About our Teachers

All of our teachers are industry professionals with blue cards and teaching qualifications in a number of dance fields. Alongside our fantastic staff here at JAM we also have access to a wide range of guest teachers and artists that are current or ex-professionals in the dance and performing arts field to come in and pass on their passion and expertise to our students.

Danica Edge / Principal

Danica Edge grew up locally and began her performing career at the young age of 4 in a lead role of Queensland Music Theatres production of The Tempest with Keith Michelle. As a child she performed in several more QMT productions and various TV commercials. She also was a member of the Ballet Theatre of Queensland for a number of years and performed in productions around Qld.

Danica moved to Sydney and graduated from Brent Street Full Time in 1999. During her time in Sydney Danica performed in Bootmen and several TV commercials and music video clips as well as corporate functions such as Fox Studios opening, Stadium Australia opening, NRL 1999 Grand Final and the Bee Gees live concert and the Reddy for Redcliffe TV ads and visitor Information guide 2015.

Danica has undertaken all dance exams at every level with CSTD and gained her full teaching diploma for CSTD Classical Ballet and Sports acrobatics coaching certificate. Danica has been teaching and choreographing for dance schools in Queensland for the past 20 years.

Over the last 7 years JAM has taken groups of dancers to Hollywood Vibe Competition and Convention in USA 2007, Sydney’s Brent Street Summer School 2009 & 2012, toured USA & attended Pulse on Tour in 2011 and set up a senior tour program to take selected students to Sydney annually to attend the Australian Dance Festival and have the opportunity to audition for full time schools across the country.

Michael Edge

Michael Edge is originally from Sydney and trained in performing arts for many years. He graduated from Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and furthered his studies with a Certificate 4 in Performing Arts at Brent Street. He went on to perform in the films Moulin Rouge and Bootmen as a featured dancer. Michael toured around Australia in the smash hit musical Shout! He has also performed in various stage shows and film clips in Australia and around the world, with artists such as Hugh Jackman, David Campbell, Elle Macpherson, John Farnham, Vanessa Amorosi, Marcia Hines, John Paul Young and Kylie Minogue.

As well as singing and dancing, Michael also has appeared as a guest performer in a number of TV shows, Feature Films and TV commercials. Michael is currently one of Queensland’s most in demand teachers and choreographers. He has choreographed numerous corporate shows, open-air concerts, and functions. Michael also recently choreographed a piece for the 2013 season of Dancing with the Stars. He has been teaching for the last decade at numerous dance schools, full time performing arts schools, conventions and workshops. He holds a Certificate 4 in Performing Arts and Workplace Training & Assessment. Chances are if you’re a dancer you’ve done one of Michael Edge’s classes!

Jackie Hamilton

Jackie began her stage career with one of the lead roles in the QMT production of ‘Annie get your Gun’ which toured Queensland. Jackie has also travelled around Queensland and internationally with her dancing, touring to Japan 3 times. Jackie has received ‘honours’ and ‘honours plus’ marks in all of her CSTD examinations from Tiny Tots A through to Intermediate Ballet. She has gained her student teaching diploma in all CSTD syllabi and her full teaching diploma in CSTD Classical ballet as well as her sports acrobatics coaching certificate. Jackie has also gained qualifications in infant and remedial massage and injury prevention. Jackie has taught and choreographed for several schools around Brisbane and has also been a part of the touring faculty over the last 7 years.

Lee Maller

Lee Maller has grown up in Redcliffe and trained at the Sharon Alback Dance Centre. She currently holds her CSTD Teachers Diploma in Theatrical, Classical and Jazz Award. Lee has performed leading roles with SADC for Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella and Snow White. She has performed and toured with Queensland Ballet Theatre in ‘Swan Lake’, ‘The Nutcracker’ and ‘Sylvia’. Lee has been a part of Dick Johnson Racing Team at Surfers Paradise, designed and choreographed Redcliffe’s first Rugby League Cheer Squad – ‘Dolphin Dollies’ and the ‘Ultimate Poppers’ first girl rap and break dance crew in Redcliffe. Lee has also been an artistic roller skater to national standard, performed and made a solo appearance in ‘Skating Fantasia’ at Festival Hall, The Paul Sharrat Show and the Channel 9 commercial ‘We’ll show you the stars.’

Lee was also an integral part of ‘Vicki and the Krystalites Cabaret Show’ that toured many of the club circuits and teamed up with the Billy Masters Show also. Lee has owned and operated her own ballet school for 17 years – but retired in 2000 after having twins. Lee is delighted to be a member of the JAM Performing Arts teaching staff, and to help the students grow and achieve.

Grace Willett

Grace commenced her dance training at the age of 2. She has studied in both the Vaganova method and the Royal Academy of Dance syllabuses. She has complemented this with Ballet, Theatrical, Jazz and Tap training in the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance syllabi, and also studied Contemporary, Lyrical, Cabaret, Musical Theatre and Irish Dance genres. Grace joined local Youth Ballet Companies in Principal, Soloist and Corps de ballet roles, was a member of the Queensland Ballet’s Junior Extension Program performing in their 2005 International Gala and successfully competed at Eisteddfods and Dance Scholarships.

In 2007 Grace graduated from the Australian Dance Performance Institute where she completed her Advanced Diploma of Art (Dance Performance) and was awarded Solo Seal by the RAD, and won the RAD South East Queensland Senior Ballet Scholarship and Audience Choice Award. She has taught and choreographed students since 2006 and completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS) with the Royal Academy of Dance, London in 2012. In 2015 Grace will commence a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) at QUT and to her surprise and delight has been awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship (Creative Industries).

Maryanne Nucifora

Maryanne is a commercial jazz dancer/teacher based in Brisbane. She has performed with Universal Studios Singapore for 2 years and since being home has worked on various dance gigs. She has worked professionally since 2011 when she danced in the band ‘Ball Park Music’s’ music video, aired on the TV Channel ‘Rage’. She has trained for 17 years in various styles that include, jazz, classical ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, tap and recently hip hop. She attended ADPI where she completed her Advanced Diploma of Art in Musical Theatre and Commercial Dance. This year she will be studying at QUT, Bachelor of Creative Industries, studying stage management. Maryanne is very passionate about dance, teaching and all things performance based. She is excited to share that passion with her students at JAM.

Kaila Castle

Kaila started dancing at the age of three and has continued her training formally since. Her love and passion for dance has seen her perform in multiple shows, award nights and festivals. Kaila attended the Pulse Dance Summer School in Las Vegas 2011, which saw her train under international instructors and choreographers Robert Hoffman, Chris Judd, Lauriean Gibson and Wade Robson. Kaila completed all of her Dance exams with CSTD and has her teaching certificate. Kaila has developed a passion for teaching children dance and loves teaching the JAM littlies!

Maddy Parker

Maddy was born in Brisbane and began dancing from the age of 3. Her dance training began at Che-jazz Dance Centre until the age of 13. Maddy has been involved in a number of productions including ‘Creative Generation: state schools on stage’ as a featured dancer, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Matilda the Musical’, and various concerts and eisteddfods. In 2012 she travelled to America with JAM and performed at Disneyland, Universal Studios and Pulse, as well as partaking in workshops. Maddy has completed her CSTD jazz, tap and classical examinations and also revived her teacher’s certificate in modern jazz. She was also the Dance Director for the North Lakes State College dance troupe, and was involved with the dance program from grade 6 through to the completion of her high school studies. Maddy is currently studying at QUT and continues her passion of teaching at JAM Performing Arts.

Chloe Hullick

Chloe is a past student of JAM Performing Arts and is currently studying a Diploma of Musical Theatre at the Australian Dance Performance Institute. She has completed all of her CSTD Jazz Exams, as well as Ballet and Tap exams. Chloe specialises in jazz, contemporary/lyrical, and commercial style hip-hop. She has travelled to America with JAM Performing Arts in 2011 and has won scholarships to the Pulse and Broadway Dance Centre in New York as well as Australian Dance Festival in Sydney. Chloe is a qualified personal trainer and gym instructor, also certified in first aid and CPR. She has taught and choreographed for JAM for several years.

Catherine Artold

Catherine started participating in dance classes at the age of 3 and continued until the age of 18 when she was forced to stop due to injury. She has been part of the JAM family since the very beginning and since graduating high school in 2011 has gained certificates in Hairdressing and Aviation. She worked for Menzies Aviation as a Passenger Service Agent at Brisbane International Airport for 2 years, checking in and assisting passengers on many International Airlines. She then moved to the Northern Territory for a year for a change of pace only recently returning to Brisbane and joining the JAM family as our Receptionist. Catherine has always been very passionate about Performing Arts and has competed in Eisteddfods for solos, duos and groups as well as a wide variety of performances for most of her life. She has also completed all of her CSTD Dance Exams and is very happy to be involved in the performing arts industry again.

Aliyah Gavarin

Aliyah is our current Sales Assistant and Receptionist. She has been working on our Reception for over a year and loves it. Aliyah has always had a passion for dancing and enjoys helping people out, so the job is very fitting. Aliyah has attended JAM Performing Arts since it opened in 2007 and has competed at numerous eisteddfods with the team and completed several exam levels in all genres. Her favourite genres are Jazz and Hip Hop, having the love for the energising styles since an early age. Aliyah is ecstatic to have the opportunity to combine her two favourite hobbies and hopes to see your smiling faces at Reception soon!