TEAM 24

Melinda Sweeney

Principal / Director

Melinda started performing at 4 years old and received extensive training in the following specific styles of dance Classical, Jazz Ballet, Tap, American Funk and Hip Hop. Melinda was a professional dancer and choreographer during the entertainment boom of the 80's, working in all facets of the industry.

Melinda studied extensively in Australia and overseas performing with many international entertainers. Working alongside numerous artists such as Kelley Abbey, Jacquie Howard and Matt Lee.

After a successful career Melinda's goals were with developing children who shared the same dreams and passion for performing and entertaining a live audience.

In February 1988 the Just Jazz Talent Company was formed to pass on this knowledge to children, developing their skills and offering opportunities for performance in all levels and styles.

In July 2005, Melinda achieved a major milestone.The Just Jazz Talent Company further diversified and expanded into a new purpose built facility, offering students better programmes and incorporating tuition in the music industry. Studio 24 was born and added another exciting step in the journey.

As the Director of Studio 24 Melinda's main goal is to provide expert Tuition in all Genres of dance,carefully hand picking the best teachers Australia has to offer.

Melinda still enjoys teaching classes, especially the younger dancers as they need a good foundation to start their journey into the world of dance. Choreographing winning dance routines for the TDW is also her passion.

'I am very lucky to do what I do for a living'

The thrill of seeing an audience enjoying something that I have helped to create or develop is really special, yes, I am very lucky.


Jessica Ashton

Jessica holds a Certificate IV in Performing Arts from Brent Street Studios in Sydney. Whilst completing full-time dance studies, Jessica worked with countless industry professionals and took classes and workshops with internationally recognised artists.

Jessica has been dancing and performing since she was 4 years old. In that time, she has been involved in many productions including Goosebumps, developed for the Channel 7 Kids Carnival, The Adams Family Stage Show, produced by Studio 24 and Back to The Future, which was performed at the Don Russel Performing Arts Centre and major Shopping Centre venues.

In 2003, Jessica attended the LA Dance Force workshop and was awarded a Scholarship. She also participates in the Brent Street Summer School in Sydney every January where she received extensive training in all areas of performing arts.

Jessica won the lead role of Dorothy in Willetton Senior High Schools production of The Wizard of Oz in 2005 and was the character Bobby in The New MacDonalds Farm Stage Show which was presented at the Turning on of the Christmas Lights Forrest Place, Perth in 2006.

In 2008, Jessica performed and choreographed with Studio 24 Professional Corporate Shows and was a company member of Steps Youth Dance Company for their June season 'nospace'.

Jessica performed in the Perth Production of the National Candyman Tour at the Regal Theatre. She has also represented EduDance as a teacher in many primary schools across the metro area.

Jessica performed as one of the Perth Glory Cheerleaders in the 2013/2014 season.

Jessica completed her Certificate III an IV in Fitness at the Australian Institute of Fitness and is a fully qualified personal fitness trainer.

In 2017 Jessica toured Australia with 'Infamous' Circus Cabaret as dance captain and co-choreographer.

Jessica teaches Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Contemporary, Song & Dance and Acrobatics and will be leading many of the Comp Squad classes with her award winning choreography.

You can see a list of Jessica's credits on the Wall of Fame.

Keeley Kuther

Keeley has been part of the Studio 24 Family since she was 3 years old and has trained in all genres.

For the past 4 years Keeley has been a key assistant for several teachers at the studio particularly with the Ballet and Hip Hop programs.

Keeley has been apart of the TDW program for 8 years competing locally in troupes, solos and duos.

Keeley has travelled to the USA twice where she performed and attended workshops in LA, Orlando and New York.

Keeley also dances at corporate events and cheerleads for both the state and national basketball teams Willetton Tigers and West Coast Waves.

Keeley has a Cert 2 in Dance and is also teaching in primary schools for EduDance

We are very happy to have Keeley teaching Ready Set Ballet, Ready Set Dance, Hip Hop and Comp Squad

Elysha Atwell

Elysha started dancing at studio 24 in 2004 when she was 3 years old and is trained in all genres.

Since age 6 Elysha has been part of the TDW program at Studio 24. Since then Elysha has been apart of all genres of troupes, competing in many dance competitions. Elysha has also been very successful when competing as a soloist and in many duos and trios.

Elysha also performs as one of our cheerleaders for the Willetton Tigers SBL teams, aswell as cheerleading for the Perth Lynx and West Coast Waves on occasions.

In 2011 Elysha joined us for our first America trip where she performed at Disneyland, universal studios and Hollywood boulevard, also taking part in workshops at Disneyland and the edge performing arts centre. Elysha also joined us in 2017 as we travelled back to America taking part in even more performances such as on the Carnival Miracle cruise ship and took part in workshops at Abby Lee dance Company LA and Millennium dance complex.

In 2012 Elysha travelled to Sydney to take part in Brent streets winter intensive workshop where she took part in a 4 day long program of workshops where she took class from some of the best such as Stephen Tannos. Later in the year Elysha travelled down south to Busselton where she took place in a southwest summer school dance intensity workshop. Over the five days of the intensity workshop, Elysha participated in workshops by Davie Denis, Nancy Denis, Austin Chandler and studio 24’s own Jessica Sweeney.

Elysha has also taken part in many other workshops over the years with dancers such as Marko Panzic, Michael Dameski, Katie Sanchez, Ryan Sheppard, Lauren Seymour and popular “dance academy” stars such as Jordon Rodrigues, Isabel Durant and Keiynan Lonsdale.

In 2013 Elysha began studying at John Curtin College of the Art’s in the specialist dance program where she performed in many productions over the years such as Snow queen, Alice in wonderland, Innovations, reflections and many more. In Elysha’s final years at JCCA she studied dance ATAR. After completing her final year 12 WACE exams she received an invitation to audition for the show Perspectives after receiving one of the highest marks in WA in the WACE dance practical exam, 2017.

For the past 3 years Elysha has been contracted to Showtime Attractions, which she has performed in shows such as Trolls as the host and Peter Pan as Tinkerbelle, as well as taking part in many other performance opportunities.

Elysha performed in Cararet de Paris, The Untilate Vegas Show and Circus of Illusion at Crown Theater Elysha also performed at the Fringe Festival in Madonna Circus and the Dolly Parton Spectacular 2020/2021

Jacquie La Roche

Jacquie began her dancing life at the age of 5 with Jazz, Tap and Ballet. At the age of 6 her love of dance further developed as she was selected to perform at the Fremantle Theatre in the production "Cinderella" as one of the fairies.

Jacquie has been a part of Studio 24 since 2011, training in Commercial Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Contemporary, Acro and Hip Hop. Jacquie has been a member of Comp Squad since 2012 and has competed at local dance competitions in solos, duos, trios and troupe dances.

Jacquie was part of our 2014 USA tour to Orlando, Florida, the 2017 USA tour to Anaheim and Los Angeles, California and the 2019 cruise from Sydney to New Caledonia where she had multiple prestigious performance opportunities and participated in numerous workshops run by leaders in the dance industry.


Jacquie completed both a Cert III in Assistant Dance Teaching and Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management. She continues to engage in professional development courses each year to ensure she can provide her students with her highest level of teaching.

Jacquie has been an accredited teacher of Ready Set Dance & Ready Set Ballet at Studio 24 since 2018 and added Ready Set Move in 2022 & Ready Set Acro in 2023 (when both programs were created) & continues to participate in yearly training & development to maintain her accreditation.

Jacquie became our Ready Set Coordinator in 2018, helping to develop our incredible Ready Set Team, organise our special events, End of Year Showcases and strives to grow our Ready Set program for the next generation of dancers, so they can fall in love with dance too.

Emma Gherardi

Emma has been training at Studio 24 for 14 years in Commercial Jazz, Ballet, Hiphop, Lyrical, Contemporary, Tap, Acrobatics and Cheerleading and completed her Certificate II in Dance in 2016.

Emma competed in many competitions with Studio 24 including troupes, solos and duos, as well as performing with the cheerleading Tigerettes at the State Basketball League for many years. Emma also participated in numerous workshops with choreographers such as Ryan Sheppard “Wicked” the Musical, Jason Coleman Ministry of Dance and dancers from Cirque du Soleil.

Emma travelled to America in 2014 & 2017 with Studio 24, performing at Disney Theme Parks, Universal Studios and NASA. Whilst in America, Emma attended workshops at Broadway Dance Centre in New York, Millenium Dance Complex in Hollywood and Edge Performing Arts in LA.

Emma has a love of performing and entertaining young children and over the years was contracted to Showtime Attractions regularly performing in live stage shows, also took part in a short film for Constance Care and is currently the Dance Coordinator for Leap Start Early Learning.

After successfully being contracted to Krave Perth Dance Agency in 2017, Emma has completed 2 international cruise ship contracts:

2018/2019 Royal Caribbean Cruiselines, Allure of the Seas, DreamWorks

2019/2020 Bahamas Paradise Cruiselines - Grand Classica, Soul of the City and Blitz theatre shows.

Recently performing with Carmelo Entertainment, Ashton Entertainment and Collective Entertainment in corporate shows and entertainment shows.

Emma is back in Perth to teach at Studio 24 choreographing solos/duos and competition troupes as well as continuing her performing career whilst back in Perth.

Lilee Slobe

Lilee has been training at Studio 24 since 2009 in Jazz, Tap, Acrobatics, Hip Hop, Ballet and Lyrical.

She has been apart of Comp Squad and competing in troupes for 9 years.

Lilee has performed as a cheerleader for the Willetton Tigers (State Basketball League) for a few years and has had the opportunity to perform at the Perth Lynx Basketball.

Lilee travelled to Florida in the 2017 USA tour to Anaheim and Los Angeles, California where she performed at Disney World, Universal Studios, Hollywood Boulevard and Kennedy Space Station. Whilst in Orlando, Anaheim & Los Angeles, Lilee attended workshops at the Disney Performing Arts, The Edge, Millenium Dance Complex and Abbey Lee Dance Company.

Lilee has been an assistant at Studio 24 for the last few years and is now teaching Acrobatics and Hip Hop as well as Acrobatic Troupe for Studio 24 Comp Squad.

Sharon Webb

Sharon joined the Studio 24 family at age 2, and has trained in Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Commercial Jazz.

Sharon has competed in a range of genres at local dance competitions as a member of our Comp Squad, and has previously been a cheerleader for the Willetton Tigers (State Basketball League).

She has participated in numerous productions with Lumen Christi College, including Guys and Dolls, Peter Pan and Hairspray. In 2016, Sharon was the Dance Captain for Lumen Christi College, running extra curricular dance classes for years 7 -12, as well as participating and choreographing in both the Liturgical and Specialist Dance troupes, performing as part as the Catholic Performing Arts Festival. She also studied ATAR Dance in Years 11 & 12.

Sharon has participated in many performance opportunities around Perth, including dancing for Em Rusciano’s “Rage + Rainbows” tour (2019), and promotional work for McDonalds, most notably at the AFL Grand Final 2021.

Sharon loves working with our little ones and she is so excited to teach Ready Set Dance, Ready Set Ballet, Ready Set Move with Me and Hip Hop, as well as choreographing solos for our Comp Squad dancers.

Krysten Parker

Krysten’s love of dance started with classical ballet at the age of 3, joining Studio 24 at age 5 she has trained extensively in all genres of dance.

Part of the Comp Squad team for 10 years she has performed at various competitions in all Troupes and competed successfully as a soloist and in duos/trios.

Krysten was accepted into the gifted and talented program for Contemporary Dance at John Curtin College of the Arts where she has furthered her training in Ballet and Contemporary.

Attending various local workshops from visiting artists such as Marko Panzic, Renee Ritchie, Paris Cavanagh and Abbey Lee Miller.

Cheerleading for the Willetton Tigers (State Basketball League) for a number of years and on occasion the West Coast Waves and Perth Lynx Basketball Teams.
Also taking part in various performances at events such as community fairs, shopping centres, charity and corporate events.

Travelling to America with Studio 24 in 2017 she performed at various locations such as Disneyland, Hollywood Boulevard and Universal Studios. Whilst in Los Angeles attending dance workshops at Millenium Dance Complex, Abbey Lee Dance Co LA and the Edge Performing Arts Center.

Krysten has completed a Cert III in Education support she is currently studying the Cert IV.

Taking part in yearly training for the Ready Set Dance program and assisting classes for the last few years Krysten has now progressed to become a certified Ready Set Ballet teacher and has also completed training for the Dance Cirque program.

Krysten has been an assistant teacher for a number of years as well as choreographing solos for Studio 24 's younger dancers. Krysten is now excited to have her own classes to share her experience and passion for dance with her students, helping them to gain confidence and reach their full potential.

Caris Holroyd

Caris wants to share her knowledge of dance with her students and see their passion grow.

Caris began dancing at the age of 5, at David Birrell’s Ballroom Studio. Majestique School of Dance
followed shortly after this, where she trained in RAD Classical Ballet, Jazz and Tap. Caris started to
assist some classes at Majestique, and found her love and passion for teaching.

In 2014 Caris moved to Dance Fit, and starting training in other styles such as Contemporary, Hip-Hop and Acrobatics.

Caris has successfully completed her RAD Intermediate Foundation,Intermediate and Advanced Foundation exams, and AICD Borovansky Intermediate exam, as well as many Ballroom exams.

Caris has also competed in many competitions and grown as a performer, while becoming a role model to her students.

From February 2018 – December 2019, Caris completed her AdvancedDiploma in Performing Arts, majoring in Dance at Principal Academy of Dance and Theatre Arts.

Throughout her studies Caris continued to find professional work, starring in the ECU campaign,‘One World’, performing for Crown on New Years Eve 2019 and most recently performing in the Crowns ‘Christmas Spectacular’.

Caris also works in schools with the Edu Dance program offering her amazing training and a differentapproach behaviour and classroom management skills.

Throughout her training Caris continued teaching and passing on her new-found knowledge

Kade Sweeney

Kade has been training at Studio 24 since he was 5 years old in Jazz, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, Classical, Contemporary and Lyrical.

Kade was accepted into WAAPA when he was 14 years old but due to his Sate Basketball commitments Kade was unable to accept the offer.

In 2015 Kade moved to Melbourne for two years where he completed a Certificate IV in Dance and Diploma in Musical Theater.

Kade has performed all over Australia working with Australia's top Australian choreographers.

2017/2018 Kade is contracted to Royal Caribbean, Ovation of The Seas and is performimg in the show 'Pixels'.

2019/2020 Kade is contracted to Royal Caribbean, Quantum of The Seas

2022 Quantum of the Seas

Kade will be teaching at Studio 24 between his contacts with Royal Caribbean.

Gabby Kirby

Gabby is from Tampa Florida and Trained at All American Dance Factory -17 years and at All American Classical Ballet School - 9 years.

Gabby has been working as a professional dancer for the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
2015 - 2016 Royal Caribbean International Quantum Of The Seas - Sequins and FeathersSonic Odyssey - Dancer/Showgirl
2016 - 2017 Royal Caribbean International Ovations Of The Seas Sequins and Feathers - Live, Love, Legs - Dancer/Showgirl
2017 - 2018 Royal Caribbean InternationalQuantum Of The Seas - Starwater - Dancer/Aerialist
2018 - 2019 Royal Caribbean International Ovations Of The Seas Sequins and Feathers - Live, Love, Legs - Dancer/Showgirl
2019 - 2020 Royal Caribbean InternationalQuantum Of The Seas - Starwater - Dancer/Aerialist

Since Gabby has been living in Perth she has performed in Cabaret de Paris and the Ultimate Vegas Show - Crown Theater.
Gabby also performed at the Fringe Festival in Madonna Circus and the Dolly Parton Spectacular 2020/2021

Gabby is now working in Perth at Studio 24 teaching Acrobatics, AcroPlus and Ballet.