Meet Our Team

Confident Kids Performing Arts School is incredibly proud to employ staff who work within our value system of encouraging students to become the best they can be, in a nurturing and fun environment.

Jennifer

Principal

Bachelor of Performing Arts
Graduate Diploma in Psychology
16th Street Acting Studio Full Time
Atlantic Theatre School, New York
Vocal Training - 15 years
Dance Training - 27 years
Dance Cirque Accreditation
First Aid Qualified
Ready Set Dance Accreditation

Jenny is highly experienced both in working with children and in the Performing Arts. She has a passion for providing our school’s students with a sense of belonging and inclusion, while teaching students the skills to become the best performers they can be.

She has worked with children for over 20 years, and more than 12 of these have been teaching drama, dance and singing. Jenny studied a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Monash University (Dance and Drama) as well as full-time study at 16th Street Acting Studio and Atlantic Theatre School in New York. She has vast experience both on stage and in screen acting. She has also been trained vocally by a number of industry professionals for over 15 years.

Jenny has also been a dancer for 27 years. She has studied at numerous venues across styles, including Classical Ballet, Jazz Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Acrobatics. She continues to work in the industry, gaining more skills as a represented actor, radio host, and presenter.

Jenny and our studio are proud members of the Southern Federation of Dance, the Acrobatic Dance Association, Dance Cirque, B Street Crew, Ready Set Dance, and the DanceStep Student Teacher Training Program.

Jessie

Director

Diploma of Financial Services
AMEB Music Exams
Vocal Teacher - 15 years
Qualified Zumba instructor
Co-founder of Groove 'n' Kids
Business Management - 20 years
First Aid Qualified
Ready Set Dance Accreditation

Jessie Asadur is a passionate performing arts educator with more than 15 years of teaching experience and over 25 years of performance experience across musical theatre, live entertainment, festivals, examinations, and community events. As a qualified singing teacher and vocal coach, Jessie specialises in helping students develop strong vocal technique, confidence, stage presence, and a genuine love of performance.

Throughout her career, Jessie has worked with students of all ages and abilities in private studios, schools, and performing arts programs. As Confident Kids’ Music Director, she mentors aspiring performers in singing, music, musical theatre, dance, and more. Her students regularly achieve outstanding examination results, secure lead roles in productions, and perform at concerts, competitions, and community events.

Jessie’s background extends beyond singing, with experience in music education, dance-based early learning programs, and musical theatre productions. Her warm, supportive teaching style encourages every student to grow in confidence, develop their skills, and shine both on and off the stage.

Lavina

Reception & Admin

Lavina has been with our school since the beginning as a parent of one of our beautiful students. She has now been part of our admin team for five years!

Over this time, Lavina has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, helping to guide and support our parents who are navigating being the parent of a performer.

Lavina is our reception/admin manager and is happy to help with all of your questions.

Lavina loves travelling and exploring new places with her family. She also loves a good joke and can chat for hours!

Anika

Head of Ready Set Dance

Anika has been passionate about becoming a dance teacher since 2018, when she joined the DanceStep Leadership Program.

In 2021, Anika stepped into an official role as an assistant teacher, and since then has stepped up to become a much-loved teacher. Anika is also a Certified Ready Set Dance Instructor.

She has been dancing with Confident Kids since 2013, training in Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Acting. Ballet has always been such a passion for her!

Anika has had several professional acting roles and is currently represented under Talent Generation Management!

She finds so much joy and passion in teaching young kids and helping them enjoy dance and find comfort in it just as she has. She hopes to be a part of creating a safe and happy environment for everyone at Confident Kids.

Anika continues to build her dancing and teaching skills with the support of her friends and teachers at Confident Kids.

Leanne

Dance Teacher

Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management
Diploma in Dance
Diploma in Elite Dance Performance
Checchetti Ballet, RAD, ABC and ATOD ballet exam syllabus
ATOD jazz exam syllabus
GWT tap exam syllabus
First Aid Qualified

Leanne has been dancing since the age of two and has been professionally dancing for the past four years. Leanne has competed all around Victoria and in other states of Australia, competing in all styles of dance from a young age.

She has since completed her examination in Cecchetti ballet, RAD ballet, ACB ballet, Australia Teaching of Dance (ATOD) jazz, and GWT tap. In 2021, Leanne completed her diploma of dance, and dance teaching and management, with Jason Coleman Ministry of Dance, where she trained in full time dancing for three years, completing her diploma of elite dance performance.

She has experience performing in many shows and gigs, performing for different companies and with many famous choreographers in Australia. Leanne has also had experience working in front of a camera, doing many dance films and has even been in a music video performing for Tones and I.

Leanne loves to share her drive and passion for dance with the students to help them achieve and grow as dancers.

Shannon

Dance Teacher

Shannon began her dance journey at the age of 2, now with 31 years of dance experience, 8 of those dancing professionally in many performances throughout Melbourne and even had the opportunity to travel and perform around Australia.

She has 16 years of dance teaching experience with all ages and experience levels and has studied many forms of dance, including Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Pointe, Commercial, and Hip Hop.

Shannon graduated from Kelly Aykers with a Diploma in Dance and has completed her ATOD Teaching Qualification and is also a Qualified Mat Pilates Trainer. Along with Shannon’s dance studies, she has exceptional knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as health and nutrition.

Shannon is very excited to be part of the Confident Kids family and is loving sharing her knowledge and love for dance with the students and watching them grow both as a dancer/performer and as a confident individual.

Farhard

Dance Teacher

Anika has been passionate about becoming a dance teacher since 2018, when she joined the DanceStep Leadership Program.

In 2021, Anika stepped into an official role as an assistant teacher, and since then has stepped up to become a much-loved teacher. Anika is also a Certified Ready Set Dance Instructor.

She has been dancing with Confident Kids since 2013, training in Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Acting. Ballet has always been such a passion for her!

Anika has had several professional acting roles and is currently represented under Talent Generation Management!

Anika continues to build her dancing and teaching skills with the support of her friends and teachers at Confident Kids.

Zack

Dance Teacher

Zack is a Melbourne based dancer, choreographer, and teacher with 12 years of experience. Originally from Hobart, Tasmania, he began self taught at 15 before moving to Melbourne to train full-time at Kelly Aykers. He further developed his training with Lionheart Dance Company under Benjamin Cure (1 year) and Ascendant Dance Company under Gina Michael (4 years), as well as programs including The Humxn Project and Good Boys Club (2025).

Zack’s professional work spans live entertainment, music videos, and commercial projects. He is currently part of FX Entertainment, performed at Industry Night at Dance Abyss (2025), and placed 3rd at Grounded (2025). He also works closely with choreographers and dancers across Melbourne, providing consultation and creating paid opportunities through his projects.

As a teacher, Zack works with students aged 5 to adults, specialising in Hip-Hop foundations including grooves, popping, waving, tutting, and house, alongside choreography that blends these styles. He also incorporates Contemporary training to support versatility, confidence, and performance quality.

Alicia

Music Teacher

Alicia started dancing at the age of 4. She has trained in nearly every style you can think of. If there was a class at the studio, she was there! Her dance journey led her to discover her love for music. Her first instrument was a recorder, which she got from primary school, and she only played Hot Cross Buns. Once she reached high school, that’s where her music started to get more serious. She started her violin and piano journey there. Alicia has experience with AMEB music exams, sitting them herself and having multiple students every year completing them with a 100 per cent rate.

Alicia has trained at Spectrum Dance Studios for 3 years, where she completed Certificate III in dance. While at full-time, she had some amazing opportunities, such as performing at the grand final players’ review. Alicia has worked for St Kilda FC, Geelong FC, Sydney Swans FC and the Melbourne Renegades, working with their mascots.

Alicia has also worked on TV shows such as season 1 of La Brea, Fires, Spreadsheet, and multiple commercials. She continues to work in the acting field and loves combining her love of performing arts and doing everything she loves.

Alicia is excited to be teaching at Confident Kids and believes that kids can achieve so much with positivity and an uplifting environment. Alicia would love to see the landscape of being a dancer change where every kid has an opportunity to shine without feeling left out.

Rowan

Music Teacher

Anika has been passionate about becoming a dance teacher since 2018, when she joined the DanceStep Leadership Program.

In 2021, Anika stepped into an official role as an assistant teacher, and since then has stepped up to become a much-loved teacher. Anika is also a Certified Ready Set Dance Instructor.

She has been dancing with Confident Kids since 2013, training in Classical Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Acting. Ballet has always been such a passion for her!

Anika has had several professional acting roles and is currently represented under Talent Generation Management!

Anika continues to build her dancing and teaching skills with the support of her friends and teachers at Confident Kids.

Assistant Teachers

We have a group of experienced assistant teachers employed across many classes, in particular those needing additional educational support.

DanceStep

Student Training Program

We are also proud to be an affiliate partner studio of the incredible DanceStep Training Program. This program takes six years to complete.

You will also notice our amazing DanceStep students who are studying to become student teachers in some of our classes.

These students are taking formal training and are invaluable in classes.

Not only do they support our teachers, but they are important role models for our younger students.

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