ISS2027 Faculty

Lisa-Maree Cullum, Principal Rehearsal Director at Queensland Ballet

Classical Ballet / Repertoire – Pre-Professional, Senior

Lisa-Maree is one of the most accomplished ballerinas of her generation. Born in New Zealand, she began dancing at 4 before moving to Sydney at 14 to train with Tanya Pearson OAM. Within six months she had won the Adeline Genée Gold Medal and the Prix de Lausanne, taking her to the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco under Madame Marika Besobrasova.

Lisa-Maree began her professional career with English National Ballet before joining the Deutsche Oper Berlin, where she became a principal at 18 and danced the full classical repertoire alongside the company’s extensive modern works. In 1998 she joined the Bavarian State Ballet in Munich, rising to principal and performing leading roles across ballets by Balanchine, Forsythe, Cranko, MacMillan and Neumeier. She was awarded the honorary title Kammertänzerin by the German government in recognition of her artistry, and appeared as a principal guest artist with companies such as Mariinsky and La Scala.

Lisa-Maree has since built an equally distinguished career in coaching and direction, serving as Associate Artistic Director at the Bavarian Ballet Academy and as Artistic Director of the Tanya Pearson Academy, her alma mater. She took up her role with Queensland Ballet in 2026.

Bronte Kelly, Former Principal Dancer with the Royal NZ Ballet

Classical Ballet / Repertoire – Intermediate

Bronte joined the prestigious Australian Ballet School in 2007. Upon graduating, she performed the lead role of Snow Queen—an achievement that led to her being offered a contract with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.

During her tenure with the company, Bronte had the privilege of working with internationally acclaimed choreographers and performing an extensive repertoire by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Ethan Siegel, Johan Kobborg, Liam Scarlett and Benjamin Millepied. She danced leading roles as Swanhilda in Coppélia, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and the title role in Cinderella.

Bronte’s commitment to sharing her knowledge grew as she collaborated with the RNZB’s education department and served as a guest teacher at institutions such as the New Zealand School of Dance and the Alana Haines Awards.

Relocating to Sydney, Bronte completed the Professional Dancers’ Postgraduate Teaching Certificate with the RAD and qualified as a sports nutritional advisor, aiming to promote holistic dancer wellness. For the past eight years, she has worked as a freelance teacher.

Paul Boyd, Academy Ballet Master at the Queensland Ballet Academy

Classical Ballet, Career Preparation, Boys Coaching

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.

Tobiah Booth-Remmers, Program Manager SDC Pre-Professional Year

Contemporary

Tobiah Booth-Remmers is a freelance dance director, performer and teacher originally from Adelaide. He has worked with a wide variety of choreographers and directors across dance, theatre and circus, both nationally and internationally, performing at major arts festivals including the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, Brisbane Festival, WOMAD, Dance Massive, Dublin Dance Festival and the Barbican Centre in London.

As a dance maker, Tobiah has choreographed numerous commissioned and self-produced works, from large-scale interactive pieces to theatrical solos. He has lectured at Adelaide College of the Arts, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, Queensland University of Technology and Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year, and has taught for companies including DV8, Sydney Dance Company and Australian Dance Theatre. He works regularly overseas, developing projects and teaching workshops across Europe, Israel and Mexico.

In 2022 Tobiah was Associate Artist at Australian Dance Theatre, researching and producing a new full-length experimental work. In 2023 he became Program Manager of Sydney Dance Company’s Pre-Professional Year, and in 2026 he joined FORM Dance Projects as their Producer.

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.

Sian Sherwood

Jr 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

Jr 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.

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.