Stephen Vincent (22)
Started dancing at six. At 16 he won the title of UK Latin Champion and represented the UK internationally at the World Championships. Theatre credits include Latin Fever (West End, UK), Simply Ballroom (UK, South Africa, Dubai), Cheek to Cheek (West End, UK), Burn the Floor 2006 (Australia, China, US) and Burn the Floor 2010 (Australia).
Dianne Buswell (22)
Began dancing at four. She has been an Australian state, national, and international finalist in Latin American and ballroom styles. Her major titles include Western Australian Open Ballroom Champion and runner-up in last year’s Australian Championships. She was a finalist in the Singapore Millennium Championships and has achieved success in So You Think You Can Dance in Australia.
Dianne: “This show is such an amazing opportunity. I get to work with such talented dancers and choreographers. The company becomes like a big family and it’s such a joy to be on stage doing what I love doing.”
Kieran McMahon (19)
Was one of the Top 8 finalists in So You Think You Can Dance (Australia, 2010). At 19, she has twice been the Australian Junior Latin champion (2006, 2008) and was awarded a Premiers VCE award for dance last year.
Kieran: “I work with a very inspiring bunch of people. I totally enjoy all the people involved and the fun times we have outside of work, like surfing on the gold coast”.
Jorja Freeman (19)
Began studying dance at three. She has competed across Australia in all dance styles since the age of six. She was a feature performer at the Royal Melbourne Show 2006 and Australian Dance awards last year. She is completing a Bachelor of Journalism at the Swinburne University of Technology Australia.
Jorja: “I love the fact that I can do what I love as well as learn so many new things all the time.”
Santo Costa (24)
Has been dancing Latin American for 13 years. He has competed abroad and been an Australian Junior Latin Champion, an Australian Youth Latin Champion and Amateur Latin Champion.
Emma Slater (22)
She began ballroom dancing aged eight and was 2006 British Under-21 Latin American Champion. Theatre credits include Latin Fever (West End, UK), Dirty Dancing (Aldwych Theatre, UK), Simply Ballroom (UK, UAE, South Africa), Sophie’s friend in Mamma Mia!, George Michael’s Round Here and the original soundtrack of Mamma Mia! (Universal Pictures).
Emma: “I am happy here, I love the people, I love the travelling and Burn the Floor far exceeds the quality of dance in any show I’ve ever been a part of.”
Kevin Clifton (28)
Was born into dance and studied it from an early age at the Clifton Dance Academy in England, run by his parents (former International Latin American champions). He won the British Latin Championships in Juvenile, Junior, and Under-21 and various international Latin championships. His theatre credits include Dirty Dancing, (West End, UK) and the original cast of Burn the Floor (Broadway, US, 2009).
Kevin: “For me it’s all about the art. I originally joined this cast after I became bored with the amateur competition world. I was dancing to impress, not to express. Here dancers express themselves fully without the restrictions.”
Karen Guedez Cardena (29)
Born in Venezuela, she moved to New York at the age of eight. She won the World Mambo Championships in 2008 and was a finalist in the 2009 event. She performed on Broadway with Burn the Floor in 2009/10.
Karen: “I have found everything in this company that has completed my life. I have grown as an artist. My passion for what I do is challenged every single day.”
Damien Samuel (21)
Started dancing at the age of five. A ballroom and hip hop teacher, former Junior Australian Dance Champion and a youth ambassador. He made the Top 14 in season two of Australia’s So You Think You Can Dance and makes his theatre debut with Burn the Floor.
Damien: “We spend 24 hours a day with one another and commit ourselves to this project wholeheartedly as we all strongly believe in the growth of the show.”
Kallyanne Brown (21)
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Kallyanne started dancing aged seven. She is a 10-time Australian Ballroom Dance and South Pacific Champion. At the age of 15 she won the right to represent Australia at her first World 10 Dance Championship in Spain and represented Australia at the World Latin Championships.
Kallyanne: “This is a dream, working on stage with so many talented dancers from across the world makes this not even seem like work.”
Gary Wright (25)
He started dancing at the age of 10 and represented England in Ballroom, Latin and 10 Dance World Championships and British Under-21 Latin Dance Championships. Theatre credits include Simply Ballroom (Theatre Royal, West End), Cheek to Cheek, Latin Fever (Peacock Theatre, Sadlers Wells) and Burn the Floor on Broadway, US, 2009.
Gary: “This show represents everything I love about my dance style. It’s ballroom re-invented and it’s by far the best dance show around. We get to show how cool ballroom and Latin have become.”
Ash-Leigh Hunter (28)
Began taking classes aged five. Ash-Leigh was an Australian ballroom dance and Latin dance finalist and at 13 travelled overseas and won the Junior World Gold Cup and became Junior British Jive Champion, Australian Junior Dance Champion, Australia 10 Dance Champion and represented Australia at the World Amateur 10 Dance Championships. In 2009 she was a finalist on the Aussie reality show So You Think You Can Dance and last year was in the grand finale of the Australian series Dancing with the Stars, where she partnered with TV host Matt White. She joined this show in 2002.
Ash-Leigh: “It has been an amazing 10 years of travelling around the world, performing in thousands of theatres and meeting many incredible people.”
Sasha Farber (28)
Born in Russia, Sasha started dancing at 13, after emigrating to Australia. He won many titles including the Australian Youth Latin Championships twice as well as coming third at Blackpool’s One Dance competition in the UK. He was the undefeated, Junior and Youth Latin Australian champion in 1999, 2000, and 2001.
Sasha: “I love being on stage. There is nothing better in life but to do what you love.”
Giselle Peacock (30)
Started dancing at the age of 10 and has devoted her life to international Latin American competitions, capturing US and British Youth Championship titles. She appeared on So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars and Super Stars of Dance, and has been touring with Burn the Floor since 2006.
Giselle: “It gives me the freedom to be the dancer I want to be. I love all the different dance styles in the show, which is like a roller-coaster of emotions.”
Aljaž Skorjenec (21)
From Slovenia, Aljaž started dancing aged five. He’s a 19-time Slovenian champion in ballroom, Latin and 10 dance. He has represented Slovenia in world Latin and ballroom dance championships and has appeared in the Slovenian show Dancing with the Stars.
Aljaž: “I am excited every single day to come in and learn from such passionate dancers and choreographers! I have learnt about dedication, commitment and professionalism.”
Faye Huddleston (22)
She’s danced since the age of three. She competed nationally in the UK until 2005, then turned to theatre. Credits include Simply Ballroom (UK, Las Vegas, US), Cheek to Cheek (Coliseum, West End, UK), Latin Fever (Sadlers Wells, Peacock Theatre, West End, Uk), Cuban Groove (Austria, 2009).
Robbie Kmetoni (19)
Current Winner of Australia’s So You Think You Can Dance and specialising in contemporary dance, Robbie has performed ballet, jazz and hip hop. He studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance studio and Sydney Dance Company Australia and has performed across the US and Australia.
Robbie: “To perform on stage every single day to a live audience surrounded by friends you love and care about, it’s an absolute blessing.”
Janette Manrara (27)
She was a finalist in the US’s So You Think You Can Dance season five and began performing musical theatre at 12. She’s performed with Jennifer Lopez, at the Oscars and was principal dancer on Glee.
Janette: “I have been a fan for many years and to finally share the stage with individuals I have admired for so long is an honour!”