Meet our staff

All staff at Performance Art WorkShop Studio are teaching and industry professionals in their field of expertise. They provide a wealth of knowledge in a fun and exciting environment. There are 3 staff levels at PAWS: dance teachers who are available on a weekly basis, regular guest teachers, and teachers who come to do special workshops at the studios once or twice a year. All teachers on staff will be made available to students at some point throughout their tuition at PAWS. Click here for employment opportunities at PAWS.

Click on links below to jump to specific teacher profile.     Stephen Tannos Jayden Rodrigues Sharyn Constable Allie Gunton Timmy Manners Erwin Fenis

Stephen Tannos

• Trained extensively in all dance styles, singing and acting
• Top 20 in 2009 Season of “So you think you can dance”
• Co-Coreographer for “The Panjo 5” Stay Closer film clip
• Co-Director of “A-Live Entertainment”, a brand new dance production company, specialising in all areas of dance and the entertainment industry.
• Backup dancer for Sam Sparrow
• Backup dancer for The Presets – 2008 Aria Awards
• Numerous appearances on stage and TV with “The Next Step” a break dance, hip hop and tap fusion group, including sell out shows at the Metro Theatre in 2008.
• 18 month Asia tour with 2007/08 production of “CATS” as Tumblebrutus (and  Mungojerry understudy) (The Really Uselful Co)
• Sydney Season of 2002 “Oliver!” (Cameron Mackintosh)
• Currently teaching  at various dance schools, including Sydney Dance Company and Brent Street.
• Stephen has made many appearances in Corporate shows and charity events.

Allie Gunton

Allie commenced dancing at the age of 2 and has studied all facets of dance and circus aerial including ballet (Cecchetti and RAD), tap (Glenn Wood Tap), contemporary/modern acrobatics, jazz, aerial silks/tissu, sling, bungee harness lyra and stilt walking.

In 2008, she completed a 4-year degree in Bachelor of Dance Education at the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE). This degree qualifies Allie to teach Dance and PDHPE in government, independent, catholic and private schools K-12, as well as teaching in private studios.

Allie is a professional aerial artist and stilt walker and has performed at corporate events and festivals for House of Cerrone (new range launch), Pump Water, Good Vibrations Festival 2008, Future Music Festival 2008, Freedom Festival 2008 and Clue to Kalo “The Infinite Orphan” film clip.

Allie was also a member of the Phoenix All Star Cheer and Dance Squad, which competed in the Australian All Star Cheerleading Federation (AASCF) National Competition in November 2008, and won the dance bid to Worlds 2009 in Florida, USA.

Allie’s choreographic work “Dirty Laundry” recently was accepted to perform in Short + Sweet Dance Festival 2009.

Jayden Rodrigues

Jayden Rodrigues or JROD to most, is a young up and coming actor/dancer/singer and all around Entertainer in the club scene around Sydney’s Metropolitan.

Technicality trained in F.A.T.D. Jazz Syllabus as a Qualified Dance Teacher as well as Glenn Wood Tap Syllabus, recommended by Glenn Wood himself. Jayden has trained at many well known Dance Company’s within Sydney covering many styles such as; Jazz, Tap, Funk, Hip Hop!

While being in Australia's Highly rated Young Talent Agency 'Brent St Agency', Jayden has been in a number of episodes for 'Home & Away', ‘Mornings with Kerri Anne', Channel 7's 'Sunrise', 'Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Award 2005/2006', Tele-movie titled 'The Informant' which aired on Channel 9, TV Series 'Crime Scene Investigations', playing one of the murderers in the episode titled “The Janie Balding Murder”, Special Guest Dancer on the TV Series ‘Dance Academy’ airing in 2010 & also has performed with Cassie Davis.

Jayden has been working with one of Australia’s highly acclaimed, award winning Cabaret Production Company, ‘Six Pak Productions’.  These Variety shows include;‘Vegas Fantasy’, ‘Latino Superstars’ and ‘Viva La Samba’ to name a few, & currently a children’s Christmas show performed & co-written by Jayden titled“A Hip Hop Christmas”.

Currently Jayden is working on Writing & Recording his Demo CD covering the genre R&B/Hip Hop/Pop.  You can listen to Jayden’s original compositions & also view a list of dates and venues of his performances at his website www.jaydenrodrigues.com

Sharyn Constable

Sharyn's experience and accomplishments:

• Studied Ballet for 11 years with Estella Nova and Jeffrey Kovel
• Studied Regional, Flamenco Spanish, Jazz, Primitive, Aboriginal, Free Movement, Character, Irish, Contemporary and Technifunk dance styles
• Completed her RAD Teaching Diploma in 1990
• Completed her Diploma for RAD Advanced Teaching in 1999
• Worked as Head Ballet Teacher for Four Seasons Dance Studio, Dance Tech and Alegria Dance Studios from 1999 to 2001
• Became a Grade Examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance, London in 2003
• Attended dozens of dance and dance related seminars and workshops, owned her own academy of arts and performed on Broadway, New York at the Marriot Maquis
• Trained some well known celebrities including Rebecca Cartright and Delta Goodrem

Timmy Manners

Timmy started dancing in Sydney when he was three (3) years old doing Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Scottish, Gymnastics and Acrobatics. He danced and won many awards in Eisteddfods and Competitions, and performed in many live performances on TV and shopping centres.

At 6 years of age he started Irish Dancing which complimented all his other styles. He soon became a champion dancer winning at the State, Australian and Australasian championships around Australia.

A highlight in his early career was performing in the Queensland Ballet Companies production of Sleeping Beauty, playing the Bluebird. By the age of 14 Timmy was also performing in Lennon Bros Circus as a juggler and Flying Trapeze artist.

He went on to develop his circus skills with the silks, and other aerial apparatus. He was also a bit of a clown.

At 15 Timmy joined the Gaelforce Irish Dance troupe as their principal dancer and went on to perform in 34 countries around the world. Highlights for him were performing at the Royal Albert Hall (London), Radio City Music Hall (New York) as well as interviews with Jay Leno and David Letterman.

Now back in Australia, as well as still touring and tour managing, he is currently creating his own show “taptheworld” check it out www.taptheworld.com Timmy’s combination of both Tap and Irish create a unique fusion of rhythm that puts him in high demand. Timmy has always enjoyed teaching and since joining the Paws Family it has become a real passion. It allows him to pass on his knowledge and skills.

Erwin Fenis

Erwin has over 10 years of experience in the field of performing arts (commercial and theatre). Started his dance career in Darwin NT where he quickly became one of the most sought after and highly regarded performer and choreographer around. He recently moved to Sydney and has continued to have great success in the industry.

He has a background in martial arts which includes Kickboxing and Capoeira.
Experienced in Popping, Locking, and Krump and specializes in Nu Skool/Lyrical Hip Hop and B-boying.

• Founding member of Style Impressions Krew, Darwin’s first ever hip hop/breakdance crew (Crew winners of the “Stamping Ground Break Battle 2003”, Bellingen and Best Showcase in the “Australia Day Battle 2003”, Lismore)
• Youth Dance Animateur, Choreographer and Core performer in several dance theatre productions for “Tracks Dance Company”
• State finalist in the “Planet Dance National Competition 2008”.
• Created and performed original choreographic works in Ausdance’s “I-Moves” 2005, 2006 and 2008.
• Aus Hip Hop Championship 1st Runner Up (J-Town crew)
• Back up dancer for The Presets – 2008 ARIA Awards
• Numerous appearances on stage and TV with “Urban Dance Project”, including Mornings with Kerry Anne, Looze Control Hip Hop Dance Competition, Carnival and Industry.
• Worked with various performance companies including “Stalker Theatre Company” and “Branch Nebula”.
• Trained and performed with some of the best choreographers and dancers from interstate and overseas in numerous events and festivals.

Employment opportunities

There are no positions vacant at the moment.

If you are interested in working with PAWS Studios as an instructor, please send us your résumé outlining your teaching and industry experience along with a photo, and we will contact you to discuss possible job opportunities.