE about working at PAWS?
I love teaching ballet at PAWS because I love working with so many lovely students
who truly want to do well in their dancing!
What are you grateful for right now?
I am grateful for the opportunity to teach so many lovely students at all levels of ballet, from Primary through to Advanced! I am also grateful to work with a studio that shares my personal values as we foster confidence in children and help them to achieve their dreams.
Brett Hartnett – Jazz/Technique
I love that every child at PAWS is made to feel special, regardless of what level they are at and without limitation, through our nurturing environment.
Caitlyn McKay – Lyrical/Ballet
I love working at PAWS because it is more than just a dance studio. We aim to instil qualities and teach skills that go beyond the dance floor. At PAWS, our students learn to work as a team, to persevere with their goals and to accept and grow from any setbacks that may occur.
