meet our team

meet our team

Miss Candice

Owner & Artistic Director

  • Over 20 years Teaching Experience

  • Cert IV in Performing Arts (Dance & Vocals)

  • Acrobatic Arts Teacher Accreditation

  • Dance Cirque Teacher Certification

Candice Arnold is the founder & director of Footloose and is a local mum of three who has lived in the Hornsby Shire her entire life. Starting as a Dancer at the age of 3 Candice commenced her Teaching Career when she was just 15 years old.

After completing High School, Candice continued her dance training graduating from ED5 International in 2009 with a Certificate IV in Performing Arts. After briefly pursuing a career in the dance industry, including performing overseas, Candice soon found that Teaching dance was her true calling and in August 2010 Footloose Performance Studios was born.

With an extensive background in both Dance and the Performing Arts, Candice’s mission is to inspire confidence and happiness in her students by providing an inclusive environment where every dancer is celebrated. It brings her so much joy to share her love and enthusiasm of the Performing Arts with not just the Students, but the whole Footloose Performance Studios Family.

Our Superstar Teachers

Aria Elkington

  • Diploma in Dance

  • Teacher Training in Acrobatics

  • Jazz, Lyrical, Tap, Acro, Hip, Hip, Company, Lil Groovers

  • Administration Assistant

Aria has trained for over 16 years, primarily under the direction of Original Tap Dog, Darren Disney. In 2018, she graduated from Dargie full-time with a Diploma in Dance and an offer for a contract at Disneyland Paris working as a Face Character and Parade Performer. She worked overseas for a year, before returning to Australia and began focusing on Teaching. Aria has had experience teaching from ages 3-17 in a variety of styles such as Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Musical Theatre and Ballet.

Jane Stead

  • Bachelor of Dance

  • Cert IV in Dance Performance

  • RAD Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Company


Jane's background is within dance, choreography & singing. She is a graduate of the Bachelor of Dance degree & prior to her degree, she trained at Raw Dance Company obtaining a Cert IV in Dance Performance.

Since the age of 5 she has trained as a dancer in a variety of styles including Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Ballet and Hip hop. She has performed in flash mobs for private corporate functions at Dreamworld and at Christmas business events. She was guest a performer in Creative Generation which was filmed and televised and an extra dancer in a music video, “Let it go” feat Seup by Morpheus Justin. Jane also enjoys songwriting and released her EP album, ‘Breathe in’ August 2023.

Her journey teaching began assisting at several dance studios. Teaching and sharing the love of dance to the younger generation is a passion for Jane and drives her to new ideas within her artistic creativity. She believes dance allows kids to challenge themselves physically and mentally while having fun in the process. She has worked with Baulkham hill high school students as the Dance choreographer for the musical, ‘Footloose’. Through her journey as a teacher she has worked at numerous studios and is thrilled to be part of the Footloose Team.

She truely leads by the words of Martha Graham,
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul."

Kaitlyn Tavoletti

  • Undertaking RAD Teaching Certification

  • RAD Ballet, Cirque, Acro

Kaitlyn has been dancing competitively since the age of 6 and has trained in all styles including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Contemporary as well as Lyra and Silks. Kaitlyn has been teaching since 2016.

Kaitlyn first joined our Footloose Team in 2022 and is delighted to be part of the Footloose Team!

Makaila Thorne

  • Cert IV & Diploma in Dance

  • Acrobatic Arts Teacher Accreditation

  • Lil Groovers, Jazz, Acro, Contemporary, RAD Ballet

Makaila found an absolute love & passion for dance at the early age of 2 on the Central Coast, NSW. She grew up with a strong focus on RAD Ballet technique finding the love for all styles including Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz and Tap.

Makaila furthered her training at Ettingshausen’s Pro where she graduated with a Cert IV & Diploma in Dance. After training with the most motivating mentors, she become more & more inspired to show future generations the gift of Dance.

She cannot wait to teach all of her beautiful students again this year building a positive and fun environnment sparking an abundance of confidence and love for dance.

Taylah Lowe

  • Lil Groovers Assistant

Taylah started dancing when she was 8 as part of the Primary School Dance Troupe. At the age of 10 Taylah joined the Footloose Performance Studios family training in Jazz, Acro, Hip Hop, Lyrical and Contemporary.

Her love for Teaching arose when she was given the opportunity to become a Student Teacher through the DanceStep Student Teaching program which she completed through to Level 5. Since finishing school Taylah has recently started a new position as an educator at a local preschool.

As a Teacher at Footloose Taylah hopes to be able to share her love for dance with all students, and inspire them to never give up on their dreams.

Our Superstar Customer Experience Team!

  • Candice Arnold – Director & Studio Owner

  • Karen Jones – Administration Manager

Karen is a former Registered Nurse with extensive experience in work, health and safety. Karen moved from hospital nursing into school nursing when she took up a position at Barker College in 1990. In 2017 she retired as the Barker College Health Centre Manager to support Candice, her daughter, in her passion to grow her dance studio. Although a Nurse by trade, Karen has always had a love for drama, dance, theatre and musicals. As Candice’s mum, she became a dance parent very early on and was involved in co-ordinating many Primary School Musical Productions, as well as directing many productions for Berowra Musical Society. While her children are now grown up, Karen loves supporting Candice with managing the Studio while teaching some of the Musical Theatre classes and being part of the creative process behind the end of year performances.

Testimonials

Our little Miss 3 has absolutely loved her first term with Miss Candice. I cringed the 1st week watching her run around wild not listening, then loved each week peeping in at the end seeing the growth and love of being part of her dance class. Thank you.

Kirsty S.

We are so happy to be a part of the footloose family. Candice and the dance teachers have truly helped my daughter with her dance development and her confidence. Thanks again to you all and for your hard work and commitment.

Fiona B.

Contact Us

ADDRESS

93 Hunter Street, Hornsby NSW 2077

Monday: 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Thursday: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Friday: 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Sunday: Closed

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About

Footloose Performance Studios is committed to providing a dance studio that offers both quality dance training and a positive and memorable dance experience.

Opening Hours

Monday: 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM

Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Thursday: 9:30 AM - 8:30 PM

Friday: 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Sunday: Closed

ADDRESS: 93 Hunter Street, Hornsby NSW 2077

Email: admin@footloosestudios.com.au

Telephone: 0483 912 612

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