Meet the Faculty
Kazunori 'KAZ' Kumagai
Intermediate / Advanced Tap Residency
'Kaz' is a 'True Tap Artist' (New York Times), who is always searching his expression through the sounds and the rhythm. At age 19, Kaz came to NY and trained in the the New York Shakespeare Festival Institute of tap 'Funk University' the training workshop for the big hit Broadway musical Bring in da' Noise, Bring in 'da Funk. Since then he has been performing and teaching all over the world. He is the recipient of numerous awards such as the 2016 Bessie Award 'Outstanding Performer,' 2014 Flo-Bert Award, and 2006 Dance Magazine '25 to Watch.' And in 2019, News Week Japan selected him as one of the '100 Most influential Japanese People in the World.' In 2008, he opened his first tap dance studio—KAZ TAP STUDIO—in Japan and has been trying to pass his knowledge and passion to next generation. Kaz recently appeared as a solo performer for the Tokyo Olympic 2020 Opening ceremony and he also choreographed and composed two songs for the ceremony.
Thomas Egan
Intermediate / Advanced Tap Residency
Thomas is an Australian tap dancer, choreographer, educator, and creative. He is known for his ambitious tap dance productions and is sought out as a soloist performer. Thomas is a co-creator of "The Tap Pack," a production that has toured prestigious venues around the world, including the USA, The West End, The Sydney Opera House, Beijing, and Berlin. He has performed and choreographed in live events all around the world and additionally founded The Australian Tap Dance Company back home in Australia. Thomas has a truly diverse resume as a performer working with the likes of Tap Dogs, Fame The Musical, The Great Gatsby, Singing In The Rain, Kylie Minogue, X-Factor, and Australia’s Got Talent.
Tracey Wilson
Tap
Tracey Wilson is arguably Sydney’s longest running open class tap dance teacher having been on the Sydney Dance Company faculty for over 20 years attracting a loyal following of students. Tracey has extensive tap training studying with tap greats such as; Germaine Salsberg, Randy Skinner, Honi Coles, Brenda Bufalino, Gregory Hines, Bettye Morrow, Jerry Ames and Will Gaines. Tracey describes her teaching style as Broadway rhythm tap - a blend of traditional Broadway with the rhythmic and syncopated style of the 'hoofers' from the 1920's and 30's Cotton Club era. Tracey Wilson’s musical theatre credits include: Billy Elliot the Musical at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney; In London’s West End she performed in FOLLIES, GIGI, The Ones That Got Away and Players Theatre – The Bills; UK performances include Songs of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Guys and Dolls, Tutti Frutti and TILLY – the Musical. Tracey's television appearances in the UK and Australia include Doctor Who, Happy Birthday Shakespeare, The Bill, Top of the Pops, Children’s Royal Variety Performance, BAFTA Awards, TODAY show and Bert Newton’s Good Morning Australia. For the film, Stepping Out, Tracey dubbed the tap sounds for Liza Minnelli and Julie Walters, as choreographed by Danny Daniels.
Ben Read
Tap
Ben is a tap dancer, choreographer, and teacher. He studied under the tutelage of the Late Les Griffith in Newcastle and was the recipient of the inaugural 'Future Fred Astaire' award in Miami in 1987. As an original cast member of the all-male stage production TAP DOGS, he toured the globe including engagements in Sydney, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and Madrid. He originated the role of 'the Kid' in 1995, touring Australia and the UK, followed by a 17-city tour of North American culminating with a 6-month engagement at the Union Square Theatre in New York City. Ben led the first European tour in the role of 'the Foreman' during which time he was invited to perform at the opening of 'Paris Fashion Week' for Lacoste. Other personal highlights include performing for 'The Prince's Trust' at Royal Albert Hall in London, the 'Sydney 2000 Olympics Opening Ceremony', and performing with Stevie Wonder at the 'Quincy Jones 50th Anniversary Special' in Los Angeles. Ben has conducted international Tap Dance workshops across Europe including France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Finland. In Australia Ben has been a faculty member of the 'Melbourne International Tap Festival', the 'Australian Tap Dance Festival', the 'Sydney Tap Dance Festival', and was the founding director of 'Tempo Red Performing Arts' on Sydney's Northern Beaches. He is the holder of a bachelor's degree in the Arts and obtained a qualification in Law which led to 10 years legal practice advocating and providing artists and businesses with contract and intellectual property advice. Ben is passionate about educating, instructing, and mentoring students in their pursuit of excellence in tap dance and is driven to evolve and develop his own skills through engaging and working with others who share this passion. • Ensemble member of the Australian touring production of the Broadway Musical '42nd Street'. • Ensemble member of the Australian touring production of the West End Musical 'Me and My Girl. • Original Cast of TAP DOGS. • Scores of corporate and television performances including the 'NRL Centenary Ball', opening of the Brisbane Exhibition Centre, the New York Fashion Café Opening, the San Francisco 49ers' '50th Anniversary Celebration', Macy's 4' of July Fireworks, the Jay Leno 'Tonight Show' (x3), Parliament House 20th Anniversary, and two guest appearances on 'So You Think You Can Dance' (Australia).
Evita Arce
Solo Jazz
Evita Arce, an internationally renowned Lindy Hop dancer and teacher, began her jazz journey in Austin, Texas (1998). Favorite career highlights include dancing Lindy Hop on "So You Think You Can Dance" (2007), performing with Wynton Marsalis in "Let Freedom Swing" with Jazz at Lincoln Center at the Kennedy Center (2009), touring in "SWING!" the broadway musical (2008-2009), and a small official broadway debut with Caleb Teicher and Regina Spektor at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater (2019). Evita was also featured in the Swing documentary "Alive and Kicking" (2016) which follows her path in the international Lindy Hop community. Co-directing with Michael Jagger, Syncopated City, debuted as the first Lindy Hop dance company to present at Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Stage (2012-2013). Evita danced for Caleb Teicher & Company (2017-2020), having performed in "Meet Ella" and "More Forever". Over the course of the pandemic she continued to teach Lindy Hop, Charleston and solo Jazz dance online at syncopatedcity.com. Evita also taught at Dance Manhattan for 10 years where she landed weekly in between her international teaching gigs. Most recently Evita was a co-creator for the show "SW!NG OUT" at the Joyce Theatre in NYC which she will perform in again this December 2025.
Genki Matsuyama
House Dance
I have been exploring the language of movement through House Dance, Contemporary Dance, and Contact Improvisation. For me, dancing is an act of moving — and I find inspiration in everyday gestures such as walking or seeing. By sensing the relationships between the body, the environment, and others, I continue to explore how dance can connect us with society and the world around us.
Lucky Lartey
West African Dance
Lucky Lartey founded Lucky African Dance in 2012 to share his love for African performance arts and culture with Australia. Lucky uses his unique position as a performing artist and cultural performer to create experiences that transform and inspire audiences, teams and students across Australia. As one of Australia’s most dynamic West African performers, Lucky is well known for his high energy contemporary dance style and his super high split jumps. Lucky is an accomplished and experienced African dancer both in Ghana and Australia and has more than 18 years of training and experience in Traditional African dance and Afro Contemporary. Lucky’s performance repertoire includes choreography from Traditional African, Gumboot dance, and Afro-Contemporary dance. Lucky’s knowledge of dance includes dance routines from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, South Africa and other parts of Africa. Lucky is also at the forefront of intercultural and fusion choreography in Australia seen in his original choreographies and work with the Jamestown Collective – Jamestown! And INFUSION No Movement No Sound. Lucky teaches and performs around Sydney and Australia and has taught people of all ages and abilities to dance with feeling and connect to the beauty and spirit of African dance. Lucky’s vision is to perform, teach and choreograph African traditional and contemporary African dance in Australia and to bring people together to create understanding across all cultures by sharing the beauty and natural power of African music and dance.
Peta Anderson
Tap
Peta is one of Australia’s leading Tap dancers and is taking the world by storm by combining her knowledge in both Irish and Tap dance styles to create unique rhythms found within her love of both percussive forms of dance. Peta started dancing at the age of 3 in Sydney, where she attended the Mcdonald college of the arts. After finishing high school she went on to complete a diploma in performing arts at "Dance world studios" Melbourne. Peta went on to tour with "The Rhythms of Ireland" around Australia and New Zealand straight after finishing her diploma which led her to performing with "Dance of Desire" in China. Peta then appeared on Ireland’s "RTE" TV program "Dance off" where she was chosen to perform as principal dancer and played the part of "Aisling" in the show "Noctu", which then went on to perform in New York on Broadway, gaining 2 drama desk award nominations. Peta then went on to perform in Riverdance between 2011 and 2015, travelling all over the world including Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Europe, UK and China, as part of their 20th anniversary tours. Whilst being a part of Riverdance she also starred in their brand new production "Heartbeat of Home" as part of the original cast performing in Ireland, China and Canada. Peta was also a part of an arena tour of the UK performing in Ant & Dec's "Saturday night takeaway on tour" dancing with the likes of Blue, Ashley Roberts, Peter Andre, and Westlife. When Peta returned to Sydney she was cast in the role of "Lola" in the Kermond creative production of "Spiegle’esque" which has been performed all around Australia. Peta now resides in Sydney where she is choreographing/producing and starring in a brand new show called "Eireborne" which tributes everything Ireland has brought to the world in both music and dance. "Eireborne" has just finished its second tour with great success and has had numerous sold out shows, with the future looking very bright, Peta is so honoured that the first show she has helped create is about to become international as "Eireborne" will perform a residency in both Zurich, Switzerland and Hamburg, Germany later in 2019. Peta also performed on "The Voice" as the featured drummer for James Arthur as well as his film clip for his hit song "You deserve better", and as a featured singer behind "Conrad Sewell". Peta has a growing reputation as a choreographer and recently choreographed the 2018 "Bulgari" launch in Sydney and is now on board to choreograph a brand new show featuring "The drummer Queens" directed and created by both Nigel Turner-Carroll and Joe Accaria. Peta is recognised worldwide as a "Capezio" athlete and was named in the top 30 most inspirational athletes of 2017 to recognise 130 years of the "Capezio" brand, she was excited to be the face of the new campaign releasing the "Tapsonic" shoe as her style of fusing both tap and Irish dancing together represented the shoe perfectly. In 2018 she also became an ambassador for "O’mara sprung floors" which is based in Michigan, USA. Most recently Peta was on the faculty of the "Australian Tap festival" and the "London Tap intensive" in 2018 and in early 2019 she was on faculty at the "UK tap festival" in Manchester.
Sally Dashwood
Tap
Sally Dashwood is a choreographer, performer, director of Australian tap dance company Girls On Tap, stupidly proud mum of Ivy and Sia and co-director of Well Done Creative alongside her husband Tim. Sally's recent choreography includes Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Godspell for Hayes Theatre Co., Sydney Theatre Company's Hubris and Humiliation, Sydney Theatre Award winning The Deb at ATYP (Best Production for Young People and a nomination for Best Choreography), Neglected Musical's Brigadoon, The Things I Could Never Tell Steven and Zombie Thoughts at NTofP, School of Rock at Qudos Bank Arena and episode 7 of Celeste Barber's new series Wellmania. In 2019, Sally took Girls On Tap to Rave Theater Festival in NYC where she won the award for 'Best Choreography'. The 'femme fatales of tap, rhythm and song' are responsible for the fastest selling show at Glen Street Theatre and have recently performed an acclaimed tour of NSW produced by Well Done Creative and Kym Halpin. Sally's work in the Australian entertainment industry has been recognised in Light The Way: Inspiring Stories from Australian Dancers. Sally was Revival Director of Opera Australia's Two Weddings, One Bride, Associate Director/Choreographer of Darlinghurst Theatre Co.'s A Chorus Line, Assistant Director of La Boheme on Sydney Harbour, Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain of Carmen on Sydney Harbour and Rehearsal Choreographer of Opera Australia's Il Turco in Italia and Lucia di Lammermoor. Other creative credits include Assistant Choreographer on The Masked Singer, Assistant to the Creative Directors on The X Factor, Assistant Choreographer/Dance Captain of OzPanto's Snow White and Aladdin and his Wondrous Lamp. Sally's performing credits include Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Olivia Newtown-John, Delta Goodrem, Timomatic, Meghan Trainer, Top 20 of So You Think You Can Dance, Untapped! on Broadway and Adelaide Fringe Festival, ensemble/understudy Lambchops in Fame the Musical, ensemble/Phyllis in Mack and Mabel at Hayes Theatre Co., Candy Man, Junkyard Beats, motion capture cast member of Happy Feet 2 and featured dancer in Aussie movie musical Goddess
Tania Gould
Body Percussion
Recognized as a percussive powerhouse, Tania Gould brings energy, style and years of experience to the table. As the Sydney Manager for Junkyard Beats, Tania has travelled and performed Body Percussion around the world. Some countries include China, Dubai, Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Australia’s very own Adelaide Fringe Festival. Tania also performed and co-choreographed routines for the Australia Day Live Show at the Sydney Opera House alongside Sheppard in 2025. Her love for rhythm and percussion is rooted in her passion for tap. Tania has had the honour of teaching at major events such as the Australian Tap Dance Festival, Sydney Tap Dance Festival, Queensland Tap Dance Festival, and the Australian Dance Festival. In addition, Tania examines and represents Tap Mode; A breath of new life into Tap Dance Education for Studios. When she is not teaching or performing with Junkyard Beats, Tania is working on her Tap Project, Two Soles with co-director and best friend Aaron Noble. Tania is dedicated to inspire others and allow them to discover and embrace the joy of this magnificent art form!
Here For Tap
Tap
Reid: Reid began his dance training at Tap Pups under Dein Perry as a young child. His early years were filled with performance opportunities including the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Eve Party at the Sydney Opera House, The Footy Show, Luna Park re-opening and the World Masters Games Opening Ceremony. Reid graduated from Ed5 International with an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts and since has had many opportunities to perform in tap groups such as Those Tap Guys and The Australian Tap Dance Company. Reid was delighted to make his Tap Dogs debut in 2016 and has performed corporates for them all across Australia. Reid has also performed in the Tap Dogs 2018/19 World Tour where he performed in South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, United States and London’s West End. Reid choreographed and directed ‘Here For Tap’ which was selected as a Finalist at the Inspired Dance Film Festival in 2022. Julian: After returning from touring Australia and Germany with The Tap Pack, Julian joined the cast of 'Jazz! The Cabaret' performing at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. He went on to play the role of the King’s Herald in Opera Australia’s production of Cinderella and featured on TV in the latest Aus Seniors campaign. Julian is a member of the Australian Tap Dance Company and has worked as a Tap Dancer in two seasons of the show Mickey's Christmas Big Band in Disneyland Paris. He appeared as a Tap Dancer in the ABC TV series Wakefield and has taken to the stage in the ATYP and Bittersweet Productions play 'Basset' playing the role of Spencer. Along with performing at multiple corporate functions, he has had the pleasure of teaching at festivals and dance studios across the state. In addition, Julian is a founding member of the Tap company Here For Tap and is thrilled to be joining the faculty of the inaugural Bondi Tap Festival. Josh: Josh began tap dancing at the young age of 4, in his home town of Christchurch, New Zealand. He moved to Sydney in 2016 where he received his Certificate IV in Performing Arts, after a year of full-time dance training at the Village Performing Arts, under the direction of Jacqui Howard and Wayne Aspinall. Josh has since performed professionally around Australia, New Zealand, USA, China and France, where he was an original cast member of ‘Mickey’s Christmas Big Band’ at Disneyland Paris, choreographed by Christopher Horsey. He has also worked on corporate gigs for Honda, Nike and Amazon Prime, as well as performing in A-Live Entertainment’s ‘Machismo’ and Kermond Creative’s ‘Waiters On Tap’. Josh also teaches and choreographs for some of Australia’s most reputable dance studios and full-time courses, and is a regular faculty member at the Sydney Tap Festival. He recently founded ‘Here For Tap’ - alongside Reid Perry and Julian Bonser, a tap dancing collective based in Sydney.
More faculty will be announced over the coming weeks, join the mailing list to get announcements in your inbox!