KATE EVANS
DIRECTOR
Kate commenced her training at the age of 2 and danced throughout her entire childhood under the training of Maria Shanks. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre. Kate completed all examinations in classical ballet with the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and in all genres with Comdance including Jazz, Tap, Theatrical and Ballet.
Following this she trained full time at Brent Street Studios (Sydney) and completed her Certificate IV in Performing Arts.
After graduating from high school Kate was accepted into BA Medicine at University of NSW however deferred, and accepted the position at Brent Street Studios. Kate recommenced her BA Medicine however transferred her focus into a Bachelor of Psychology after 2 years, completing and attaining the BA in Psychology at the Queensland University of Technology.
Kate has had a professional career and gone on to share her love of the performing arts and acrobatics/aerial through teaching students, professionals, certifying teachers, examining and adjudicating, at a range of locations both locally and globally. Kate has always had a passion and love for teaching and commenced teaching in her early teens. Whilst completing her Bachelor of Psychology Kate also attained dance teaching qualifications including Comdance Modern Jazz Teachers Diploma, Comdance Tap Teachers Diploma, Comdance Classical Ballet Teachers Diploma and Comdance Theatrical Teachers Diploma. Kate also attained her Certificate in Ballet Teaching with the Royal Academy of Dance and is currently a registered teacher for the RAD.
Kate now runs and manages her own Performing Arts and Acro and Aerial studio in QLD, Beats Per Minute Performing Arts, and Beats Per Minute Acro and Aerial. With over 22 years teaching experience Kate has trained students from the age of 2 years to Professional in all areas of dance, acrobatics, aerial and singing with many of her former students dancing and teaching professionally around the world in musicals, movies and cruise ships. Alongside managing a business Kate is the mother of two young children, Mia and Toby who have both danced since 18 months.
Kate is Module 1, 2 and 3 certified with Acrobatic Arts, AcroDance Certified Competition Adjudicator, Acrobatic Arts Certified Examiner, AcroDance Pre-School Certified. Kate is currently a Course Conductor and Examiner for Acrobatic Arts, and manages the Australia, New Zealand, and Asian divisions of Acrobatic Arts Examinations faculty. Kate is also a Course Conductor for Aerial Arts.
Kate also hold qualifications in Progressing Ballet Technique (Level1), Aerial Arts Hammock and Hoop certified teacher, and a Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Ballet licensee.
Kate is Alixa Flexibility Certified Module 1, 2 and 3 and was honoured to join the team as a Course Conductor with Alixa in 2020, delivering teacher certification courses to teachers globally. Kate has a passion for the biomechanics of dance/acro/aerial and endorsing safe and progressive dance/acro/aerial training.
JEMMA HARRIS
TEACHER
Miss Jemma has a wide range of experience both professional and in teaching, she has previously spent time travelling the world working for Royal Caribbean gaining valuable industry and life experiences. She completed two professional contracts with Royal Caribbean the first on Liberty of the seas performing in “Saturday Night Fever” the musical and “In The Air”, the second on Quantum of the Seas in “Sequins and Feathers” and “Sonic Odyssey”. This wide range of performance experience is a further asset to Jemma and her existing qualifications.
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Jemma started dancing at the age of 3, she completed all of her RAD and CSTD exams gaining distinction for both Advanced 2 RAD and Grade 8 Award, she also completed her Modern Jazz Shield, Theatrical Shield and Gold Cross tapping exams with Honours Plus. Furthermore during her training with Beats Per Minute Performing Arts, Jemma was awarded a Broadway Dance Centre scholarship, SCDE Most Outstanding Performer, Most Outstanding Classical Soloist and the SCDE Scholarship.
At the completion of her training Jemma was offered scholarships to a range of full time schools including Brent Street, however she was offered her first contract only two weeks after turning 18! Jemma has also gained her CSTD Theatrical teachers certificate, Tap teachers certificate, her CSTD New Modern Jazz teachers Diploma as well as her Acrobatic Arts M1 and M2. Alongside teaching Jemma has also choreographed for charity events and performed at commercial events. Jemma’s passion lies within teaching dance and believes BPM truly offers a valuable experience like no other.
TINA WAREHAM
TEACHER
Miss Tina began her training at this very studio at the age of 13 and has been teaching at BPM for over 20 years! Whilst training here she completed all of her RAD ballet exams including the Grade 8 Award and her Modern Jazz exams up to and including The Jazz Award.
Miss Tina also holds a range of qualifications through the CSTD including her Teachers Certificate in Classical Ballet, Full Teacher's Diploma Theatrical (incorporating ballet, tap and jazz) and her Full Teacher's Diploma in Tapping.
Miss Tina has a wealth of experience teaching all genres and age groups, however her specialty and focus is teaching our tiniest dancers! In 2018 Miss Tina underwent her training in the READY SET DANCE program and is passionate about sharing the love of dance with our precious little people!
BEC WILKIE
TEACHER
Bec Wilkie trained at Dance Theatre Network in Sydney from 5 years old and went on to become one of their senior teachers for a number of years. She continued her full time training at Brent Street completing her Certificate IV in Performing Arts.
She teaches all styles of dance and specialises in teaching the youngest of dancers. In 2018 she became a registered Ready Set Dance teacher and has thoroughly enjoyed teaching this pre school program over the last 2 years.
Bec is also an experienced Primary School teacher. She moved to the Sunshine Coast with her young family in 2019 and is enjoying being part of the Beats Per Minute team!
MEAGHAN WEGG
AERIAL COACH - PART TIME PROGRAM
Meaghan grew up dancing where she studied Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Acro. In 2001, Meaghan was accepted in to L’Ecole Nationale de Cirque in Montreal where she specialized in aerial hoop and contortion with additional training in Ballet, Contemporary and Modern. Upon graduation in 2005, Meaghan performed professionally as a principal dancer in many roles, including the cast of ‘Tomorrow’ (Pigeons, International) and the cast of ‘Loft’ (7 Fingers). From 2009 – 2012, Meaghan performed on tour globally with Cirque Du Soleil’s ‘Quidam’ as a feature aerialist.
Following an extremely successful performance career, Meaghan shifted her focus to coaching and choreography. In 2013 Meaghan graduated with a diploma from L’Ecole Nationale de Cirque (Montreal, Canada) with a major in Research of Acrobatics, and a minor in Hand to Hand partnering for dancers.
Currently she works as a private acrobatic coach and choreographer, and attracts students from around the world with a focus on career development, choreography and professional stage preparation. Meaghan founded Move With The Beat dance competitions in 2013. She is the Australia, New Zealand and Singapore Division manager for Acrobatic Arts since 2015. Most recently she has launched her Aerial Arts Online syllabus guiding teachers with her course for their students and class preparations. Meaghan started The Academy Circus as a local London, Ontario circus and acrobatic facility in 2017.
Meaghan recently has been hired for global choreographic projects in Australia, Montreal, France, China and India creating large scale shows for special events, Casino shows and year end performance university shows. She is passionate about welcoming everyone into the performance industry while sharing tips and tools about making it a reality. She is now an on call Artistic Coach with Cirque du Soleil. Meaghan is very happy to be settled in her home town of London Ontario with her small family!