meet the staff
meet the staff
KATJA DAVIS-RAISS RAD (MISS KATJA)
PRINCIPAL & STUDIO OWNER
RAD
Katja Davis-Raiss began her dance training with the Jess Morrison and Doris Porter School of Dance at the age of two and a half. In 2000 the studio transformed and became Lamont Dance Studio where Katja continued her training until the end of high school. She was one of the first students to enrol and be educated in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop.
Katja attended Mackellar Girls High School and was part of the first intake of students to be involved in an accelerated dance program. Throughout her years at high school, Katja was involved in School Spectacular, Rock Eisteddfod and the school dance ensembles. In her final year, Katja joined the NSW State dance ensemble and received a band 6 for her HSC Dance.
Katja went on to study full time dance at Ed5 International for 2 years. She graduated Ed5 with a Certificate IV in Performing Arts and a Diploma of Performing Arts and then continued her acting training at NIDA. Her professional credits include ‘Home and Away’, NRL Centenary Opening (choreographed by Dein Perry), Opening Ceremony of the Pacific School Games and Youth Olympics.
Katja has been teaching for over 13 years at multiple dance studios across the northern beaches. She completed her Pilates Mat training in 2018 and her Foam Roller Pilates training in 2019, both through Studio Pilates. She is a qualified Angelina Ballerina Coaching Academy Teacher, Pilates Instructor and is experienced in teaching the Glenn Wood Tap Syllabus and Tapatak Oz Syllabus. This year, Katja completed her Royal Academy of Dance Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies.
In 2022 Katja fulfilled her lifelong dream and took over Lamont Dance Theatre as principal of the school. Since taking ownership of the studio Katja has rebranded and Katapult Performing Arts continues to be one of the Northern Beaches leading dance studios.
“My hope is to continue assisting students in achieving their dreams and guiding them through their love of dance, creating the safe and nurturing ‘home’ that I was lucky enough to have as a dance student growing up.”
DAVIDE DI GIOVANNI (MR DAVIDE)
Ballet Teacher
Davide started his dance life at Scuola del Balletto di Toscana where he received a full scholarship, joining the junior company at 17. After three years with the Balletto Di Toscana, Davide joined Balletto dell'Esperia in Turin, where he met Jacopo Godani, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and William Forsythe. He then moved to Munich at 23, where he had the chance to work for the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz with choreographers Marco Göcke, Alexander Ekman and Jo Stromgren. He danced One Flat Thing, reproduced by William Forsythe, and worked on new creations with Christopher Roman, Nanin Linning, Georg Reischl and Jacopo Godani.
Davide joined Sydney Dance Company in 2017 and first performed with the Company as part of Orb. In 2019 he worked for Paris Opera Ballet with big stars such as Eleonora Abbagnato end Stéphan Bullion and in the same year, he made his choreographic debut in New Breed production at Sydney Dance Company creating In Walked Bud. In 2020 he took part as a dancer in the Hollywood movie set Carmen directed by Benjamin Millepied. As a movement director Davide has collaborated with International fashion publications Love Want and Russh. He created work for International Paris-based fashion designer Ludovic De Saint Sernin. He took part in the Australian fashion week directing movement for Ginger & Smart Resort 22 show, Luminesce.
Ballet Teacher
Davide started his dance life at Scuola del Balletto di Toscana where he received a full scholarship, joining the junior company at 17. After three years with the Balletto Di Toscana, Davide joined Balletto dell'Esperia in Turin, where he met Jacopo Godani, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and William Forsythe. He then moved to Munich at 23, where he had the chance to work for the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz with choreographers Marco Göcke, Alexander Ekman and Jo Stromgren. He danced One Flat Thing, reproduced by William Forsythe, and worked on new creations with Christopher Roman, Nanin Linning, Georg Reischl and Jacopo Godani.
Davide joined Sydney Dance Company in 2017 and first performed with the Company as part of Orb. In 2019 he worked for Paris Opera Ballet with big stars such as Eleonora Abbagnato end Stéphan Bullion and in the same year, he made his choreographic debut in New Breed production at Sydney Dance Company creating In Walked Bud. In 2020 he took part as a dancer in the Hollywood movie set Carmen directed by Benjamin Millepied. As a movement director Davide has collaborated with International fashion publications Love Want and Russh. He created work for International Paris-based fashion designer Ludovic De Saint Sernin. He took part in the Australian fashion week directing movement for Ginger & Smart Resort 22 show, Luminesce.
CHLOE TAYLOR (MISS CHLOE)
Teacher
Chloe Taylor has completed her Certificate IV in Performing Arts and Dance. Chloe began training full-time whilst studying school via correspondence at 13 years old receiving numerous scholarships and under the guidance of many internationally recognised choreographers.
After graduating Chloe went on to train in Marko Panzics ‘Show Business’ course and also signed with Sydney’s Jeep Management. Chloe has trained under many well known teachers including Rhapsody James, Jacquie Howard, Marko Panzic, Mathew Gode , Leah Howard, Euan Doidge and many more.
Some of her credits include; Hailee Steinfeld, Macklemore, The Veronicas and dancing for the The Final series of The Voice au contestants. Numerous Corporate functions.
Chloe began teaching at the age of 14 assisting many top choreographers. Since then she has taught at many studios and full-time dance schools.
Chloe’s love for dance and choreography has seen many of her students and troupes go on to win national and international titles.
INDIANA ROWELL (MISS INDI)
STUDIO MANAGER
I danced for 13 years at the previous studio Lamont, with Katja as my role model from a young age. That experience shaped not only my love for dance but also my appreciation for the strong sense of community it creates.
I have had the privilege of teaching many Katapult students when they were just tiny dancers, guiding them through their very first steps, routines, and performances. Watching those dancers grow in both skill and confidence has been one of the most rewarding parts of my experience coming back to the studio.
I am now the administrator at Katapult. While I’m not teaching weekly classes, I’m always popping into the studio, checking in on classes, and cheering on our dancers as they continue to grow and progress. Staying connected to the classroom, even in a different role, means so much to me!
Having been here for many years in the past I truly understand the heart of this studio. I’m passionate about helping everything run smoothly behind the scenes while supporting parents, dancers, staff, and every family who walks through our doors. I’m so grateful to continue being part of Katapult and to help create a space where dancers feel encouraged, families feel supported, and our entire community feels at home.
Outside of Katapult, I’m recently certified as a Pilates instructor for both mat and reformer.
LILY BOFFA (MISS LILY)
Teacher
Lily started her training at Lamont Dance Theatre at the age of 3, in all styles including ballet, jazz, hip hop and contemporary. She was awarded the junior scholarship award in 2014 and the senior award scholarship in 2018.
In 2017 Lily completed the Dance Editorial Pre Professional Dance Course and then continued her contemporary dance training under Loredo Malcolm in The LOcREaDO Company performing in “The Variety” and “Affinity” shows. From this program she was selected to be apart of his Touring Company, performing in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
In the final years of schooling Lily completed her dance training at Elite Performance Studios and Stella Maris College in Manly under the direction of Rochelle Jones.
After high school Lily continued her training at Dance Force full time school on the Gold Coast for two years where she completed her PreProfessional training, involving choreographers from all over the world. She was then given the opportunity to tour Australia, performing as part of their graduation tour in 2021 and 2022.
Lily’s passion for dance and choreography comes from the idea that everybody can express themselves through movement and feel comfortable doing something they love, in a nurturing environment.
CHAVAUGN ODENDAAL (MISS CHAVAUGN)
RAD Ballet Teacher
Chavaugn began dancing in South Africa at the age of 4. After moving to Australia when she was 6, Chavaugn trained at a handful of dance schools across the Northern Beaches before commencing training in RAD ballet, contemporary, lyrical and jazz at Dynamite Premiere Academy.
Chavaugn’s love of dance and movement led her to a career teaching ballet, contemporary and lyrical dance and Pilates. In 2019 she completed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, with the Royal Academy of Dance and her APPI Pilates Instructor Certification in 2021.
Chavaugn is currently undertaking a Bachelor in Physiotherapy at ACU with the intention to combine her love and knowledge of Ballet, Pilates and the human body. In the future, Chavaugn hopes to be able to work with dancers in not only their dance training but in injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as creating programs to help with strength and conditioning, specialising to the needs of a dancer.
CURIE KIM (MISS CURIE)
Teacher
Curie always had a lot of passion and love for dancing growing up. She is trained in various different styles of dance and loves to share her passion and knowledge with the new and upcoming generation of dancers.
She grew up dancing in the Northern beaches, then went to Brent Street Academy and finished year 11 and 12 graduating with her Cert IV in dance. She then completed fulltime at Brent Street and graduated with her Advance Diploma of Professional Dance in 2023. During her 5 years at Brent Street she has trained under many industry professionals such as Cassie Bartho, Paris Cav, Stephen Tannos, Jacob Yarr, Veronica Beattie and many others.
She has been lucky to be given various opportunities such as back up dancing for Tones and I at the FIFA women's world cup, Dancing for Jazz K at the Sky fire festival, was the feature dancer of musical videos and appeared on several corporate gigs.
Curie loves watching her students grow and improve each week and loves to be a part of their dance journey.
ASHLEIGH MCNAMARA (MISS ASHLEIGH)
RAD Ballet Teacher
Ashleigh trained full-time at the National College of Dance, graduating in 2020 where she gained recognition for both her choreographic work and her performance asUrsula in their production of The Little Mermaid.
She has completed her formal examinations in RAD Ballet and has trained in Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Tap, Horton and Graham technique. She has featured in commercial and creative projects for Façon Magazine and Mchoreography and as a performer with Interchange Dance Company.
Ashleigh is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance having earned her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies at Brent Street. She is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and Progressing Contemporary Technique and she enjoys being able to adjudicate across Sydney.
Ashleigh’s approach to teaching focuses on inspiring self-expression while encouraging students to embrace curiosity and explore their own creative movement practises.
LAURA RAVENSCROFT (MISS LAURA)
Singing Teacher
Laura has had a passion for Singing and Musical Theatre since a young age. Her qualifications include a Bachelor Degree in Music (Musical Theatre) from the Australian Institute of Music followed by a Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education in Music from Southern Cross University.
Laura was a vocalist with the Australian Girls Choir since the age of 12 and was lucky enough to travel and perform overseas and around Australia multiple times. After graduating high school Laura continued on to become a manager and tutor for several years for the Australian Girls Choir whilst also studying her two university degrees. Laura has over 15 years of experience in vocal tutoring and specialises in a range of styles with a strong focus on vocal technique.
Laura has been teaching music at a girls high school on Sydney's Northern Beaches since 2015 and also runs a small Performing Arts company. She has spent most of the last decade in the classroom teaching years 7-12, directing multiple vocal ensembles and Musical productions including, Hairspray, Rent, Legally Blonde, Matilda The Musical and various others.
KALIE DURRENBERGER (MISS KALIE)
Teacher
Kalie is a passionate dancer, who started her training at Lamont Dance Theatre at the age of 3 before it became Katapult Performing Arts.
She has trained in ballet, hiphop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary and musical theatre and grows her passion and love for it every day.
Kalie was awarded the Junior award in 2020 and recently completed her teacher training with 'The Dance Apprentice'
Kalie is excited to watch her students grow their passion for dance like she has.
KALANI CLAVERIE (MISS KALANI)
Teacher
Kalani has been dancing since she was 3 years old and instantly fell in love with it. Learning all styles has grown her passion for dance and recently her love for teaching.
Kalani has completed her teacher training with 'The Dance Apprentice' and has now begun her teaching journey at Katapult.
She is so excited to watch her students grow and thrive while pursuing her passion.
ABBY FERGUSSON (MISS ABBY)
Teacher
Abby began dancing at age 5 through physie before transitioning into commercial dance at 11. Her love for dance quickly evolved into a passion for technical training and strong foundations.
In 2024, Abby completed full-time training at Dance Force in Tweed Heads, including a national graduate tour. Now based in Sydney, she is passionate about teaching and sharing her love for dance through a supportive, disciplined, and motivating approach.
Abby is dedicated to developing confident, technically strong dancers and helping each student reach their full potential.
CHARLOTTE BICKLE (MISS CHARLOTTE)
Teacher
Charlotte Bickle is a professional dancer who has been dancing since the age of three.
She completed full-time training at Dance Force, where she built a strong technical foundation and developed her versatility as a performer. Charlotte went on to secure a professional contract with MSC Cruises, allowing her to perform internationally and gain extensive stage experience. Through her career, she has traveled and performed around the world, including Las Vegas.
Passionate, driven, and constantly evolving, Charlotte is striving to continue growing within the dance industry while pushing her artistry and performance to new levels.
APRIL SMITH (MISS APRIL)
Teacher
TO COME
ERIN GAW (MISS ERIN)
Teacher
Graduating with a Diploma in Performing Arts from Brent Street, Erin's journey has been marked by dedication and determination. Specializing in Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and more, she brings a diverse range of styles to her teaching repertoire, catering to students of all ages and levels.
Erin's talents extend beyond the studio, as shown by her involvement in "The Dance Life" TV Series aired on Amazon Prime in 2024 and her representation by Presley Management.
Testimonials
Contact Us
ADDRESS & HOURS
Studio 1, Studio 2, Office/Shop - 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107, Australia
Studio 3 - 52 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107, Australia
Monday: 9:30 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday: 2–8:30 PM
Thursday: 2–8:30 PM
Friday: 9:30 AM–6:30 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–3:30 PM
Sunday Closed
About
Katapult Performing Arts is located at Avalon Beach on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
With 3 fully equipped studios in two convenient and close locations, Katapult has fast become the place to go for students of any level to develop and sustain their chosen craft.
Established in the year 2000, our studio continues to provide a family atmosphere that encourages self-expression and enjoyment in dance and theatre.
Opening Hours
Monday: 9:30 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday: 9:30 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday: 9:30–8:30 PM
Thursday: 9:30–8:30 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM–7:00 PM
Saturday: 8 AM–3:30 PM
Sunday: Closed
ADDRESS:
Studio 1, Studio 2, Office/Shop - 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107, Australia
Studio 3 - 52 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach NSW 2107, Australia
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +61 2 9918 7304
Mobile: 0493 637 420
We acknowledge and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
@ Copyright 2026 - Katapult Performing Arts - All rights reserved
