Tori Kovach
Director, Industry Squad Teacher, ALP Coach
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Tori has been part of the LFK family since 2003, when she stepped into her very first Jazz class. Over the years, she performed in 15 LFK concerts before continuing her training at Spectrum Full Time Performing Arts, where she completed three years of intensive training in dance, singing and acting, earning both her Certificate IV in Dance and Diploma of Musical Theatre.
Tori has worked professionally with the Melbourne Storm Street Crew, Melbourne Vixens Dancers, and AFL/AFLW Western Bulldogs Cheerleaders, and performed in major events including Crown’s Christmas Show, Crown’s 25th Anniversary, CommBank Diamond Ball, and Crown’s NYE 2020.
Through all her experiences, Tori discovered her greatest passion lies in choreography and teaching. She currently choreographs for the Melbourne Vixens Dancers and AFLW Bulldogs Cheerleaders.
As of July 2024, Tori is the proud new owner of LFK Dance & Gym and looks forward to many exciting years ahead. She absolutely adores working with the students at LFK and is dedicated to helping them grow into confident, skilled performers. With her strong foundation in professional training and performance, she brings both technical excellence and a fun, supportive energy to every class.
Jade Carr
Industry Squad Teacher
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Jade’s passion for dance has been a constant throughout her life. As a young dancer, she was part of multiple companies including Scimm Youth Dance Company and Locreado Adult Company, performing in shows such as Life, Togetherness, and Factions alongside these groups. In 2018, she also performed in Grounded: Battle of the Arts.
Jade competed nationally across Australia, and in 2020 was awarded 1st place in her age group at the Showcase National Championships.
She began full-time training at Patrick School of the Arts from 2020 to 2022 under the direction of Todd Patrick, where she gained her Certificate IV in Dance and launched her professional career. Jade has since performed in a range of professional gigs at Crown Melbourne with Southern Beat Productions, including the Elly Lukas Graduation at the Palladium and a Moulin Rouge-inspired show. She also performed in the IGLA Opening Ceremony in 2020 and appeared twice on Live at St Kilda in 2021.
More recently, Jade was part of the cabaret show Melbourne Follies, which toured Southern Gippsland for its opening season in 2022.
Jade is a passionate and dedicated teacher who loves sharing her knowledge and inspiring students to grow in their craft. She enjoys being part of the LFK environment, where students are eager to learn and continually push themselves to improve at what they love.
Kate Thompson
Seniors, Contemporary + Jazz
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Originally from Wangaratta, Kate has spent the past eight years dancing professionally in London, building an extensive and impressive career across stage, screen, and television. She has performed alongside global artists including Shania Twain, Dua Lipa, Ava Max, Jason Derulo, Kelly Rowland, and Olly Murs, and appeared on high-profile productions such as The Masked Singer UK, X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, and Queen of the Universe.
Kate’s stage credits include performances at the Brit Awards, MTV EMAs, Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (as Dance Captain), and arena tours such as Rip It Up: The 60’s on London’s West End. She was also part of the Skeleton Crew for Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid film, directed by Rob Marshall.
Her training includes a Certificate VI in Performing Arts from Brent Street Studios and scholarships at The McDonald College, as well as mentorship through elite programs like The Process and The She Project.
Kate brings a vibrant, experienced energy to the classroom and is passionate about inspiring the next generation of dancers through high-level training, creativity, and industry insight.
Maeve Scollard
Contemporary, Jazz + Lyrical
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Maeve began dancing at LFK at the age of 4 and has never looked back. After studying dance in year 12, completing a Certificate II in Dance Maeve continued to pursue her training at Spectrum Full Time Performing Arts where she trained in a variety of styles while also completing a Certificate III in Dance. Maeve has performed as a professional dancer for the Melbourne Vixens Dancers, AFL + AFLW Western Bulldogs Cheerleaders, in the Em Rusciano; Rage and Rainbows Live Show and has performed in a variety of industry gigs both in Victoria and interstate including many events at Crown Casino.
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In 2017 Maeve was the Dance Captain at LFK and has spent many years working and dancing alongside the LFK team. During her time at LFK Maeve also had the opportunity to perform with two overseas tours, one in America and other in Hong Kong performing in Disneyland and Universal Studio’s. Maeve absolutely loves working at LFK, teaching dance, gymnastics and acro to a variety of age groups. She says that LFK has played a huge role in her life over the years. She adores how passionate the kids at LFK are and loves sharing her knowledge and watching them grow!
Sophie Dunn
Jazz, Contemporary, Kinder Dance + Singing
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Sophie started dancing as a student at LFK when she was 12 years old. From there she knew she wanted to perform professionally, taking up studies full time with Kelly Aykers. Sophie graduated in 2022 with a Diploma of Musical theatre and a Certification in Dance teaching and Management.
Sophie is lucky enough to perform weekly at events around Melbourne, working with various entertainment companies as a Dancer, Singer and promotional performer. Among a range of special events, both local and interstate - some of Sophie's favourite industry gigs include dancing for the Melbourne Vixens, Touring with ‘Elmo's Dream Circus’, performing at Adelaide arena for ‘SLB Fight night' and cheerleading for the Western Bulldogs.
Aside from dance teaching Sophie is a qualified Mat and reformer Pilates instructor. She enjoys taking classes in dancing and singing each week in order to continue learning as a performer and as a teacher, to pass on new knowledge to benefit her students. In the future Sophie wishes to continue teaching, performing and growing her passion of performing arts.
Emma Koppelmann
Ballet
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Starting her career in Melbourne, Emma graduated from The Australian Ballet School, immediately joining The Australian Ballet Company and danced with the company for 5 years.
Most recently Emma danced in London with The English National Ballet Company performing at The Royal Albert Hall for the past two years.
Emma is a certified Pilates instructor and teaches throughout the week frequently. She now is running her own business taking her own clients for boutique Pilates classes specialising in dancers strength + mobility.
She loves teaching dance to all ages and abilities and continues to dance alongside.
Gerard Pigg
Hip Hop, Dancehall and Commercial
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Bio Coming Soon...
Holly Saunders
Pilates and Technique
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Holly’s love for dance began at age 3, training with the Townsville Academy of Performing Arts in North Queensland in RAD Ballet and ATOD Jazz and Contemporary. As she grew up, Holly began creating her own choreography for competitions, and soon found how rewarding it was not only to dance or watch her own work on stage, but to share her knowledge with others and see them grow from it! Growing up Holly was blessed with amazing opportunities to dance at Carols by Candlelight as a back up dancer for international performers including Kate Cebrano and Trent Bell, the Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival in addition to dancing in Europe and America. At 17, Holly made the move from Townsville to Melbourne to pursue a career in performance at Kelly Aykers Fulltime Dance, completing her Certificate IV in Dance and the Dancers Elite Course. Holly’s fulltime journey allowed her to perform regularly through Fulltime Showcases, in lead roles for Masters of Choreography, RAW Melbourne, Undrgrnd, Club Freestyling, Commercial Gigs for Fashion Aid & Honda to name a few, and starred in Australian Feature Film ‘The Very Excellent Mr Dundee.’ Since being graduated, Holly has professionally represented several commercial entertainment companies including Tenacity Ent., CNTRL Ent. and Platform Entertainment and has worked as a cheerleader for the Australian Baseball League. In addition she is an original member with contemporary company, Stella Youth Dance Company. She has also been incredibly honoured to represent the LFK Industry Squad as a dancer for the Melbourne Vixens from 2019-2021 and at several corporate events. Above all, she is incredibly passionate about sharing her love for dance with all her beautiful students, and with over 6 years of teaching a variety of styles under her belt, she looks forward to continuing to do so.
Aspen Santoro
Hip Hop
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Aspen has been dancing at LFK since she was 7 years old, starting with one jazz class a week she quickly found her love for dance along with the community at LFK and began taking as many classes as she could, expanding her class styles to all LFK had to offer!
14 years on and Aspen has performed professionally with the Melbourne Vixens Dancers, AFL and AFLW Cheerleaders, in Katy Perry’s 2020 ICC Women’s World Cup performance as well as many other performances!
Pairing her love for dance with her passion for movement Aspen also works as a Pilates instructor. She believes her knowledge of anatomy and muscle groups extends further than the Pilates studio and into teaching kids how to look after their bodies correctly while dancing! Growing up with dance as a huge part of Aspen’s life has shown her just how big of a positive impact it can make on a child, she wishes to pass this love and passion for dance along to all of her students!
Aaron Johns
Tap and Broadway Jazz
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Originally from Hobart, Aaron began his dance journey at the age of 7, tap dancing around the house in Batman slippers. Since then, he has spent most of his time on stage, in either Dance Concerts, Eisteddfods or Musicals. Aaron moved to Melbourne at the age of 18, completing the Musical Theatre course at Patrick School of the Arts, and obtaining his diploma in Musical Theatre and Diploma in Dance. He has since worked at many events across Hobart and Melbourne, notably dancing on track at the Formula 1 Heineken Australian Grand Prix, with J Smith Productions, and as a backup dancer for Katy Perry at the 2024 AFL Grand Final, with Mushroom Events. Aaron has also performed twice at the Australian Tap Dance Festival, with Dylan Dickson, as part of the professional Gala night.
Aaron loves teaching, and is grateful to have found a beautiful home at LFK, where he can help to develop the next generation of dancers.
Zoe Cockerell
Jazz, Acro, Cheerleading
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Zoe’s performing arts journey began at the young age of three at LFK, where she first discovered her love for movement through gymnastics. Her passion for performance continued to grow at TDC, where she began training in acrobatics in 2011 and expanded into dance in 2015. During her time at TDC, Zoe achieved remarkable milestones, including performing on ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ in 2015, winning multiple national titles, and taking the stage at ‘The Next Step’ Melbourne show. Her performance credits also include The Boss Generations shows “Famous” (2022) and “Global” (2023), as well as the Tannos Collective show in 2023. From 2018 to 2021, Zoe took her passion abroad, working as a RADAR Technique assistant for Rebecca Davis. She assisted in workshops across Melbourne, Sydney, Darwin, Adelaide, as well as internationally in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Copenhagen, Iceland, and France - gaining invaluable experience and exposure to diverse dance communities.
In 2024, Zoe graduated from Dance Force in NSW, completing her Certificate IV in Dance. There, she trained intensively in jazz, commercial dance, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, acrobatics, silks, and more. As part of the 2024 Grad Tour, she showcased her versatility and artistry on stage, and was also featured on The Today Show during her time at Dance Force. Zoe is a passionate and dedicated dancer who thrives on performing and connecting through movement. She is committed to sharing her knowledge, experience, and love of dance with the next generation of performers, inspiring young dancers to pursue their dreams with confidence and creativity.
Gabi Jakubova
Kinder Dance
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As a former professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, Gabi has dedicated over 20 years to the art of movement. She fell in love with dance at just 4 years old, spending her early years performing and competing in disco, hip-hop, and jazz at the IDO World Championships, where she reached the finals as a solo dancer, in duos, and large formations. She also performed at the Slovak National Theatre and Metroit Theatre.
By 12, she was already assisting dance teachers, learning not just how to be a great dancer but also an inspiring educator. Soon after, she began leading her own classes.
During university, she joined production house Extravadansa, performing worldwide for brands like Adidas, Red Bull, Mercedes-Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Avici and Coca-Cola, while also running her own dance club, where she taught ballet and other dance styles to young children.
Her journey with LFK began through her two little dancers, who joined the club at an early age. Through them, her passion for dance—something she had put on pause after moving to Australia—was reignited. Watching their love for movement grow, she felt inspired to become part of the LFK crew, sharing her experience with the next generation of dancers. Now, she helps young dancers build strength, flexibility, and confidence in a fun and supportive space.
Beyond dance, Gabi believes movement is medicine and a balanced diet is fuel. She shares this mindset with both her little dancers and the women she coaches online, empowering them to reconnect with their bodies and embrace movement for lifelong well-being.
Sarah Scott
Kinder Dance
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From the moment Sarah stepped into her first dance class at just five years old, she was captivated — the music, the movement, the magic of performing ignited a lifelong passion that still burns brightly today. Raised in Brisbane, Sarah immersed herself in the world of dance, training under some of the industry's finest, including Clarissa Hill, Davidia Lind, and Annette Roselli. Her repertoire spans ballet, jazz, tap, chorus, contemporary, and musical theatre, and she even extended her talents into Rhythmic Gymnastics and Competitive Aerobics.
Sarah’s dedication and infectious love for dance led her to earn honours in her exams and shine on stage in countless eisteddfods and major cultural events. She was a proud member of elite promotional teams, performing at the Brisbane International Arts Festival parades and the Goodwill Games, sharing stages with pop icons like Bardot and Vanessa Amorosi. She later brought her signature energy to flash mobs across Brisbane, dancing through museums, galleries, and festivals with Mad Dance House — always ready to surprise and delight.
After pausing her professional pursuits to raise her two children — both budding dancers themselves — Sarah is now channelling her lifelong passion into teaching. As part of the LFK family, she thrives on nurturing the spark of creativity and confidence in her students. Watching young dancers go from their first tentative steps to commanding the stage with poise and joy is what drives her. For Sarah, dance isn’t just movement — it’s a celebration of expression, growth, and community.
Emma Wilby
Kinder Dance
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Bio Coming Soon...
Kiara Linke
Musical Theatre + Jazz
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Kiara Linke has been singing, dancing and acting for as long as she can remember. She
enrolled in her first dance class at the age of 2 and for the last 16 years has studied
Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Cheer, Singing and
Musical Theatre at TIDC Performing Arts Studio in Adelaide, South Australia where she was born. At the age of 10 she developed a
love for Musical Theatre when she started doing musicals at her local theatre company in Adelaide and went on to perform many lead roles.
She moved to Melbourne early last year to start studying her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre) at the Victorian College of the arts as she hopes to continue performing as a career.
Kiara is thrilled to be a part of the LFK teaching team!
Jack Ryan
Hip Hop
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Jack has been a dedicated member of the LFK community since the age of seven, where his passion for dance and performance has flourished across a variety of styles. His training includes programs such as LFK Dance and Gym Industry Squad, Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance Evolution Elite Program, Melbourne City Youth Ballet Company and the Australian Ballet Summer School. He has also represented LFK as a performer and captain on international dance trips to Los Angeles (2016 & 2023) and Hong Kong (2018). Among Jack’s early achievements are; LFK Dance and Gym Scholarship recipient (2013), Lead artist in MCYB’s Wizard of Oz (2019), Ministry of Dance Scholarship winner (2020) and AFLW Western Bulldogs Cheerleader (2023–2024). Currently, Jack is a proud teacher at LFK, while also performing with the Melbourne Vixens Dance Crew (2024–2025). His passion for choreography and performance is matched by his dedication to creating a safe, supportive environment, encouraging students to learn, grow, and express themselves freely.
Romi Gould
Jazz
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Romi has been dancing since the age of five, but her journey with LFK began even earlier — at just two years old. Born and raised in the studio, dance and gym has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.
Trained in all styles, Romi now specializes in teaching jazz, sharing her love for movement and performance with the next generation. She has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Disneyland LA, Disneyland Hong Kong, Crown Melbourne, and as a professional dancer for the Melbourne Vixens and Bulldogs AFLW.
A proud member of the LFK Industry Squad, Romi continues to dance, teach, and perform — bringing her passion, energy, and dedication into everything she does. She’s committed not only to the art of dance but to the LFK Dance & Gym community that has shaped her into the artist she is today.
Mia Warrener
Jazz + Kinder Dance
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Bio Coming Soon...
Taylah Mulholland
Jazz
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Bio Coming Soon...
2025 Senior Dance Captains
Jack Ryan & Isabella Martin
