Vanessa McArthur-Williams - NEW in 2012

Nadiah Idris- NEW in 2012

Ross Wilkinson- NEW in 2012

Sharon Cunnington

"Is it possible that the first dance ever done by a woman was the belly dance?"  If we could peer back through the haze of time and secretly watch our cave sister, what kind of dance do you think she would be doing? The belly dance, of course" - Serena Wilson, excerpt from the The History of Belly Dance.

Sharon is a passionate belly dance instructor who believes belly dancing is synonymous with spirit, fun, energy, fitness and emotion.  Sharon has been an instructor with UQ Sport since 2007, having previously been a student with The Academy of Middle Eastern Dance since 1999, where she enjoyed participating in group performances at fetes, cultural and lifestyle festivals and the Brisbane Extravaganza.  Sharon believes that learning should be fun, creating nicknames for steps to help identify the motion with the movement, remembering that sometimes less is more and that the gracefulness of the female form is the epitome of this dance. 

George Canhan

George is a professionally trained performer and teacher with over 10 years experience in the performing arts. George has earned vocational dance qualifications in RAD Ballet, ISTD Tap and Modern, and holds an internationally recognised ISTD Associate Diploma of Teaching (Dance). Since 2008, George has been working professionally with Velocity Dance Company, as an instructor, choreographer, and as part of their performance crew. Performances with Velocity have included Quest Business Achiever Awards 2008, Wella Hair Awards, Ekka 2009, Dance Design 2009 and 2010, and creative generations 2009 and 2010. George has also enjoyed a successful performance career in musical theatre with recent credits including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hot Shoe Shuffle, A Chorus Line, Cats, West Side Story and Carousel.

George is currently in demand as a choreographer, having worked for many theatre companies around Brisbane and the Gold Coast with productions including Songs for a New World, Fiddler on the Roof, Forbidden Broadway, and the Australian Premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s 13 the musical. During the last five years George has also worked on over twenty musicals as resident choreographer for the Brisbane Junior Theatre, including High School Musical 1 & 2.

Andrea Dighton

Andrea Dighton is a highly respected teacher and performer with a passion for modern dance.  She started dancing at age 4 under Desley Donaldson in Brisbane's north where she completed her Advanced 2 Certificate in the Royal Academy of Dance classical ballet syllabus and Level 7 in the Glenn Wood tap syllabus.  From there she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Queensland University of Technology, excelling in the styles covered during that time.  Her performance career includes Harvest Rain Theatre Company's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2009) and Grease (2011) and performances at Australia Zoo for Bindi Irwin's 13th Birthday as well as the well known Creative Generation - State Schools On Stage with Velocity Dance Crew.  She was also a featured dancer at the official Underbelly Razor cast party at Brisbane's Treasury Casino sponsored by 4BC and Channel 9 and has made guest appearances on Channel 10's Totally Wild and Wurrawhy.  With a vast performance career and intense technical training to draw from, Andrea is now a freelance teacher in the greater Brisbane area.

Luis Pinto

Luis's love of dance began at the age of 10, inspired by idols like John Travolta, and of course the late king of pop, Michael Jackson. After years of teaching himself to dance, he entered the Channel 10 National Star Search competition and won the Grand Final in the dance category.  That was the launching pad for Luis' dancing career.  From there he went on to play the lead role of Michael Jackson in the Jupiter’s Casino show 'Hollywood Legends'. Luis Pinto has made countless television appearances, dancing on such show as the Coca-Cola Music Awards and the RAQ Fashion Design Awards, and has choreographed dance shows both nationally and internationally. His proudest accomplishment is the Mega Jam Street Dance Instructional DVD set.

Hugo Fernandez

Hugo was born and grew up in Buenos Aires (BA), Argentina. Both his parents are tango dancers and he officially started dancing at the age of 12. Introduced by his father Don Carlos, Hugo became a regular night tango-club patron at 16 years of age. Today he's an accomplished tango dancer who developed his own style through 20 years in the tango scene, 10 of them in Buenos Aires. Hugo is very proud of his teenage-time legend teachers Juan Averna, "Petaca" Lehrman and Jose "Pepito" Avellaneda. Hugo is also well known in the tango-club circles of BA by both the old and the new generations. Hugo was part of the young generation of tangueros who started rescuing the tango from the forgotten attic of memories during the mid 80's. He studied Civil Engineering and graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 1989, followed by his move to Australia in 1992.

Since then, he has conducted group classes, tutorials and workshops throughout Australia. In the year 2000, Hugo and partner Norwegian Maria Fjellheim organised the first International Tango Festival ever in Australia, the Wintertango Festival. Hugo and Maria continued the Wintertango series, which congregated personalities of Tango dance, music and singing from both Argentina and Australia until 2002. Hugo is also a recognised choreographer. His latest concert "Tango Nuevo", featured Hugo and other dancers of Alma de Tango, together with the great bandoneon player Daniel Binelli and The Queensland Orchestra in September 2003. Hugo  spends at least two months a year in Buenos Aires. Hugo Fernández is the Principal and Senior Instructor of Alma de Tango School of Argentine Dances and has been instructing as part of the UQ Sport Lifestyle Program for over seven years. Hugo personally conducts most of the classes, workshops and courses that Alma de Tango offers throughout the year.

Ronan Smethurst

In 2005, at the age of 17 years old, Ronan started at Vida Latina Dance Company. Arriving straight from school to take classes, Ronan overcame the nerves he had associated with learning to dance, and is now recognised as Vida Latina’s most advanced male instructor and performer. Ronan now teaches at the studio and at UQ Sport. From a school boy to a dance teacher, Ronan shows how passion and determination drives even the most hesitant beginners into achieving their dreams of dancing. 

Nikki Christie

Nikki started pole dancing in 2008 with Girlfriend Fun and Fitness at UQ sport. She was instantly hooked and by 2009 she completed her instructor course in pole dancing. Nikki has performed all over Brisbane for Girlfriend Fun and Fitness, as well as run a workshop in Sweden with Pole Fitness Sverige and guest performed in the Swedish sports pole dance showcase in Gothenburg. Nikki loves teaching pole and is able to cater for students of all shapes and sizes from beginners to advanced students. She believes that pole dancing promotes a healthy mind as well as body, and has personally experienced the therapeutic benefits that pole dancing has to offer. Aside from pole dancing, Nikki has also completed her Bachelor degree in Psychological Science. She plans to pursue a career within social psychological research, and has a secret passion for statistics. Most importantly, Nikki’s enthusiasm for pole dancing is contagious and she loves her classes to be fun!

Stefan Maetschke

Stefan’s martial arts training commenced in 1980 when he joined a local judo club in his home town in Germany. After two years of judo training he developed an interest in Shotokan Karate and practiced both martial arts for the next 15 years. In 1994, Stefan added Ju-Jutsu to his training regime, and took home the National German Ju-Jutsu Championship in 2000. Over the past five years he has shifted his interest towards Mixed Martial Arts, focusing on Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling. Stefan is a black belt in judo, karate, ju-jutsu and currently a blue belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu. He is also trained in knife and stick fighting, aikido, goju-ryo karate, kung fu, wing chun, silat, capoeira and systema. Stefan is not only experienced in a wide variety of martial arts, he also holds instructor and trainer Licenses in judo, karate, ju-jutsu and self defence. For the past several years Stefan has been involved with The University of Queensland and UQ Sport as an instructor in mixed martial arts. 

Greg Clarke

Greg began training in Shinto muso-ryu (jo & sword) in 1999 and Hyoho niten ichi-ryu aka Nito-ryu (two sword style) in 2004. He has been accepted as a monkasei (disciple) by both Ishida Hiroaki Sensei, menkyo kaiden in SMR and Iwami Toshio Sohke, menkyo kaiden in HNIR. Greg has also been appointed as the official Australian (shibu-cho) branch head and instructor for both these classical Japanese ryu-ha. However, presently only Shinto muso-ryu is open to the public and offered through UQ Sport.

Sinn Chew

Sinn Chew has about 35 years of Karate training. His talent for Goju Karate was developed and influenced by his formative years as a student of GojuRyu, Jin Wu Koon Kung Fu, Shotokan Karate, Kick-boxing and Judo/Jujitsu. His commitment to GojuRyu is unequalled with a long standing commitment to bring about the very best in each and every student. His teaching style undoubtedly optimises the body, strengthens the mind and encourages the fighting spirit. He is truly an inspiration to his students, or to any new or senior student interested and passionate about learning Karate and keeping fit. Sinn Sensei is unique in that he continually de-mystifies the ancient martial arts, and demonstrates the relationship between the traditional basics and modern fighting methodologies.

Claudio Climaco

Born in Brazil, Claudio comes from a family of 'Capoeiristas'  and began training Capoeira as a child.  His father was a student of legendary Master Bimba and first to bring Capoeira to Queenland in 1989.  Claudio 'Caracol' (Capoeira nickname meaning 'curly hair') moved to Australia in 1997 and has been running the Brisbane Capoeira School in West End since 1999, as well as teaching performing at UQ Sport and various other schools.  Together with group Xango Capoeira (former Zambiacongo group) Caracol has travelled all over the world training and teaching workshops, taking students on training tours to Brazil and bringing renowned Masters to Australia to share their knowledge and skills with the Australian community. In 2002, Caracol was ranked top 10 in a world championship hosted in Curitiba in South Brazil.

Brendan O’Reilly

Brendan O'Reilly began his career in the fitness industry as a gym floor instructor at UQ Sport, whilst studying for his Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of Queensland.  During this time Brendan was a member of the UQ Boxing team and also trained in Muay Thai, which prompted a keen interest in sport-specific conditioning methods for martial artists and combat athletes.  Brendan furthered his studies at the Australian Institute of Applied Science, specialising most of his research around cutting-edge strength and conditioning methods for martial artists.

Brendan has competitive experience in amateur boxing, Olympic freestyle wrestling, submission grappling and currently fights professionally in Mixed Martial Arts. He also holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . Brendan has won gold and silver medals in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu state championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010, and enjoys passing on his unique style of training to his clients in a fun and interactive manner.

Jarrett Owen

Jarrett Owen holds a Bachelors Degree in Arts/Secondary Education from the University of Queensland, as well as a Certificate 3 & 4 in Fitness. Jarrett has vast experience in coaching a range of sports and fitness activities, however specialises in boxing, as well as customised group and personal training sessions. Jarrett began his martial arts training in 2006 in Muay Thai, and after a successful debut he expanded his training to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing and MMA. He has successfully competed in Amateur Boxing, Muay Thai kickboxing, submission grappling and professional Mixed Martial Arts events. Jarrett continues to work with top level trainers and fitness experts to expand his skills and knowledge, and help clients achieve their ultimate fitness goals.  

Cecily Slade

Cecily discovered yoga from books as a young teenager, when it was not a common practice in Australia. From that time, Cecily practiced yoga and with the small insight she had into yoga teachings, was able to live a holistic and healthy approach to life. After leaving school and starting her own business, Cecily continued to study and completed her Bachelor Degree in Behavioral Science and started her Masters. Cecily's first yoga teacher was a 70 year old woman who would say "the body you have before you are 40 is the one you are given, the body you have after 40 is the one you have made yoursel"’. Cecily's yoga teachings have helped her throughout her life with both personal and business goals. During the past five years, Cecily has taught yoga all over Brisbane and completed her level 2 certification. What rewards Cecily the most is to see people being able to transform themselves through yoga and finding healing, wellbeing and inner strength. Cecily believes the single moment of truth of yoga is the science of discovering who we are.

Danielle Lancaster (Bluedog Photography)

Dedicated to the promotion of photography and passionate about passing on her skills, so everyone can enjoy photography, Danielle Lancaster is one of the most devoted people in this arena. Danielle's enthusiasm is infectious, her 'photo talk' plain and simple and her fervour unrelentless. Danielle studied at the Queensland College of Art in Brisbane. She has had an exciting and varied career: car racing, newspaper, wedding, portrait and for many years has also successfully operated as a freelance photojournalist supplying copy and images to numerous corporate, government and private sectors both nationally and internationally.

Danielle has also been part of solo and group exhibitions. Some of her current clients include: Tourism Queensland, 4x4 Australia, ACP, Sunday Mail, TravPix and RACQ Road Ahead. Danielle holds a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, has lectured in photography (digital and film), art history, design and written photography modules for NSW TAFE. Danielle has delivered workshops and spoken at conferences for the Queensland Government, Queensland RADF, Shire Councils and other authorities in Australia and New Zealand.  In 2004 "Out around the Bulloo" a pictorial essay of the remote Bulloo Shire in western Queensland was published which received rave reviews in Australia and overseas as "capturing the pure essence of the area."

Anita Bromley (Bluedog Photography)

Having an interest in photography at a young age saw Anita borrowing her father’s SLR to snap away on B&W film only to have to wait over a week and hand out a substantial amount of money just to see if the images turned out. It’s no surprise once the digital revolution began and DSLR’s became affordable she picked up the camera again. Loving the freedom to play with the camera with immediate results she is continually striving for that ‘perfect’ shot. Attending her first Photography Workshop with Bluedog as a student back in 2008 changed the way Anita viewed her own photography and with the workshops continually motivating her she quickly became a self confessed ‘Bluedog Workshop addict”! In late 2009 Anita was invited to join the Bluedog team as a Tutor and hasn’t looked back. “I love seeing those light bulb moments when what we are teaching ‘clicks’. It’s extremely rewarding." Anita believes all photos should convey an emotion to others even if they are not related to the subject in the photo. Her main passion is low light/night photography, however she is happy simply to have the camera in her hands and the opportunity to click away.

Meredith Plant

Meredith Plant has been a professional artist for over 30 years, but has been making art for as long as she can remember. She has completed degrees in Education (majoring in Music) and Fine Art (majoring in Printmaking/Drawing). Her BFA from QCA (Griffith University) was followed by Honours (First Class) for which she was awarded the University Medal for Academic Excellence. Meredith has participated in many exhibitions and her work is represented in many private and public collections, both in Australia and overseas. She is currently working as a primary music specialist, and is completing her Doctorate in Visual Arts (Griffith University). Her recent work has mainly involved drawing and painting, but also includes sculpture, design and printmaking.

Kim Tvede

Kim Tvede (4thDanho) has been practicing Goju Karate for 28 years, has a Masters degree in psychology, is an experienced teacher and martial arts coach, has managed security and crowd control teams, and has managed development of in-service programs for law-enforcement. Ming Lee (2nd Dan) has been practising Karate and other martial arts, including Escrima-Arnis and Jeet Kun Do over 15 years. He is an experienced security and crowd controller and is a solicitor.