OUR AD INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS:
INTRODUCING OUR JUDGES...
DANIEL BOURG
Originally from Chelmsford, Essex, England. By the time that de Bourg was eleven, he was offered a full scholarship to study at the Royal Ballet School after being spotted by talent scouts, and graduating at top of his class with his final solo performance. Although dance was his primary interest, as a teen he was also fronting bands. He left school when given the opportunity to dance for the Rambert Dance Company, performing as a featured dancer all over the world. It was at the suggestion of a friend that heard him singing that de Bourg found himself in the position for a career in music.
EMILY LOUISE SHEPERTON
Emily is an experienced Choreographer and Instructor with a professional career spanning over twenty years.
Emily founded and directed her own company in 2008 (E L Dance Company) which ran successfully for twelve years specialising in modern dance, performance and acrobatics.
Emily created @thedancerbody method in 2020 - an online and in studio dance workout which combines her passion for dance and fitness.
She has taught/lectured in Dance throughout London and the South East including at St Mary’s University and Pineapple Dance Studios. She continues her creative work with young people currently coaching at the prestigious Wimbledon High school in south west London.
Emily is thrilled to bring her expertise to The Aaron Dwyer Competition.
FRANCISCA
Francisca will also be leading our contemporary scholarship knockout workshop.
Francisca started dancing at the Centro de Dança do Porto, in Portugal and won multiple awards from dance competitions. Francisca trained at the Institute of the Arts Barcelona, where she achieved Dance student of the Year Award in 2016.
During her time in Barcelona, she performed and choreographed for theatre, TV and outdoor performances in Sitges, Barcelona and Castellon.
Upon graduating in 2018, Francisca moved to London to work with Holly Noble Dance Company and The London Dance Company , and subsequently has been performing and teaching in the UK, Abu Dhabi and Portugal ever since.
This year Francisca has been apart of the judging panels in portugal - Portugal a Dançar, Dança na Praça and Temos Artista.
JESSICA HILL
Jessica Hill has travelled the world as a dancer and circus artist, performing in musicals, onboard cruise ships, in cabarets, festivals and at high end corporate events for over 10 years.
She choreographs for a number of events each year and opened her own circus school, Showtime Circus in 2018. The school has grown from strength to strength and is now hosts Associate courses and a BTEC in Circus and Performing Arts.
Circus and Dance are growing increasingly important to learn side by side and she is really excited to adjudicate the next acro and circus stars of the future.
MATT BLAKER
Matt graduated from the Guildford School of Acting with a First-Class Degree in Musical Theatre. From August Matt will be playing Raoul in the West End production of Phantom of the Opera.
Theatre credits include: Billy Bigelow in Carousel (Kilworth House), Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys (International Tour), Ernst in Cabaret (English Theatre, Frankfurt), James in Jesus Christ Superstar (International Tour), Policeman in the Pit in The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre), Lt Cable in South Pacific (Guernsey), Levi in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (National Tour) and Mr Bingley in Pride and Prejudice (Lyric Theatre, Belfast).
Workshops include: Simon Stride in Jekyll and Hyde for Lambert Jackson Productions and NOLA for Delirium Theatre Company.
Television includes: The Crown (Netflix)
KEVIN HOWE
Kevin Howe discovered his love for dance and trained for over 15 years in Canada. His training included a wide range of styles including Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acrobatics and Modern/Contemporary, training extensively at Leeming Danceworks in Ottawa, Ontario.
Kevin took his professional dance career to new heights with a move to Toronto, where he proudly worked as a dancer with many talented artists and choreographers including Lady Gaga (LaurieAnn Gibson), Ke$ha (Ryan Hengton), Girlicious (Bobby Newberry), and more.
His foray onto the big screen includes film and TV credits for Disney, HBO, CBC, BBC, CW, FX & Netflix. Most recently, he has been working on a very exciting project for Disney+, as well as the Award winning Netflix series, “The Crown”.
One of Kevin’s crowning moments as a professional dancer included being chosen as a contestant on the fourth and final season of So You Think You Can Dance Canada, making it to the top 16 performers.
Beyond his career as a performer, Kevin has grown into a renowned and talented choreographer, teacher and adjudicator. Recognised in the industry for his creativity and innovative choreography style, winning numerous awards from as young as 16.
Kevin’s passion and talent for teaching and choreography has lead him to a successful career in teaching Master Classes to both students and teachers in some of the top Studios, Workshops, and Conventions within Canada and has also recently joined the faculty at The Hub Studios London
MATTHEW
Matthew is an commercial artist based in London, from Birmingham where he trained since age 3 in various styles such as ballet, tap, jazz and disco freestyle. At age 17, he was accepted into Addict Dance Academy where he trained in commercial and hip hop styles and realised his love for these styles as the made him feel like himself! Matthew now works in London as a professional dancer and is very blessed and grateful to have so many amazing opportunities and credits such as; Britney Spears, Elton John, YUNGBLOOD, Netflix, Disney+, Itv, BBC and is currently working on an exciting film with Universal. Matthew is very excited to be judging and experiencing all the talent in person, wishing each performer luck and the best day!
MARIA
Theatre includes: CeeCee in Elixir (The Other Palace), Anna Leonowens (Standby) in The King and I (UK & International Tour); Kathy Selden in Singin’ In The Rain (Adelphi Theatre); Glinda (Standby) in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Alt. Christine Daaé in Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's); Mariana, U/S Mimma and Sarah in Mimma (Cadogan Hall); Belle in Beauty And The Beast (The Anvil); U/S Glinda and Nessarose in Wicked (Apollo Victoria); Marie in Nutcracker! The Musical (Pleasance Theatre); Catherine in Gatsby (Arts Theatre); Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music; Talia in Pierced; Beauty in Beauty And The Beast; Maid Marion in Robin Hood; Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show (40th Anniversary UK Tour); Martha in Spring Awakening (Broadway Theatre); Young Maid in Bernarda Alba (Union Theatre); Crazy For You (London Palladium) and Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (UK Tour).
Workshops include: Graham in But I’m a Cheerleader, Esmerelda in The Legend of Notre Dame, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty the Musical, and Julie in The Theory of Relativity.
Film includes: Tavern Girl in Tulip Fever (The Weinstein Company), Nat in Skulls (Porcelain Film) and Featured Student in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone & Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner Bros).
MIKE
Mike is currently working as a professional dancer after training at the Urdang Academy.
Mike works in various areas of the industry but mostly specialises in TV. Featuring in adverts for clients as big as Google, commercial campaigns, online commercials, feature film, BBC Drama, Strictly Come Dancing, music videos, fashion shows & stage.
NICOLE
Nicole started dancing at the age of 3yrs old where she started off her dancing journey at Southsea School of Dance, working through her RAD & ISTD training in grades.
Nicole was lucky enough to have a wonderful childhood career performing in numerous pantomimes, Touring with ‘Barney's colourful world’ UK tour, performing at the Disney Channel Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, performed as one of the leads in London Children’s Ballet ‘Ballet Shoes’ choreographed by Mathew Hart to name a few!
Nicole furthered her training At Tring Park for the Performing Arts receiving a place on the dance course from Year 7. She then went on to further her training at the very prestigious Laine Theatre Arts where she obtained a Level 6 National Diploma in musical theatre and Dance.
Nicole was lucky enough to work on several professional jobs including dancer for the Wimbledon opening ceremony, working with Cheryl Cole in 2014, performing and assistant choreographer for Katya and Neil jones show of ‘Somnium’ in 2019 at Sadler Wells, Opening for the Royal Family Dance crew (after dark) in 2019, which was choreographed by herself and Neil Jones to name a few.
ROBBIE J MCMILLAN
Robbie trained at a the Ritz Performing Arts Centre and with the Queensland Ballet Professional Year in Brisbane. He guested with the Paris Opera Ballet on their 2009 tour before accepting a contract with the Queensland Ballet in 2010. With Queensland Ballet he danced most of the major classical ballets including; Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Carmen and The Little Mermaid along with a variety of contemporary ballet works.⠀
He joined contemporary dance company Expressions as an associate artist in 2013 before travelling the world for 4 years dancing for several cruise lines including Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises. ⠀⠀
Robbie moved to London in 2017 and has performed in a variety of musicals in the West End, on tour and abroad including; CATS (International Tour), Chess (London. Coliseum), Flashdance (UK Tour), Guys and Dolls (Paris) CATS (Kilworth House), Johanne Strauss Gala (UK Tour.)⠀⠀
He has just finished performing in the Broadway revival of Kathleen Marshall’s Anything Goes at London’s Barbican Centre in 2021.⠀
Whilst continuing to perform, he is now the resident Theatre Jazz teacher for Hamilton Theatre Arts in Glasgow, Scotland and choreographs in theatre colleges across the United Kingdom. He is the creator of INDUSTRY JAZZ; an online Musical Theatre Jazz class that has now extended into a live class weekly in London. ⠀
RUBY LILLY
Ruby Lilly started dancing at the age of 2 and instantly found her passion, studying ballet, tap, & jazz. Ruby continued her dance training full time in Classical, Neoclassical, & Contemporary dance at the Royal Academy of Dance where she gained her Degree in Ballet Education with Licentiate. During her time in London she performed in various classical and contemporary roles.
Severe injuries cut short her performance career and she turned focus to teaching and discovering a love for Acrobatics & Acro Dance. After multiple surgeries she returned to theatre & TV performance. Just before the pandemic, Ruby opened a dance facility in Bristol.
Ruby regularly judges for leading dance competitions across the UK and is excited to be judging at Take the Stage International.
SAMARA
Samara Tong is a Canadian professional dancer who has been working in the commercial dance industry for 15 years. Samara trained extensively since the age of 5 in acrobatics, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, and theatre at her competitive dance studio in Ontario, Canada. Her success as a dancer in Canada lead her to move to London, UK in 2017. She has worked with world famous recording artists such as Dua Lipa, Little Mix, Shawn Mendes, Julia Michaels, Sean Paul, and Bring Me The Horizon. Samara has performed at festivals and awards shows around the UK, Europe, and Canada including The Brit Awards, UEFA Champions League Finals, and iHeart Radio MMVAs.
Releasing on Netflix later this year, Samara will be featured as part of the core group of dancers on the new Netflix Original series “Dance100”.
STUART VINCENT
Stuart studied at Arts Educational Schools London. His range of theatre credits includes “Play on! Shakespeare!” With the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican and “Romeo and Juliet” at Orange Tree Theatre.
He recently did an International and UK tour of The Kite Runner.He has been in a range of TV commercials for BBC, E4, PayPal, TUI and Dubizzle (UAE).
When not acting, Stuart is a Director and Choreographer. He is part of a film company which has just finished their first Feature Film, “When the Screaming Starts” that has been Favourites at Film Festivals in London and the U.S
In 2019, Stuart was part of a short film called “Good Luck” which won Best Cinematography at the British Independent Film Festival Awards.
YAW DARKO
Yaw has been dancing and teaching since he was 19. Has competed in competitions such us the UK Hip Hop Championships and various UDO championships. In 2006 he placed 1st the Southern UDO Championships and 2nd in the worlds.
He has since gone on to perform in shows like Move it, Dancers Delight, Breakin Convention, World of Dance and breakout. Having a hand in choreographing in each of the performances and often being the main choreographer. He has taught in various countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Scotland and Wales.
Yaw, has also a wide range of judging experience in various competitions up and down the country.
In 2019 he was nominated as male choreographer of the year by the UK dance awards.
He is currently the resident locking teacher at Base and Studio 68 Dance Studios in London and runs his own Locking company Funk of the Future.