Meet the Faculty
Mark Mendonca
Tap Residency
Mark Mendonca’s extensive career as a performer and choreographer includes performances for three U.S. Presidents, as well as performances on Broadway, television, and concert stages around the world. Mark’s dancing was motion captured for the animated feature film, “The Polar Express”, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks. Mark was chosen to perform the solo opening sequence for Barbra Streisand’s “Timeless” concert tour with performances at Madison Square Garden in New York and the Staples Center in Los Angeles. On Broadway, Mark danced in the Tony Award winning production of “Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk”, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Davies Symphony Hall, the Biennale de la Danse, the Joyce Theater, Jacobs Pillow, The Tiger Palast in Frankfurt, Germany and the ApolloTheater, among many others. He has had the honor of sharing the stage with the late tap masters the Nicholas Brothers, Jimmy Slyde, Charles ‘Honi’ Coles, Eddie Brown, Steve Condos, Chuck Green, Bunny Briggs, Jeni LeGon, Lon Chaney Buster Brown, Arthur Duncan, and Lavaughn Robinson and has made numerous appearances with friend and mentor Gregory Hines, appearing with him in “A Gala for the President at Ford’s Theatre”, and in “The Kennedy Center Honors,” both televised on ABC. Mark’s dancing was featured in the Emmy Award nominated documentary, “Juba: The Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance,” aired on PBS, and in “The Summit of the Americas,” which aired in Canada. Mark worked with Lynn Dally’s Jazz Tap Ensemble and went on to form his own company, The Steps Ahead Tap Trio, which toured both nationally and internationally. As an educator, Mark has taught and performed at dance festivals across the US including the Colorado Dance Festival, Florida Dance Festival as well as festivals in Stockholm, Sweden, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, Boston, Portland, Anchorage, and Atlanta among others. He has been on the faculty at Loyola Marymount University and Santa Monica College, and has also taught classes at UCLA, Cal State LA, Cal State Long Beach, Los Angeles County High School of the Arts and Orange County High School of the Arts. Mark has also worked with director James Brooks, choreographer Twyla Tharp, composer Marvin Hamlisch and fellow tap dancers Bill Irwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Berkley, and Christopher Walken. Mark was the first person to receive a Princess Grace Foundation Award for tap dance and was the winner of the 1997 Lester Horton Dance Award for outstanding achievement in individual performance in Los Angeles. Mark has also received a Brody Art Fund Artists Fellowship. Currently, He is Co-Director of VAM Studios a multidisciplinary dance school for all ages based in Seattle, Washington. This season, with Artistic Director/Founder, Veronica Mendonca, Mr. Mendonca established Suitcase Dance Theater, a traveling troupe that brings theater to the most unexpected spaces. SDT’s mission is to foster community through accessible art, opening opportunities for all to engage with and be inspired by creative expression.
Peta Anderson
Tap Residency
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.
Ben Read
Tap
Ben Read has been tapping for 45 years, with a career spanning musical theatre, international performance, law, education and creative development. His early professional work included major musical theatre productions before he became an original cast member of Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs, touring extensively in Australia and internationally. He has performed around the world, conducted tap workshops internationally, and has been involved with a number of Australia’s major tap festivals. After stepping away from full-time performance, Ben completed postgraduate studies in law and spent more than a decade working as a commercial lawyer, including within the arts and entertainment sector. Tap has remained a constant throughout his life. Today, Ben’s work is focused on creating new pathways for the form through Rhythm With Purpose™, producing Tap Sessions, teaching and mentoring dancers, and developing new theatrical work. Ben is delighted to be returning to the Bondi Tap Festival for a second year and is very happy to once again be part of the festival.
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.
Lucky Lartey
Gumboot 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.
Megan Lipworth
Music Theory
Meg Lipworth is an award-winning and ARIA-nominated musician, conductor, educator, and percussionist, with a Bachelor of Music Studies (Percussion) from Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from Macquarie University. She has also begun a Master of Teaching. Meg won the Cliff Goodchild Scholarship for Conducting in 2020, and conducts school and community bands throughout Sydney, including two 60+-year-old ensembles with Lane Cove Community Bands and Bondi Brass, having had the baton passed to her by the late great Paul Goodchild himself. Meg strives to be a dynamic participant in the industry, and has recently been appointed to the Board of ASBOF (Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival). She has served on various committees, including ABODA NSW, and is a regular working as a conductor and instrumental tutor with premiere organisations including The Arts Unit (Department of Education) and Sydney Youth Orchestras (SYO). Meg is the front-person and founding member of indie-kindie band TIPTOE GIANTS, and has been a dynamic performer across music and dance throughout her life, including national and international accolades as a competitive Latin American dancer. Meg is a passionate advocate for accessible and inclusive instrumental music education and lifelong community arts experiences. She values opportunities to extend her work to the disability and music therapy communities whenever she can. Meg harnesses music’s profound magic to reach in and draw out the strongest possible senses of humanity, personality, wonderment, and belonging for her players and audiences alike.
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
Tap
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 around the world. Some countries include China, Dubai, Scotland for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Australia’s very own Adelaide Fringe Festival. In 2026, Tania performed across Australia with The Box Show. In addition, 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 inspiring others and allowing them to discover and embrace the joy of its magnificent art form!
Thomas Egan
Tap
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.
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 announcements coming soon.
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