ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR - VANESSA PAPILLO
Vanessa's childhood years was filled with dancing, singing, acting and piano lessons. She loved the performing arts and appeared in numerous productions, competed at countless dance competitions, and was awarded prestigious awards and prizes for her piano, dancing and singing abilities.
By the time Vanessa finished school, she was awarded a part scholarship at a full-time dance institution and began teaching in the evenings where her passion for teaching began to grow.
She furthered her dance training in America where she took classes in Los Angeles at Millennium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynolds, as well as in New York at the famous New York Dance Centre.
Vanessa appeared in the stage show 'Countdown Spectacular' at Rod Laver Arena, performed as a back up dancer for Australian music artists and music video clips, and performed at many corporate shows and gigs. Vanessa also choreographed a promo shoot for an Australian dance wear label, and appeared as a dancer in a Bollywood Movie 'Orange'.
In 2006, Vanessa opened the doors to Dance Machine as her love for teaching became evident. Since then, Dance Machine has grown to become a very successful dance studio in Victoria winning countless awards and prizes at various dance competitions around Victoria.
In 2020, Vanessa co-founded 'ONE', a dance and performing arts event held in Melbourne to raise money and awareness for the Australian Bushfires raising over $13,000.
Vanessa is a passionate dance teacher with a love for creating new and innovative choreography. Her greatest achievement is creating strong, technical dancers who have gone on to work professionally in the dance and performing arts industry.
Meet The Team
Vanessa Papillo
Director of Dance Machine
Co-founder of 'ONE' - Charity based Performing Arts Show
Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management
ATOD Affiliate Member
Lisa Howell's Dance Teacher Training - L1
CREDITS
Rod Laver Arena - 'Countdown Spectacular' Stage Show
Backup dancer for numerous Australian artists & music clips
Ben Scarmozzino
Diploma in Dance (Elite Performance)
Cert IV Dance Teaching & Management
CREDITS:
'Bring It On The Musical'
AFL Grand Final 2019 - Tones & I
Australian Open 2019 - Guy Sebastian
Laura Kinross
R.A.D Solo Seal
Trained at English National Ballet School
CREDITS:
Soloist for English National Ballet Company
Founder of 'GET FIT DANCE'
Georgia Atherton
Scholarship at Ministry Full Time Course
Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance)
Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management
CREDITS
AFL Grand Final 2019 - Tones & I
Kallee Richardson
Scholarship at Ministry Full Time Course
Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance)
Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management
SCIMM Dance Company
CREDITS
Dirty Dancing On Stage 2019
Logies 2019
AFL Grand Final show 2019
AFL Grand Final - Tones & I
Melissa Pham
Brent Street: Diploma of Dance
Marko Panzic's Show Business Course
SCIMM Dance Company
CREDITS
Live Show - George Maple
Music Videos: Georgia Alice, Kite String Tangle, Tash Sultana, Sannia
Steve Ashford
Senior International Elite Gymnast
Advanced Men's Gymnastics Coach Qualification
20 years plus training
10 years plus teaching
Specialist Acro & Conditioning coach
Courtney Livock
Diploma of Dance
2015 Full Scholarship - Ministry
Marko Panzic's Show Business Course
BOSS Dance Company
CREDITS
2019 Donnie Dimasse's Production - "Cheap Luxuries & Expired Dreams'
Boss Shows - Alpha & Conquest
Arna Singleton's Production - 'Seeing Red'
Jason Coleman's Productions of 'Rhythm of Life' & 'Humanimals'
Jayden Watson
CSTD Tap Qualifications
ComDance Tap Teacher
Acrobatic Arts L1 Certificate
CREDITS
Tap Forge Project
Finals - Grounded Adult Division
Tap performer for Smith Productions
Deanne Francisco
Hip Hop Specialist
K-Star Trained
K-star teacher/crew choreographer
Winner of GROUNDED 2019 Adults Division
Megan Reid
VCASS - Cert II in Dance
Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts- Ballet Major (WAAPA)
Bachelor of Health & Science
Masters of Physiotheraphy Practice
Andrea Houchen
Directed & Founded Toepaz Dance & Performing Arts Studio (2004 - 2014)
Diploma Dance Teaching & Management
20 plus teaching years experience
Early years childhood dance specialist.
Recreational Dance Administrator.
Dance Photographer