ISS2026 Faculty

Lachlan Monaghan

Classical Ballet / Repertoire

Born in Sydney, Lachlan began his training at The McDonald College, where his early passion for tap dancing soon evolved into a love of ballet. In 2009, he won the Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Scholarship, which led to a short-term placement at The Royal Ballet School in London. He was later offered a full scholarship to continue his training there and went on to win bronze at the Genée International Ballet Competition in 2010.

While still a student, Lachlan performed with The Royal Ballet in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Romeo and Juliet, where he danced the role of Mercutio—his most treasured to date. He joined Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2012 and rose through the ranks to become Principal Dancer in 2023.

His extensive repertoire includes lead roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, La Fille mal Gardée and The Nutcracker. A multi-talented artist, Lachlan is also a tap dancer, pianist, photographer, and holds a BA in Business (Honours).

Bronte Hull

Classical Ballet / Repertoire

A Former Principal Dancer with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Bronte began dancing at age four and trained at the prestigious Australian Ballet School. She launched her professional career with a soloist role in Don Quixote for the Australian Dancers Company before accepting a contract with the RNZB.

Bronte’s exceptional talent saw her perform the title role in Christopher Hampson’s Cinderella and many classical favourites such as Swanhilda in Coppelia and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. She toured extensively, performing works by renowned choreographers including Johan Kobborg, Liam Scarlett, Benjamin Millepied and Ethan Stiefel. A career highlight was performing Giselle alongside mentor Gillian Murphy.

After leaving the stage, Bronte became a qualified RAD teacher and sports nutritional advisor. She is now a freelance ballet teacher who enjoys sharing her love of dance with students of all ages and abilities.

Steve Rooks

Contemporary

Steve Rooks began his dance training in Washington, D.C. He continued his training in New York City as a scholarship student. He danced with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and the Martha Graham Dance Company, where he achieved the rank of Principal Dancer. Steve is a Professor of Dance and Resident Choreographer at Vassar College in the US.

Steve’s award-winning career has seen him commissioned to create many new works for some of the world’s most recognised companies across the US and in countries such as Finland and India. Steve has been appointed to many guest residencies in Costa Rica and France. He is also a sought-after guest teacher, working with the American Academy of Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Mexico, the North Carolina School of the Arts, and now the International Summer School in Sydney.

He is currently a Board Director for the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Paul Boyd

Classical Ballet

Paul has received the German Critics Award for ‘Best Up and Coming Artist in Europe’ and ‘Best Established Artist in Europe’ in Düsseldorf. He has made guest appearances in the US, Israel, Germany, Italy, Monte Carlo, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and France.

In 1993, Paul danced the title role in Spartacus at the Summer Arts Festival in Italy. His extensive repertoire includes principal roles in all the classics, with many distinguished international choreographers.

He has been a guest teacher / choreographer for the Royal Ballet School in London, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and The Australian Ballet’s Bodytorque season in 2005.

Paul is the Academy Ballet Master and Resident Choreographer at the Queensland Ballet Academy.

Sian Sherwood

Junior Classical Ballet / Repertoire / Character

Sian began dancing at age 4, studying Royal Academy of Dance Ballet, CSTD Tap, Jazz and Theatrical genres. In 2010 she began dance training at the Macarthur Ballet Studio, taking classes in RAD Ballet, Character, Jazz, Lyrical and Contemporary. She completed her RAD Grades and Vocational levels to Advanced 2, gaining a Distinction for each exam.

In 2017, Sian moved to Melbourne to take a place in the Victorian State Ballet’s Pre-Professional program. She gained knowledge of the Company’s full repertoires of Gabriel, The Magic Toy Shop, Snow White and Cinderella. Sian was also part of the Victorian State Ballet’s Australian Premiere of Le Corsaire.

Sian has completed a Progressing Ballet Technique and Ready Set Dance certification and her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies through the Royal Academy of Dance.

Kristen Hockley

Junior Jazz / Musical Theatre / Lyrical

Kristen started in Year 7 at The McDonald College, initially studying classical ballet and dance. She then discovered a love of musical theatre, teaching and choreography and has since turned that passion into her career.

Kristen is the Dance Development Officer for Sports Tots, a program she developed that provides dance education to early childhood centres. She is also a trained Ready Set Dance and Ready Set Ballet teacher and assistant choreographer for City Kids Theatre’s productions.
Kristen has choreographed Miranda Musical Society’s Beautiful, The Carole King Musical, and Engadine Musical Society’s Jersey Boys.

Kristen’s performance credits include featured dancer roles in Priscilla to Moulin Rouge, Folies Bergere and Grease Fever. Other highlights include roles in Beauty and the Beast, High School Musical, Aladdin, Lion King, Footloose and Wizard of Oz.

Sarah Bakker

Jazz

Sarah Bakker is a dancer, singer, and actor who has appeared in many of the world’s most spectacular musicals in Australia, Broadway, and London’s West End theatres.

Sarah trained at The Dance Works, The Queensland Dance School of Excellence and The Young Conservatorium of Music and made her stage debut as a young Cosette in Les Misérables.

Sarah’s early theatre credits include The Phantom of the Opera in Singapore and Australia. She has also toured internationally, playing lead roles, key roles and as part of the ensemble for productions such as Chicago and Mary Poppins.

Sarah’s credits include Evita in Slovenija, Follies in Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, and the original cast of Mrs Henderson Presents. She has also performed in An American in Paris, Chess, and Svetlana. Recently, Sarah performed in The Phantom of the Opera with Opera Australia.

Lindsay Ellman-Brown

Director of the International Summer School

Lindsay trained at the Royal Academy of Dance, achieving a Licentiate and Diploma in Dance Teaching.

She performed in, choreographed, and produced several classical full-length ballets for the National Ballet of Zimbabwe.

In 2003, Lindsay immigrated to Australia and completed a Master’s in Dance Teaching at QUT. Lindsay became an Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance in 1999 and has travelled the world examining, teaching workshops, and examination preparation classes for both students and teachers.

She currently teaches classical ballet at the vocational level at the McDonald College and provides private lessons to senior classical students.