Our Team
MEET THE AVANTI TEACHING TEAM.
At Avanti Performing Arts, our teaching team is passionate about inspiring the next generation of performers.
We aim to create a supportive and encouraging environment where every student feels welcome, builds confidence and has the opportunity to grow.
With a shared love of dance and performing arts, our teachers are here to nurture each student's abilities, encourage them to challenge themselves and celebrate their achievements along the way.
Studio director
Shawna Bartlett
Performing arts has been a huge part of Shawna's life for as long as she can remember. Her Journey began at just four years old as a student with Urban Funk Dance, where she discovered a love that would go on to shape a huge part of her life. Over the years, that passion has grown into a career spanning teaching, performing, choreographing and directing.
Shawna has been teaching dance for six years, working with dancers across a range of ages, abilities and styles. Her teaching experience includes Contemporary, Jazz, Musical Theatre and HipHop, as well as preparing students for performances, competitions and other opportunities within the performing arts. She completed her VCE VET Dance in 2020 and has commenced her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management to further develop her skills and knowledge as an educator. Throughout her dance journey, Shawna has performed both recreationally, and competitively as a soloist, duo partner and troupe dancer. Shawna has also participated in various workshops with choreographers and industry professionals including Paul Malek, Jason Coleman, Nadia Tornese and Maxwell Trengove, The Artistic Director of the Victorian Dance Festival.
Alongside teaching, Shawna works in secondary education, supporting young people with a range of learning needs and abilities. She has also enjoyed opportunities to choreograph the Year 11 Formals and school productions at Bairnsdale Secondary College, sharing her love of performance with students beyond the dance studio.
Shawna has continued to develop her experience as a performer and creative through productions with Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company, including Beauty and the Beast, The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia! and Grease. Her creative roles have included Dance Captain for Mamma Mia! and Grease, choreographer for School of Rock in 2023, and in 2026, co-director and co-choreographer of & Juliet alongside Casey Davidge. This experience was particularly special, allowing her to work alongside a mentor and role model who has been an important part of her journey for 18 years.
These experiences have shaped Shawna into the teacher and mentor she is today. She believes performing arts is about much more than learning steps or perfecting technique. It's about building confidence, finding your voice, creating friendships and memories, and having a safe space where every student feels welcomed, encouraged and supported to be themselves. Through Avanti, Shawna is committed to nurturing a safe, inclusive and supportive community where dancers and performers of all ages and abilities can discover their passion, build confidence and find opportunities to grow.
Senior Teacher
Casey Davidge
Casey has trained in jazz, funk/hip hop, commercial, tap, ballroom and cheer, studying at leading dance schools in Melbourne and Bendigo before returning to East Gippsland to share her passion for dance.
As Principal and Owner of Urban Funk Dance (UFD) from 2006, Casey grew the studio into a thriving commercial dance school, expanding its signature jazz funk style to include hip hop, contemporary, acro, dance fusion and musical theatre.
She holds a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management, along with qualifications in beauty therapy, make-up and acro coaching. She is also qualified in Education Support and works as a Learning Support Officer.
Casey and her UFD team enjoyed success at local and state-wide eisteddfods and dance festivals, with students progressing into further dance training, film and television, and opening their own studios.
Beyond UFD, Casey shared her expertise through school teaching, community theatre and choreography. Her theatre credits included productions for Bairnsdale Independent Theatre Company (BITE), Nagle College and Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company, including Chicago, Annie, Beauty and the Beast, The Wedding Singer, Mamma Mia and Grease.
In 2026, Casey co-directed and choreographed BPLTC’s production of & Juliet alongside Avanti Director Shawna Bartlett
Senior Teacher
Bobbie Brown
Bobbie has been in the studio since taking her first jazz class at the age of four, and over 25 years later, her passion for dance is stronger than ever.
Her journey working with children began as a dance assistant at Urban Funk Dance which inspired her to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. Along the way, she also had the joy of owning and running her own dance studio, BOLD Dance & Arts, for ten years, sharing her love of movement and learning with children every day.
Becoming a mum during the COVID lockdown, highlighted just how important connection is, not only for children, but for families and communities as a whole. Since then, she’s refreshed her qualifications in Early Childhood Education and continued developing her skills, particularly in supporting our youngest learners.
Bobbie spent her years in the dance world bringing performing arts opportunities to Far East Gippsland, running studios in Lakes Entrance and Orbost, and co-founding community events like the East Gippsland Dance Festival and the East Gippsland Performing Arts Eisteddfod. Now, she is excited to bring her extensive experience, and background in youth training to the Avanti Team.
Tahlia Hare
junior Teacher
Tahlia’s performing arts journey began in 2015 with gymnastics at East Gippsland Gymnastics Club, before discovering her love for dance in 2016 at Urban Funk Dance. Over the past 11 years, she has developed her skills across a range of styles, including Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, Ballet, Broadway and Musical Theatre.
Tahlia quickly became involved in Urban Funk Dance’s performance teams, joining the Junior Performance Team in 2018. In 2019, at just 11 years of age, she joined the Teen Jazz Performance Team, began her first solo and took on her first assistant teaching role. By 2020, she was proudly a member of the Junior, Teen and Senior Jazz Performance Teams simultaneously. Throughout her competitive journey, Tahlia has consistently challenged herself, competing in Open solo sections and achieving wonderful results. Highlights include receiving a scholarship to the Australian Youth Dance Festival and attending workshops with industry professionals including Lion Heart, Kelly Aykers, Jason Coleman, SCIMM and TRANSIT.
Alongside her own training, Tahlia developed a passion for teaching, officially beginning as a Junior Teacher in 2023. She has since progressed to teaching junior Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary classes. She also completed VCE Dance as part of her senior secondary studies in 2024 and 2025.
A significant highlight in her performing journey was making her theatrical debut in Bairnsdale Production Line’s production of & Juliet, performing in the Advanced Dance Ensemble and taking on the role of Co-Dance Captain.
Since graduating high school in 2025, Tahlia has continued pursuing her passion for working with young people through her role in Education Support at a local primary school, further strengthening her appreciation for encouragement, confidence and creating positive opportunities for young people.
As she looks ahead to 2027, Tahlia is excited to begin a new chapter at Avanti Performing Arts, embracing new opportunities, expanding her training and continuing to grow as both a performer and teacher. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion for dance with younger generations.
A little fun fact: Tahlia was Shawna's very first dance assistant back in 2017! Just two years later, they were competing together on the same performance teams, and today Shawna is one of Tahlia’s dance teachers, a special full circle moment!
junior Teacher
Kaitlin Dorling
Kaitlin has been dancing since 2014, developing her passion for dance through her training at Bold Dance and Arts, and Urban Funk Dance.
Throughout her dance journey, she has trained in a variety of styles including HipHop, Broadway Jazz, Modern Jazz, Contemporary and Lyrical, and has participated in a variety of workshops, while gaining years of experience performing and competing.
She also has explored her love of the performing arts through musical theatre with Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company, playing the role of Summer in 'School of Rock' in 2023. Alongside her own training, Kaitlin has spent years as an assistant teacher and continues to develop her knowledge of dance through her VCE Dance Education.
Kaitlin is passionate about sharing the joy of dance and creating a supportive environment where every dancer feels encouraged to grow and build confidence.
Personal Trainer
Tayah McNaughton
Tayah is a personal trainer from East Gippsland holding a Certificate III & IV in Fitness. Having grown up with a passion for movement and sport, Tayah naturally transitioned into coaching to help others discover the same drive.
Today, Tayah trains clients at Adapt Fitness 24/7 in Bairnsdale, focusing on building strength, confidence, and long term consistency in an enjoyable environment. Tayah's approach keeps things simple and approachable - show up, work hard, and have a laugh. Tayah is committed to making sure every client feels comfortable from day one and walks out feeling accomplished.
Tayah is excited to offer specialised strength and conditioning for dancers, supporting them to achieve flexibility and stability, improve core control and unlock explosive power, helping them with their kicks, turns and jumps whilst staying injury free.
Guest Teacher
Jan Pianta
Jan’s passion for dance began at just five years old, with a lifelong ambition to dance and teach. With more than 40 years of experience in dance training, teaching and choreography, Jan brings an exceptional depth of knowledge, expertise and passion to the performing arts industry.
After relocating from Melbourne to Bairnsdale in 1980, Jan established herself as a pioneer of dance education in East Gippsland, with a vision to provide local students with opportunities for quality dance training, artistic development and performance. Through the Jan Pianta School of Dance (JPSD), Jan has inspired generations of dancers, with the privilege of now teaching third-generation students from the same families.
Jan holds multiple tertiary qualifications, including a Graduate Diploma in Creative Industries (Dance Teaching), a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary Teaching) and a Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management. Her specialist training spans Classical Ballet, Theatrical Jazz, Tap and Contemporary Dance, supported by extensive professional development and ongoing involvement with recognised dance organisations. Jan is a qualified Cecchetti Ballet teacher, Progressive Ballet Technique instructor, Glenn Wood Tap teacher and Acrobatic Arts Level 1 certified tutor.
Throughout her career, Jan has contributed extensively to dance education and the wider performing arts community. She initiated the Certificate II in Dance (VET) program at East Gippsland TAFE and introduced local students to major Department of Education performing arts opportunities through Joining the Chorus in Melbourne. Her experience also extends to choreography for local theatre productions, eisteddfods, competitions and student performances.
Jan’s dedication and contribution to dance have been recognised through numerous awards and scholarships, including multiple Cecchetti Ballet Victoria Isolated Teachers Scholarships and choreography awards at the East Gippsland Performing Arts Eisteddfod.
With a genuine love of movement, teaching and nurturing the next generation of performers, Jan is passionate about helping dancers develop strong foundations, confidence, musicality and an appreciation for the art of dance.
Interested in Joining
Our Teaching Team?
We are always on the lookout for energetic and passionate teachers to join the Avanti Teaching Team.
Do you have a teaching background? Skills you can offer to the next generation of East Gippsland Performers?
If you're interested in joining Avanti, fill out the form and email a copy of your resume to admin@avantiperformingarts.com.au