2026 Season - Coppélia Faculty
Introducing, our outstanding faculty, each returning to Perth Youth Ballet in 2026, with international experience, artistic depth, and a strong connection to our recent productions.
Liam Blair
Originally from Perth, Liam Blair is a classical ballet teacher and former principal dancer with Aalto Ballett Essen in Germany. His training spans the Charlesworth Ballet Institute, the Australian Ballet School, the School of American Ballet, and the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco, where he performed with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and Ballet Nice Méditerranée.
Developing our talented cast in 2024 on Divergence, and as Creative Director of Coppélia for our annual season earlier in 2026, Liam returns this Christmas bringing technical precision, musicality, and performance integrity to The Nutcracker.
Kevin Jackson
Originally from Perth, Kevin Jackson enjoyed a distinguished career as a Principal Artist with The Australian Ballet before returning home to rejoin Perth Youth Ballet, which he co-founded in 2021. Inspired by a vision of bringing young dancers from across Western Australia together to perform beyond the traditional studio environment, Kevin has remained passionate about creating exceptional opportunities for the next generation.
Returning in 2026 for The Nutcracker, Kevin continues that vision, bringing decades of professional performance experience, artistic excellence and a passion for inspiring young dancers through one of ballet's most cherished productions.
Lauren Limmer
Lauren Limmer brings extensive international performance experience, having danced with European companies including Badisches Staatsballett Karlsruhe, Theater und Orchester Heidelberg, Stadttheater Bremerhaven, and Landestheater Coburg.
After working closely with Perth Youth Ballet in 2024 on Divergence, The Essence of Sleeping Beauty at His Majesty’s Theatre in 2025 and Coppelia in 2026, Lauren returns this Christmas, continuing her artistic collaboration with the company and building on the strong foundations established in recent seasons.
We are thrilled to welcome Liam, Kevin & Lauren back, as they continue to shape and inspire our dancers for Christmas 2026.
2026 Season Faculty - Coppélia
Creative Director, Liam Blair.
Lauren Limmer.
2025 Season Faculty - Sleeping Beauty
2025 Summer Faculty - NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
2024 Season Faculty - Divergence
2023 ANNUAL PRODUCTION FACULTY
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Leanna Del Basso, the Director of Vogue Entertainment, is a highly esteemed and accomplished teacher known for her exceptional dedication and leadership. She embarked on her dance journey at the age of nine, receiving guidance from renowned mentors including Norma Atkinson, Peta Norton, and Shirley Halliday. Her remarkable talent earned her several prestigious accolades, including the Australasian Ballerina Cup, Open Solo Ballet Dancer, Jazz and Tap Champion, and the title of Dancer of the Ballarat Festival. Over the years, she consistently secured victories in Cabaret Jazz, Tap Championships, Open Ballet Scholarships, Demi Character, National & Neo Classical Awards.
Leanna's commitment to excellence led her to earn a C.S.T.D. Diploma in Theatrical Dance, the coveted C.S.T.D. Blue Sash Award, and an achievement in the Royal Academy of Dance Adv.
With a rich history in the entertainment industry, Leanna has collaborated with both national and international luminaries, including Human Nature, Kate Ceberano, Todd McKenney, Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Daryl Somers, and Marcia Hines, among others.
In the Musical theatre side she played Chastity Angel in Anything Goes at His Majesty’s Theatre under direction of John Milson and with her sister Marina has worked as a producer and choreographer of Guys and Dolls, The Pyjama Game and producer of their own musical of Pinocchio for a terrific season at the Regal Theatre.
Notably, Leanna has nurtured numerous budding stars who have found success in the entertainment industry, including Lucy Durack (Wicked, Mama Mia, Strange Bedfellows), Allyce Martins (Hi-5, Wicked), Taneel Van Zyl (Wicked, Dr Zhivago), Michael Johns (American Idol), Justin McNamara (Cats Australia , Germany), Rohan Senior (Chicago West End, Sunset Boulevard, A Chorus Line, Joseph and the Technicolour dream coat) , Daniella Bernardini (dancer for Prinnie, Jessica Mauboy, Wynter Gordon, The Great Gatsby), Cristina Federici (Kirov ballet Russia), Shane Collard (Moulin Rouge, Top 20 So You Think You Can Dance UK).
Leanna's unwavering belief in the potential of Western Australian performers has translated into many of her students excelling in academies across Australia, such as W.A.A.P.A, N.I.D.A, V.C.A., and ED5 International.
With access to the right opportunities, Leanna believes all performers can reach their full potential.
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Alexander McKinnon an extremely talented Perth dancer, after having commenced ballet at TheGraduate College of Dance, was accepted into the Australian Ballet School at the age of 13.
Working with The Australian Ballet in 2010, as part of the Dance Education Ensemble, teaching dance to more than 80,000 students at 180 schools throughout Australia.
In 2013, Alexander moved to Germany to accept a soloist contract with Balletam Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg,
Alexander performed with Staatsballett Hannover, dancing numerous principal & soloist roles under the direction of Jörg Mannes.
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Lauren Murray trained at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts and subsequently graduated in 2006. Lauren has worked with a number of independent choreographers and companies including the West Australian Ballet, Skadada the Dresden SemperOper and the Staatsballett Hannover.
Throughout her career she has been actively engaged in teaching and assisting in productions and classes for children and adults in the West Australian Ballet and Staatsballet Hannover.
She is currently a teaching artist for the West Australian Ballet and a sessional lecturer in Classical Ballet at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Alongside her performance and teaching career she is also a certified GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® trainer.
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Declan Allen is an accomplished performer from Perth, Western Australia.
Growing up, he has undertaken classes in all facets of the arts including dance, acting, singing and music. Commencing dance at the age of 6, with Vogue Performers, going on to win a number of awards interstate and throughout the region of Western Australia from regional champion of acrobatics Get the Beat 2019, to being both dance and chorale captain at Trinity College.
Performing in musicals has always been his passion, leading study a Diploma of Musical Theatre under the direction of Nicole Stinton at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).
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Kiara has extensive dance training and experience from; The Australian Ballet School, WAAPA and Charlesworth Ballet Institute, where she enjoyed teaching before dancing overseas.
Kiara has performed with The West Australian Ballet, Cirque du Soleil, and the Nevada Ballet Theatre.
Professional Dancer and trained Yoga teacher, Kiara has taught in Victoria, Queensland and Perth.
