BRETT MORGAN Billy School Ballet Trainer Brett Morgan’s career in classical and contemporary dance has seen him grace stages all over the world, performing more than 40 principal and soloist roles to critical acclaim with Australian Ballet Company, later joining Sydney Dance Company, where he performed and directed for more than 17 years, working his way up to Associate Artistic Director and running the company in 2010. Brett is the Owner and Artistic Director of the National College of Dance, fulfilling his passion to offer dancers the opportunity of elite pre-professional training within regional Australia. Awarded the Centenary Medal for his Contribution to the Arts in 2000, as well as the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to Australian Arts (in particular Dance) in 2021. Career highlights include performing and meeting The Queen at Covent Garden, performing Crixus in Spartacus at the Lincoln Centre New York, dancing at the Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Brett feels blessed to say he chose a career he loves so much he never feels he is ever going to work. Billy Elliot the Musical is Brett’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. JAKE BURDEN Billy School Ballet Trainer Jake Burden was born in the UK and completed his Degree with Elmhurst Ballet School. Jake has worked with companies around the world, including Birmingham Royal Ballet, Magdeburg Ballet, Leipzig Ballet and Singapore Ballet. Throughout his career, he danced countless choreographic works in lead roles by world renowned choreographers. Highlights of Jake’s career include being awarded the Young Dancer of the Year award (Germany) in 2011 and performing for the British Royal family and the Cambodian Royal family. Jake has also appeared in musicals including West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady, Jekyll & Hyde, Hello Dolly, Evita and Sunset Boulevard. Jake moved to Australia in 2016, starting his organisation Ballet Brothers and working for National College of Dance, where he is now the Creative Director. Jake is known for his personal choreographic style, which has been called modern, sleek and stylish by leading dance critics. Billy Elliot the Musical is Jake’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. EYGLÓ BJÖRK Billy School Acro Trainer Eygló Björk started gymnastics at a young age and kept going up to teenage years, initially competing in Artistic Gymnastics, then moved into European Team Gym. During training, there was always a big emphasis on different types of dance, including ballet, contemporary, jazz and cultural from all over the world. Eygló Björk became a teacher and a judge for artistic and team gym, which gives her a greater spectrum of how to improve her students. Eygló has been involved in the dance industry in Australia for many years and enjoys the challenges and joys of teaching the younger generation. Billy Elliot the Musical is Eygló’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. KIM HORNBY Billy School Singing Trainer Kim started her musical career at nine years of age on NBN Television as a Swallow Junior, and appeared regularly on Melbourne’s Brian and the Juniors. She has performed in many pantomimes and musical theatre shows, including the role of Marta in the Australian cast of Sound of Music, her first professional show. Her career has led to many engagements overseas in England, Europe and the Philippines (singing for the American Troops, post Vietnam War). In Australia, she has toured with Del Shannon, Simon Gallagher, Don Lane and Paul Hogan, just to name a few. Kim has recorded e-books, voiceovers and a syllabus for speech pathologists, and appeared in many commercials. Kim studied with Rowena Cowley at Sydney Conservatorium, as well as masterclasses in Umbria Italy, Newcastle Conservatorium and Early Childhood at Newcastle College of Advanced Education and has a Graduate Certificate in Music (Pedagogy) from the University of Sydney. Best known as Miss Kim from Romper Room, a role she is very proud of, she graced the television, 5 days a week for 23 years, and is documented to be the longest running hostess of that show. Kim has taught singing and musical theatre for the past 24 years, and can proudly say her students are scattered all over the world in recent productions. Kim has worked continually in TV, radio and stage for the past 60 years, so her knowledge is vast. Billy Elliot the Musical is Kim’s debut with The Very Popular Theatre Company. DANIEL STODDART Set Designer Daniel is one of the Hunter’s most well established theatre workers. As a co-founder of OzTheatrics, he produces the annual Junior Theatre Festival Australia, he is the Founder and CEO of Hunter Drama, as well as Producer and Artistic Director for The Very Popular Theatre Company. As an actor, Daniel is a multi-City of Newcastle Drama Association (CONDA) award winner, with credits including Endgame (Very Popular Theatre Company), The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Popular Theatre Company), Mary Poppins (Metropolitan Players) and Phantom Of The Opera (Metropolitan Players). Daniel is perhaps best known as one of the stars of the publicly acclaimed Ultra Swing Lounge. As a director, his credits include Jersey Boys, Rock Of Ages, The Book Of Everything, Shrek The Musical, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, The BFG, Roald Dahl’s The Twits, Spring Awakening and Fantastic Mr Fox. Daniel is an AusGrid Achievement in the Arts Award recipient for his services and contribution to the arts in the Hunter Region and a Freddie G Fellowship recipient in the USA. Daniel has been awarded the keys to the city in North Carolina for his contributions to the arts in the USA and is a published Music Theatre International author with his stage adaptation of Dot And The Kangaroo JR. Daniel is a multi-CONDA award winning Set Designer. 20
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