Meet the Team

Say hello to our wonderful group of performing arts experts who have got all the tips and tricks to help you shine on stage!

Ainsley, Anna, Claire, Ela, and Clare from ASPA Education have worked as performers, educators and facilitators for many years, and know a thing or two about blending the art of singing with a sprinkle of drama to make your performances magical! Whether it’s vocal technique, confidence, or ways to memories lyrics and scripts, they’ve got you sorted.

Brittany, Hallie, Kristy and Sasha are also ready to rock with some dance tips and tricks that are sure to wow audiences. From keeping in time, to memorizing choreography in a flash, the REDed team are your go-to for any and all dance and performance, with years of experience as choreographers and dancers themselves!

I struggle to sing the notes as they get higher and higher…help!

“See if you can yawn with a big, wide, mouth shape and make a loopy sound! Can you do it again and make it an even loopier sound? What if you tried to sing a high note with that same, yawn-y, wide mouth shape? You might be surprised at the big sound you can make!” – Clare

I want to reach and stretch further when I dance. What should I do?

“Before you can stretch and jump and leap in your dance routine, a warm up is essential. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be as fun as the actual dance! Put on your favourite song, and see if you can stretch, balance, move and extend your body in time with the music!” – Hallie

When I sing into a microphone, sometimes it doesn’t catch all of my sound. How should I hold it?

“Pretend that your microphone is like a delicious ice-cream cone – we want all of our sound to go into the microphone, rather than drift across the top of it. Hold the microphone up to your mouth and point it towards you (like you are about to take a bite of your ice-cream!) so that it catches all of your sound!” – Ela

I find it hard to remember all the dance moves in my routine. Any advice?

“A great way to memorise choreography is to chant words that match the movement. Can you chant ‘double down, muscles!’ for a double bounce movement with muscle arms? Or ‘double sunshine’ when your arms reach up to the sky and back to the ground? Try it, it’s so fun!” – Kristy

Our singing sounds beautiful, but something feels missing…what else could I add?

“One way to elevate our performance and tell the story to the audience is to connect with the meaning of the song and using appropriate expression on our faces and in our bodies. Imagine you have a lightbulb in your hands, and on the count of three, it’s going to light up your face, including your eyebrows, cheeks, eyes, and smile. 1, 2, 3! Stand with confidence and tall bodies strong bodies, grounding your feet into the floor!” – Ainsley

What kind of facial expression should I use when dancing? Sometimes when I’m concentrating on the moves, I forget!

“Think about the lyrics or the story of the song you are performing to, and think about what emotion or feeling that story tells. Practice how you can show these feelings on your face using your lips, eyes and even eyebrows!” – Brittany

I get stage fright often right before I perform. Any tips to help boost my confidence?

“Fake it till you make it! Most people get nervous performing in front of an audience, it means you care! But our brains listen to the words we tell it, so pretending you’re feeling super confident can help relieve some of those feelings.” – Anna

I’m worried that I’ll miss the first move or section of my routine. How do I make sure I stay in time?

“Ever wondered why dancers always say “5, 6, 7, 8!” before they start? It’s their way of counting the beats to keep everyone in sync with the music! Most dance combos repeat for a set of eight counts, so counting to eight in your head helps you feel the rhythm and hit the moves right on cue!” – Sasha

I have so many lines to remember in my script, and the words for our songs won’t stick in my head! Any advice?

“See if you can break your script into smaller sections and jot your lines down by hand – it really helps them stick! You might also like to practice with a friend, say your lines out loud a few times, and add some simple movements or gestures to make them flow easier. It’s also useful to find ways to relate to your character’s feelings, and it can make learning lines feel fun and natural!” – Claire