NICHOLAS JACHNO
Choreographer/Dancer
Paid Mentee
Nicholas Jachno is a Canberra based Contemporary Dancer. He studied a range of dance techniques at Canberra Dance Development Centre before attending The New Zealand School of Dance, Graduating with a Diploma in Dance Performance majoring in Contemporary. During Nicholas’ time at the school, he was involved in a remount of Hofesh Shechter's Political Mother for the 2016 graduation season. In his third year he also worked alongside Footnote New Zealand Dance, was an understudy of the 2017 rendition of Tiki Tane Mahuta and worked with Craig Bary to create a solo for the schools 50th Anniversary season Once. The solo was then taken to Sydney as part of the Parachute Festival held by Legs on the Wall.
In 2018, Nicholas has been a part of Malia Johnston’s, Rushes, for the 2018 New Zealand Arts Festival, which received four Wellington Theatre Awards. He was also a dancer and collaborator in a design film project, Kinesis, that was displayed as part of the Lux Light Festival in Wellington and received a Bronze award at the Best Design Awards 2018. Nicholas also worked for Cadi McCarthy as a dancer in Catapult Dance Hubs premiere Season of That Place in Between.
ALANA STENNING
Choreographer/Dancer
Paid Mentee
Alana Stenning is a graduate of the Adelaide College of the Arts with a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Dance. While studying she worked with artists such as Jo Stone (Stone/Castro), Kialea Nadine-Williams (Australian Dance Theatre) and Niv Marinburg (L-E-V Dance Company). In her third year she created her first full length work incorporating dance, theatre and multimedia, How ‘Bout Them Apples for the Adelaide Fringe Festival. Before commencing university, Alana trained at QL2 Youth Dance Company where she worked with many well-known choreographers and developed her own interest in choreography and dance film making. During her time at QL2 Alana toured and performed in Bangkok, London and Glasgow with a work created by James Batchelor. Since graduating, Alana has moved back to Canberra to work for the Australian Dance Party. Since joining them she has been involved in Autonomous, In a flash, Water Tight, MOVING TO ZERO, ENERGEIA and performed with the Soul Defender. Alana has also been commissioned by Belconnen Arts Centre to create two works for their Dance on the Edge season, V and Great Woman Wolf Woman Bone Woman, with the latter also performed at Ausdance ACT’s Escalate season in 2019. Alana has continued her relationship with QL2 as a professional performer, teacher and assistant to the artistic director.
NATSUKO YONEZAWA
Choreographer
Paid Mentee
Natsuko Yonezawa started studying graphic design at the ANU in 2018. She has been involved heavily in Canberra's arts community since 2014. She danced with QL2 Dance from 2014 to 2017 and toured to Melbourne for the AYDF (Australian Youth Dance Festival) in 2017. She has also been involved in many of QL2's major projects, working with respected choreographers and dance artists. In 2018, Yonezawa started a design organisation called Mushō Laundry, an organisationwhich focuses on creating unique works involving multiple different artforms including design, digital media, sound and performing arts. In 2019, Mushō Laundry collaborated with two performing artists, Silas Manapsal and Tahi Kentwell to create a dance, short film, spoken word and installation work which was premiered at the 2019 Art Not Apart Festival. Yonezawa also spoke at the 2019 BOLD Festival, talking about Dance and Isolation.Yonezawa also has a passion for video production where she likes to experiment with interesting and sometimes complex ideas. In 2016, one of her dance films was aired at the You Are Here Festival. Yonezawa loves all things art and has a passion for many creative disciplines. She likes experimenting using different artforms to create unique works.
COURTNEY MATTICK
Choreographer/Dancer
Courtney started dancing at the age of 4 through the sport of Calisthenics with Joyelle before moving to Brindabella when she was 6. She continued with Calisthenics up until the end of 2015, when she moved to Bom Funk Dance Studio. With them, Courtney has danced in Hong Kong and has competed in local competitions. She continues to dance there today,completing her Certificate III in dance, as well asteaching a few classes. Courtney has also danced her way through both the Calwell High School dance program, run at the time by Kym Degenhart, and the Canberra College dance program, run by Susan Johnson. Her favourite styles are Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Lyrical.
FAVOUR WALLACE
Choreographer/Dancer
Favour Wallace was born in West Africa Liberia and came to Australia 4 years ago. She has performed at Dancefest, the Multicultural Festival, and other occasions. Favour is trained in African dance, both cultural and Afro beats. During her four years of performing dance, she has been part of many African dance groups, cultural groups, Afro Cypher and many more. She is also achoreographer. For Miss Africa Canberra 2018, Favourchoreographed the opening piece for the contestants,
while also being the youngest contestant and became Miss African Canberra, Runner Up. She also choreographed the Dancefest piece forCanberra High School in 2018.
BAILEY WYATT
Choreographer/Dancer
Bailey has an incredible passion for dance. He started taking ballet at age 3, and his interest for dance grew from there. He trains at Bom Funk Dance Studio in his favourite styles, hip hop and breakdancing. He also learns Tap, Lyrical and Jazz, and competed with all these styles at National competitions. Bailey has pursued wonderful opportunities to assist his dance pathway such as going to Boys Connect and the Australian Dance Festival in Sydney. He has almostcompleted his Certificate III in Dance and enjoys teaching youngerstudents. Many younger male students look to Bailey as a role model.Bailey is thrilled to be participating in Escalate IV and can’t wait topartake in such an experience.
TAMATI KENTWELL
Dancer
Tamati has been writing since they could talk. A passionate spoken word artist and dancer, they have been active in the Canberra poetry scene since 2014 and performing as a dancer since 2013. They represented the ACT at the Australian Poetry Slam National Championships in 2016. They have performed many times with QL2 Dance since 2013 and choreographed a piece for their production, Hot to Trot in 2016. Tahi’swork explores themes of justice and homecoming and the spaces where they meet.
SILAS MANAPSAL
Dancer
In 2019, Silas Manapsal started studying graphic design at the ANU. He not only has a passion for graphic design but he has also been dancing from a young age. Manapsal began training in hip hop at an early age and he currently dances with QL2 Dance starting in 2016, training in ballet and contemporary dance. He has travelled across Australia to perform with Quantum Leap in Melbourne in 2017 for the AYDF (Australian Youth Dance Festival) and most recently in Adelaide for DACI (Dance and the Child International) in 2018. He has been involved with many of QL2's major projects, collaborating with many successful artists and choreographers, some including Ruth Osborne, Jack Ziesing, Eliza Sanders, Sara Black and James Bachelor.
VINCENT SORILLA
Dancer
Vince Sorilla is a 14 year old dancer from Bom Funk Dance Studio. He has been dancing at Bom Funk for 5 years, but has had a huge passion for dance since 2010.Vince has participated in events like the Youth DanceFestival, Boys Connect, and various competitions in and out of state. Last year, he was the top performing soloist in the rising starts 12-16 year olds category for KAR dance. Outside of dance, Vince goes to Queanbeyan High and plays soccer for the Monaro Panthers.