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Discover the exceptional team of
world-class professionals behind
Ballet Collective Australia.
Slava Tütükin
BCA Facilitator
Slava Tutukin is an accomplished arts professional with a distinguished career spanning performance, management, and education in the global performing arts sector. Born in St. Petersburg, he trained at the prestigious Vaganova Ballet Academy and began his career as a soloist with the Mikhailovsky Theatre, performing leading roles in classical ballets. In 2009, he won first prize at the International Ballet Competition in Italy. He went on to perform as a soloist with European theatres, collaborating with renowned choreographers. After retiring from the stage, Slava transitioned into arts management, taking on significant roles as Company Manager at Landestheater Linz in Austria and later as Managing Director for Ballet Dortmund and NRW Junior Ballet in Germany.
He has also produced international ballet galas and events across Germany, Australia, China, the UAE, the Maldives, Italy, and Spain, while remaining connected to education as a co-organiser and lecturer for international workshops.
In addition to his artistic expertise, Slava is highly skilled in strategic financial oversight, production planning, and cross-functional team leadership. His experience includes serving as Vice Chair for the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), where he manages a group of experts and contributes to the allocation of EU budgets. He is also a board member of Youth Ballet WA Inc. in Perth and played a vital role in collective bargaining negotiations and stage arbitration courts during his tenure as Chair of the trade union GDBA in Germany.
Slava’s contributions to the arts are defined by his ability to curate impactful cultural experiences, foster innovation, and advocate for sustainability in the creative industries. He has been deeply involved in educational initiatives and mentoring, ensuring that the next generation of artists is well-equipped for sustainable careers.
Sonya Shepherd
BCA Facilitator
Sonya Shepherd’s journey in dance began under the esteemed tutelage of Terri Charlesworth, OAM, whose guidance laid the foundation for her artistic and technical excellence. After graduating, Sonya continued her advanced training at the renowned Princess Grace Académie de Danse Classique in Monte Carlo, under the direction of Marika Besobrasova.
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During her time at the Académie, Sonya had the privilege of learning from an extraordinary roster of world-class teachers, including Yanina Ciunovas, Carlo Garcia, Maris Liepa, Asaf Messerer, Lubov Nikonorenko, Robert Ray, Martin Rubinstein, Anne Woolliams, and Yuri Vasilkov. These mentors profoundly shaped her understanding of classical ballet and refined her artistry, preparing her for a lifelong commitment to the art form.
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Passionate about nurturing the next generation of dancers, Sonya founded Youth Ballet WA, where she now serves as Performance Director. The organisation provides exceptional opportunities for young dancers, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, ensuring access to quality dance education and performance experiences. In addition to her extensive practical experience, she has completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, further demonstrating her dedication to fostering a supportive and structured environment for aspiring artists.
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​Her commitment to her students’ success has also seen her organising and leading Audition Tours across some of the most prestigious ballet schools and companies in Europe and America. These tours have provided her students with invaluable exposure to international standards of excellence and opened doors to prestigious training and career opportunities
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Sonya is also the Director of the Charlesworth Ballet Institute, where she continues the legacy of excellence established by her mother Terri Charlesworth.
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Her leadership and vision continue to shape the future of ballet in Australia, creating opportunities for young dancers to thrive both artistically and personally.
Terri Charlesworth OAM
Artistic Advisor
​Terri is a former international classical ballet teacher, choreographer, performer & educator. Terri joined the WA Ballet in 1952 under Kira Bousloff, and in 1957, she was invited to perform at the International Arts Festival in Moscow, where she won the prestigious Ulanova award for her performance of the Brolga theme and story. She also performed in China, Italy and London before returning to WA and working with the company as its principal ballerina.
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In 1960, she established her own school, and later visited and studied with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow on a cultural exchange programme. In 1979, she established a junior professional dance course, and founded WA’s first professional contemporary dance company, Kinetikos Dance Theatre. In 1981, she joined the Australian Ballet School as a senior classical teacher, and also taught in Japan, Hong Kong, Monaco, Greece and Italy. She came back to WA to establish a full-time dance course for talented students, which is now Charlesworth Ballet School and Youth Ballet WA. In 2021, she was one of the co-founders of WA Classical Ballet Teachers’ Association Inc, and became its very first Honorary Life Member.
Vicki Attard
Masterclass Coach
Vicki Attard comes from Mackay, Queensland, where she studied ballet with Dawn Armstrong and Betty Meskell before her acceptance into The Australian Ballet School.
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In 1985 she joined The Australian Ballet and was promoted to Coryphee in 1987, Soloiste in 1991, Senior Artiste in 1992 and Principal Artiste in 1993. She joined Sydney Dance Company for its 1989 season and rejoined The Australian Ballet in 1990.
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Vicki performed all principal roles and many and varied leading roles during her 15 year career with the Australian Ballet. Vicki created the role of Cio Cio San in the world premiere of Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly in 1995, the same year she won the James & Diana Ramsay Scholarship which enabled her to study in Copenhagen, London and Netherlands.
Highlights of Vicki’s career included dancing Kitri on the opening night of the Washington season, the title role of Manon in Tokyo and the opening and all subsequent performances of Cio Cio San in Madame Butterfly for the New York season. Other major Australian Ballet international tours included London, Greece, Italy, China, Japan, New Zealand, USA and Russia.
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Vicki has been the recipient of numerable scholarships enabling her to study in Copenhagen, London and Netherlands with world renowned coaches. Vicki was blessed to have worked with the world’s leading coaches and choreographers, including Gelsey Kirkland, Natalia Makarova, Dame Margaret Scott, Glen Tetley, Nacho Duato and William Forstythe.
Vicki retired at the end of 1999, and immediately undertook and received a Graduate Diploma in Dance Instruction. Vicki began teaching Australia-wide in 2000/2001, and was awarded the coveted Green Room Award for Best Female Performer.
Vicki was also involved in the Dancers Company Tours for 2000/2001, in the role of Ballet Mistress.
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Early 2001 saw Vicki assisting Stanton Welch in re-staging Madame Butterfly with The National Ballet of Canada for the ballet’s North American debut, and subsequent American seasons with Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet in 2002. Later in 2003 Vicki oversaw the final staging of Madame Butterfly for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and once again re-staged Madame Butterfly for The Australian Ballet in 2011.
Vicki has produced her own unique pointe program, entitled 'My Pointe', and subsequently released the dvd/cd for commercial sale in 2010. In 2012 ’My Beginner Pointe ’was released, which is an all-encompassing program specifically designed for
young dancers and dance teachers alike, covering the safe dance practices and aesthetic components involved in the instruction of pointe work.
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Vicki was appointed Interim Director of the Houston Ballet Academy by Houston Ballet Artistic Director, Mr. Stanton Welch AM where she oversaw 1,000+ pre-professional students as well as the second company HBII enabling her to develop personal connections with distinguished Artistic Directors from leading global academies including John Neumeier (Hamburg Ballet), Cynthia Harvey (formerly Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School and currently Associate Guest Repetiteur of English National Ballet), Julie Kent (formerly Washington Ballet and currently Co-Artistic Director Houston Ballet), and Altynia Asylmuratova (Astana Opera).
Vicki continues to freelance around the globe and celebrates 25 years in the roles of adjudicator, examiner, coach and is inspired to continue to nurture perpetual generations of young dancers.
Liam Blair
Choreographer & Masterclass Coach
Liam Blair, a Perth-native, pursued formal ballet training at the esteemed Charlesworth Ballet Institute in 2006, culminating in his achievement of a Certificate IV in Ballet and Performance by 2008.
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Continuing his education, Liam further honed his skills at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne and the School of American Ballet in New York, expanding his expertise in classical ballet.
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Notably, he received the award for the most promising young male dancer at the Royal Academy of Dance Festival in 2009 and was a finalist in the prestigious Sydney Eisteddfod ballet scholarships the same year. In 2009, Liam’s exceptional abilities earned him a scholarship to the Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco, where he underwent rigorous training in classical ballet and explored the realms of contemporary dance and choreographic composition.
His dedication and talent led to performances with esteemed companies such as Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Ballet Nice Méditerranée, and L’Opéra de Monte-Carlo.
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Upon graduating with distinction in 2011, Liam embarked on a new chapter in Germany, joining Aalto Ballett Essen, where he swiftly ascended from a corps de ballet member to soloist in 2016 and principal dancer in 2018. His repertoire includes principal and soloist roles in classical and contemporary works by renowned choreographers such as John Cranko, JiÅ™í Kylián, and George Balanchine, among others. Throughout his tenure with Aalto Ballett Essen, Liam not only captivated audiences with his performances but also served as a choreographic assistant to choreographers Denis Untila and Armen Hakobyan.
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Returning to Perth in 2021, Liam assumed a pivotal role at Youth Ballet WA, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience as a teacher, choreographer, and guest artist in residence. His choreographic creations, including acclaimed pieces like “Foot Soldiers and Generals” (2022,) “Cinderella” (2023,) “Murmurs in Solitude” (2024,) and “The Nutcracker” (2024,) have garnered acclaim, establishing him as a versatile artist dedicated to nurturing the next generation of dancers. In 2024, Liam extended his impact by joining Perth Youth Ballet as a choreographer, providing young aspiring dancers across the state with the opportunity to collaborate and learn from his extensive expertise and experience.
Jake Burden
Masterclass Coach
Jake was born in West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. Having studied at the Royal Ballet School, The Hammond School and Elmhurst Ballet School, Jake was exposed to many different styles of dance. Jake has experience dancing professionally with companies around the globe such as Birmingham Royal Ballet, Boca Ballet, Magdeburg Ballet, Leipzig Ballet and Singapore Ballet, performing roles such as Basilo (Don Quixote), Prince (Nutcracker), Drummer Boy (Graduation Ball), and many more.
During his time as a dancer Jake also appeared in musicals including West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Evita and Hello Dolly. Jake joined Leipzig Ballet in 2013; he was a part of their ARTE film CHAPLIN. Jake has also performed for Cambodian Royalty at the Cambodian Palace and British Royalty at Windsor Castle. In 2016 Jake was invited back to Germany with his wife Emma to perform in the International Ballet Gala Germany. During his career Jake has performed works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Augustus Bournanville, Goh Choo San, Gonzalo Galguera, Ma Cong, David Bintley, Uwe Scholtz and many more. Among his many personal and professional achievements, Jake was named German young dancer of the year award in 2011 and was named one to watch by dance critics.
In 2016 Jake founded Ballet Brothers, an organisation aiming to bring together and support all male dancers. Recognising the need to support and guide young male dancers Ballet Brothers aims to provide a platform for male artists. Ballet Brothers has provided workshops, summer programs, private coaching, scholarships and more. Ballet Brothers fosters a community where male dancers celebrate their love of the art.
Jake has over a decade of teaching experience, having joined National College of Dance in 2016 and became the Creative Director in 2020. In his role Jake has guided and placed countless students in leading schools and companies worldwide. Jake has mentored students who have gone on to compete in top international competitions including Prix de Lausanne and Youth America Grand Prix. Jake’s teaching approach emphasises combining technique and artistry, while nurturing creativity and expression. Jake aims to inspire a lifelong love of dance and help students achieve their personal goals.
Jake Burden has been widely recognised by the dance world as a passionate, bright, and inspired rising choreographer. Critics have described his choreography as modern, sleek and stylish. As a choreographer, Jake has created many works for National College of Dance and for external schools and companies. Some of his works include, ‘Forest of Mind’ presented at the Sydney International Gala where it received rave reviews from critics, ‘Element’ for Porsche, ’Regal edge’ for Sydney Chocolate Ball, editorials for Façon Magazine, a music video for Ben Gillies, ‘All Directions’ for Ballet Gala Australia and many more.
Jake continuously strives to refine his teaching methods and challenge students, always aiming to foster an environment that encourages growth, discipline, and self-expression. Jake aims to contribute to the Australian dance community in a meaningful way for decades to come.
Justine Miles
Masterclass Coach
Initially from Sydney Justine trained in her early years with Anne Mosdell and then the Halliday School of Dance.
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Justine was accepted into the Australian Ballet School under the Directorship of Dame Margaret Scott and after graduating with Distinction was selected to join the Australian Ballet under the Directorship of Maina Gielgud.
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She quickly achieved rank of Leading Soloist, working with such greats as Sir Robert Helpmann, Rudolf Nureyev, Galina Ulanova, Anne Woolliams, Yiri Kylian and many others. She has danced Principal and Soloist roles in many ballets including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, The Merry Widow, Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre, La Bayadere, La Fille Mal Gardee, Four last Songs, Apollo, Gala Performance, Equus and La Sylphide.
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Justine was also a Guest Principal Artist for the National Ballet of Canada and the Dancers Company.
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Justine has been teaching for over 24 years, also taking on the role of Ballet Mistress for the Melbourne Ballet Company, guest teaching for The Australian Ballet Company and currently teaches for The Australian Ballet “Studios” program.
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Justine is also a Dance Adjudicator and Ballet Examiner and was Guest Adjudicator for the Royal Academy of Dance Isobel Anderson Awards in NSW and the Royal Academy of Dance Awards in SA. She has also been a guest teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance summer, autumn and winter schools taking masterclasses and repertoire classes in South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania.
Leanne Stojmenov
Masterclass coach
Leanne Stojmenov joined West Australian Ballet’s Artistic Management Team as Rehearsal Director in 2024.
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Growing up in Perth, Leanne began her professional career at West Australian Ballet at the age of 17. Under the directorship of Ted Brandsen, she enjoyed numerous opportunities that both enriched her career and inspired her as a young artist. In 2001, Leanne joined The Australian Ballet Company, where she spent 18 years, eight of those in the role of Principal Artist, leading the company.
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Scholarship allowed her to study at Netherlands Dance Theatre, The Paris Opera Ballet, Les Ballet de Monte Carlo and Dutch National Ballet.
Leanne worked with choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, John Neumeier, Wayne McGregor and Sir Peter Wright and performed works by aspirational visionaries such as George Balanchine, John Cranko, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Jerome Robbins, Jiri Kylian and Nacho Duato.
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Throughout her career, Leanne toured globally as a leading ballerina and has guested with Houston Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet, Christopher Wheeldons Morphosis and performed at the Miami International Dance Festival. She was awarded the Australian Dance Award for Most Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer for her portrayal of Cinderella, in Alexei Ratmansky’s Cinderella.
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Since retiring from the stage, Leanne transitioned into the role of dance lecturer at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she imparted her knowledge to students and restaged productions. Leanne is also one of the founding committee members and later Vice President of Ballet Without Borders, where she played a pivotal role in championing and raising funds to provide pathways and educational opportunities for children who would otherwise not have access to dance.