Nationality: Taiwanese Australian
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Melbourne
Email: jenn@flaredance.com

“Dance, dance, otherwise we are lost.”
                                                                                            - Pina Bausch 

Pink tutus, pointed feet and colorful leotards were the only parts of Jenn’s world of dance as she was introduced to ballet at the age of 8. Inspired by the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Jenn had a deep desire to expand her artistic horizons through creative movement. It wasn’t until 2008 that she started training seriously in modern dance and improvisational choreography through the IB Higher Level dance course. After falling in love with beats, Jenn also began doing urban styles in 2009.

Immediately after she moved to Melbourne in July 2010, Jenn joined Flare and found it to be an enormous platform for her to choreograph for and perform with. Intimate bonds were formed within this family of dancers, creative milestones were created and most of all… Jenn found a new and more mature self through her journey with Flare.  

Nationality: Malaysian
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Melbourne
Email: anne@flaredance.com

"Great dancers are not great because of their technique. They are great because of their passion." 

Anne considers dancing as her call of fate the moment she bumped into the Flare booth during O-week in February 2010. Fun was what she intended at first, but dancing has grown to be part of her as she takes it more seriously with every step. Anne has never had professional dance training before, but with her hardworking spirit and assistance from inspiring Flare choreographers, she worked herself up the ladder to be the versatile dancer she is today. Even though Anne sees contemporary as one of her favourite genres, Flare has allowed her to broaden her horizons into lyrical, jazz, modern and jazz funk after performing 6 pieces of different genres during Flare 2011’s Production. 

Nationality: Malaysian
Course: Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne
Email: shini@flaredance.com

At the tender age of eight, Shini started dancing as part of her school’s co-curricular awards scheme, which she continued to do, at intervals, through high school. However, it wasn’t until she later joined Flare in 2011 at the age of 19 in which her formal training in dance began.

Whilst being an active member of Flare, Shini has broadened her range of dancing from contemporary to hip hop which has also included performing at a charity event, a showcase, a gig and Flare’s annual production. As someone who has had no exposure to professional training and dancers, she finds inspiration in anyone around her that uses performing arts as a platform for expression. Shini believes that their movements and emotions are shaped by who they are and what they've experienced, making them, no matter if they are beginners or experienced, inspirational by all counts.

To Shini, Flare truly is a platform for all dancers, of every ability and genre. And as a family, Flarians share, overcome, encourage, laugh, learn and grow all together, supporting each other, as a family. 

Nationality: Australian
Course: Bachelor of Science, The University of Melbourne
Email: jonathan@flaredance.com

“This search for what you want is like tracking something that doesn't want to be tracked. It takes time to get a dance right, to create something memorable.”

Jonathan started taking dance classes in 2008 after having many enjoyable previous encounters with dance. His favourite dance genre is undoubtedly contemporary, but he likes to use urban movements in conjunction with normal contemporary movements.

Jonathan joined Flare in February of 2011 during O-week and it quickly became a big part of his life. More than anything Flare has acted as his creative outlet: allowing him to join and experience many different dance styles and to also provide him choreographing opportunities to further express himself through dance.

Nationality: Indonesian
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne.
Email: charity@flaredance.com

Stunned by “Cats” VCD her dad gave to her, Pinka fell in love with the world of dance and musical directly. At the age of 6, she started dancing through Classical Ballet. Even though she had to quit ballet lessons as a result of a family move at the age of 10, nothing stopped her from dancing. Pinka would always try to find dancing again in her life in whatever form possible.


Pinka said that she has not yet found her most comfortable dance style. However, after joining Flare on February 2011, she believes that she could use Flare as a stepping stone in exploring a wide range of dance styles to find her most comfortable dance style.

Nationality: Indonesian
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, The University of Melbourne
Email: design@flaredance.com

“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak.”

Elvira was introduced to the art of dance at age 6, where she was trained under a local ballet school, before moving into jazz and contemporary styles at age 14.  Even though she has a medical condition associated with her backbone, quitting dance has never been an option. Instead, dance works wonders in healing her from any hardship.  

In July 2011, Elvira joined the Flare Dance Ensemble with the hopes of returning back to the dance scene after a 2-year absence. In such short time, FDE’s diversity has given her the opportunity to explore new styles of dance, allowing her to become a more versatile dancer.  Elvira cannot wait to reach greater heights and continue to be inspired by the ensemble. 

Nationality: Malaysian Chinese
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne
Email: events@flaredance.com

“Each time you perform, dance not only with your arms, legs and feet but also every inch of your heart and soul.” 

At the age of 6, Michelle put on her first dancing shoes had been training extensively in classical ballet and tap ever since. She had also branched out into modern and jazz but keeping ballet and tap at the core of her passion. Besides performing for charities; Michelle has also successfully completed her Royal Academy of Dance exams including Advanced Foundation. She stopped ballet and tap at the age of 16, and had missed dancing ever since then. 

After joining Flare in February 2010, Michelle not only found joy again in dance, but Flare has also taught her discipline, dedication and commitment.Being a member in Flare made her realize how important it was to keep excelling forward despite the challenging hurdles. With that, came the incredible feeling of being able to stand on stage at the end of a performance and know that she had thrilled the audience.   

Nationality: Malaysian Australian
Course: Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry), The University of Melbourne
Email: media@flarendance.com

"The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person." 

Wei Hao first trained in dance and performed on stage at a young age of 3, where he developed an affinity for performing arts and the beauty of movement. Though his educational background has since separated him from dance, he retained an innate passion which he rediscovers upon joining Flare Dance Ensemble in 2009.  He was able to experience different forms of dance including urban and jazz choreography, and performed in various events throughout his journey in Flare.

Ever since joining the Flare family, Wei Hao has never been more enthusiastic about dance and is looking forward to what it will bring him in the future.

Nationality: Singaporean Australian
Course: Bachelor of Arts, Monash University
Email: publicity@flaredance.com

"Dance like nobody’s watching, Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening, And live like it’s heaven on earth."
 
Although she began dancing as soon as she started walking, Natasya only developed a serious passion for dance in 2004, at the age of fourteen, when she took dance as an academic elective. Over the years, Natasya has found comfort in hip-hop, which has enabled her self-expression, through emotions and movement. Natasya believes that  ‘certain dancers’ cannot justify her inspiration in dance. Instead, she finds her catalyst in the movements that are expressed, the emotions that are felt and the silent poetry that is the dance, whether by a professional or a beginner. 

Natasya has been an active member in Flare since 2009, and has participated in three annual productions since then. 

To Natasya, Flare is not just a club in which the members all share their love for dance, but a second family. It was there in which friendships were born, abilities were strengthened, and fears were set aside, as well where moments were cherished, be they good, bad, happy or sad. All in all, she believes that Flare has become an integral part in everyone’s life.

Nationality: Australian
Course: Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne
Email: ticketing@flaredance.com

“Broaden your horizon. Open different doors. You may find a you there that you never knew was yours.”  

Rebecca fell into the passionate world of dance at the age of four and spent twelve years training at the Victorian Ballet School.  Her most comfortable genre is the classical ballet but she also has a new-found love for modern jazz.  Her biggest inspiration was seeing kids at ballet get on stage for the first time and her mum for giving her the opportunity to dance. .

Rebecca joined Flare in March 2010. It exposed her to incredible dance styles like contemporary and urban, allowing her to grow as an individual and not to mention give her a healthy break from her studies.