Teaching Staff
Miss Carina – Principal
Owner, principal, and the heart and soul of our dance community, Miss Carina is a passionate, highly qualified instructor. She holds qualifications as a L.G.T.D.A. Tap Teacher, an Accredited Zumba Instructor, and is a proud member of Australian Teachers of Dancing. She is also an AASCF Accredited Level 1 & 2 coach, and Acrobatic Arts qualified in Acro and Aerial Hoop, ensuring she provides only the best training for all of our students.
Dancing since the age of 3, Miss Carina’s journey is a testament to the power of great mentorship and dedication. “I’m forever grateful to the teachers who helped me grow my skills and deepen my love for dance. They inspired me to become the teacher I am today, and I strive to pass that same inspiration and knowledge to my own students.”
With years of experience across multiple dance styles—including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Funk, and Hip Hop—Miss Carina’s career has taken her to exciting places. She’s performed at local festivals, starred in large productions like Starstruck and Sydney Spectacular, cheered for sports clubs, and even participated in the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games. Her resume includes TV appearances, promotional work, and dance features, including being a featured dancer for Oral B in 2010 and a choreographer and performer for The Years in 2013.
After teaching at other studios and gaining invaluable experience, Miss Carina opened her own studio (18 years ago!) with a clear vision: to create a nurturing, encouraging space where every student can grow with confidence.
Miss Carina is always continuing her education through workshops, seminars, and new certifications to ensure our dancers get the highest level of training.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of the BDS family—past and present. We are a place where talent is nurtured, dreams are realized, and dance is celebrated. We can’t wait to showcase the incredible progress of our students and continue this beautiful journey together!
Mr Lewis – Studio Administrator
Lewis has been immersed in the world of dance since he was just 4 years old, bringing with him a wealth of experience honed through various studios and training. Specialising in the LGTDA Tap Syllabus, his passion for dance has taken him to numerous festivals, where he’s not only performed but earned recognition as a featured ballroom duet performer. After joining Beats Dance Studio at the age of 18, Lewis has spent the past 14 years expanding his knowledge and skill set, growing alongside the studio and becoming an integral part of our dance family.
As we move into 2025, Lewis will be shifting his focus away from teaching on the timetable to take a more hands-on approach in managing the studio. Working closely with Miss Carina, he’ll be playing a key role in evolving, innovating, and expanding the studio’s offerings behind the scenes.
In addition to his administrative and managerial roles, Lewis will continue working closely with our DanceStep assistant teaching program, mentoring and guiding the next generation of teachers, and sharing his years of experience. He also plays a pivotal role in our performance teams, coordinating and organising the program to ensure our students shine on stage.
Known for his excellent communication skills, Lewis keeps our families in the loop with regular updates, newsletters, and timely responses to queries. He’s the friendly voice behind our emails and phones, always ready to assist and support our wonderful dance community.
Miss Nikita – Dance Teacher
Nikita has been dancing since the age of 3. Trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Hip-hop and gymnastics. Miss Nikita achieved advanced tap in B.A.L 2016, elementary ballet B.A.L in 2015. Intermediate Level ballet R.A.D and has competed internationally for gymnastics. She had been dancing in Sydney Brent St, recently returning back to Newcastle we met Miss Nikita who danced in our Senior group last year. Miss Nikita creates wonderful relationships with students and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and creativity with BDS.
Miss Emma – Dance Teacher
With a deep passion for both education and dance, Miss Emma is committed to helping students grow and thrive.
Miss Emmas joy comes from watching student development throughout the year, while creating an environment that encourages self-expression, creativity, and fun.
Miss Emma believes in building self-confidence, fostering friendships, and teaching essential life skills through the power of dance.
As our resident tapper, Miss Emma brings her extensive knowledge of the LGTDA tap syllabus to each class, inspiring her students to reach new heights. Whether it’s their first tap step or a new challenge, Miss Emma’s students love her enthusiasm, guidance, and support. For her, teaching isn’t just a job—it’s a privilege to be part of each student’s journey.
Miss Hayley – Dance Teacher
With a passion for dance that spans many years, Hayley has truly embraced the transformative power of movement. As the head instructor for Ready Set Dance, Acro, and Ballet, she leads our talented team with dedication, expertise, and an unwavering love for the art form. But Hayley’s commitment to personal growth doesn’t stop there—she’s continually expanding her knowledge by exploring Tap and advanced Lyra/Silks to enhance her already impressive skill set.
Currently studying a Bachelor of Teaching, Miss Hayley is deepening her understanding of pedagogy, ensuring she’s equipped to nurture and guide students of all ages. You might recognize her from our concerts, where she shines as a performer, captivating audiences with her grace and talent. Whether she’s teaching or on stage, Hayley forms genuine, lasting bonds with her students, creating an environment where they feel seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.
Hayley’s commitment to lifelong learning is evident in her ongoing education—she’s attending seminars, workshops, and upskilling opportunities, particularly in the area of preschool dance. This dedication has made her a favorite among our Ready Set families, who appreciate her nurturing nature and the way she connects with our youngest dancers, ages 2 to 5. Miss Hayley’s heart for teaching and her boundless energy make her a truly cherished part of our community.
Miss Rochelle – Dance Teacher
Miss Rochelle is a highly qualified and passionate teacher who has completed Full-Time training at Lee Academy. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Dance (Elite Performance), a Diploma in Dance (Acro & Aerial), along with Cert IV qualifications in Dance, Arts Administration, and Dance Teaching & Management.
With years of experience teaching dance, technique, and circus programs to students of all ages—from preschoolers to seniors—Miss Rochelle is known for her bubbly personality, dedication, and love for teaching.
For Miss Rochelle, the most rewarding part of teaching is watching her students learn, grow, and achieve their goals. She is truly invested in helping each student unlock their full potential! 
Miss Rochelle teaches a variety of styles and age levels at BDS, a particular highlight for us at BDS is her incredible work with our Aerial students. With a keen interest in aerial arts, she’s truly a standout in this area, helping students reach new heights—literally!
Miss Ebony – Dance Teacher
Miss Ebony is a highly qualified and dedicated teacher with a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Level 1 Cheer coaching credentials. Her love for dance and cheer began at just 3 years old, and over the past 16 years, she has trained in a wide variety of styles, including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Acrobatics, Tumbling, and Cheerleading. With such a diverse background, Miss Ebony brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her teaching.
As a teacher, Miss Ebony’s focus is on inspiring and guiding her students, helping them develop not just as dancers, but as individuals. Over the past few years, she’s made a lasting impact on countless students, supporting them through every step of their dance and cheer journey.
Her passion for dance, combined with her nurturing approach and dedication, makes her a standout teacher here at BDS. We’re so lucky to have Miss Ebony guiding our students to reach new heights in both their technique and self-confidence.
Miss Amity – Dance Teacher
We are beyond excited to introduce a fantastic new addition to our team in 2025—please join us in welcoming Miss Amity!
A dancer since the age of 6, Amity brings a wealth of experience across a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, cheer, hip hop, and tap. She also spent three incredible years performing and cheering with the Newcastle Northstars, showcasing her talent and dedication to the stage. When she’s not dancing, you’ll find her making a difference in the community as a Community Care Coordinator, where she supports the elderly with care and compassion.
Having danced in our adult advanced program for several years, Miss Amity has honed her skills across multiple disciplines, and we’re thrilled to now see her in full teaching mode after graduating from the DanceStep Assistant Teaching program with exceptional results. Her passion for dance and teaching shines through, especially in the special connections she built with her students during her time as an assistant teacher, particularly at our Maryland location.
We can’t wait to see what Miss Amity will bring to her students this year as she continues to inspire, nurture, and share her love of dance with all. Welcome to the team, Miss Amity—we’re so excited to have you!
