Fusion Staff

Christine Smith ~ Studio Principal

Christine obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Graduate Diploma of Education in Dance and PDHPE from UWS in 1995 and taught Dance and PDHPE at Blaxland High School for 15 years, including HSC Dance.

Christine is a Practicum Supervisor for UWS and the Australian College of Physical Education, and has been a HSC Dance marker in both practical and written examinations for the Board of Studies.

She is a qualified Active-After-School Coach for the Australian Sports Commission; currently holds a 3th Kyu (brown belt) in GKR Karate and a gold medal at the Young Guns Karate Tournament in 2008. She is currently enjoying the new challenge of learning and competing in Artistic Figure Skating with her daughter and became the 2014 State Artistic Figure Skating Masters Champion.

In 2011, she completed her Masters in Education (Leadership), and in 2015 completed her Masters in Special Education at the University of Western Sydney. Christine is now a lecturer in Dance at UWS for the Master of Education students and hopes to one day complete her PHd.

Dance and Musical Performances:

Bathurst 1000 opening ceremony, Buthurst, 1992
UWS dance tour, Edith Cowan University, Perth, 1994
World Aids Day Festival, Penrith, 1995
'Chess', Revolutionary Productions, the Hills Centre, 1995
'West Side Story', 'Hello Dolly', 'Cabaret', 'Chess', 'Brigadoon', 'Paint Your Wagon', Blue Mountains Musical Society, 1999-2003
Ceroc Australia Winter Ball, Round House, University of NSW, 2003-2004
Dance Expo for Ceroc Australia, Homebush Sydney, 2003, 2004
Westfield Penrith, 2009
Relay for Life, Penrith, 2010, 2011
Global Lounge Benefit Concert, Wentworth Falls School of Performing Arts, 2010/2011
Blue Mountains Musical Society Queensland Flood Apeal Concert, 2011
Nepean and Leonay Carols by Candlelight, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017
Mount Riverview Christmas Carols, 2016
Soar & Roar Dance Spectacular, Eastern Creek, 2017
Panthers Dance Extravaganza, Penrith Stadium, 2018
Soar & Roar Dance Spectacular, Eastern Creek, 2018
Carols Under the Stars, Mt Riverview, 2018

Choreographic Credits:

UWS Options Dance Festival, selected choreographer, 1994
UWS Bachelor of Arts Dance performances, 1992-1994
World Aids Day Festival, Penrith, 1994
'Leader of the Pack', '42nd Street', 'Back to the 80s', 'Grease', Blaxland High School,1997-2011
Award winning Rock Eisteddfods, Blaxland High School, 1998-1999
'Hello Dolly', 'Cabaret', 'Chess', 'Joseph', 'Brigadoon', 'Paint Your Wagon', Blue Mountains Musical Society, 1999-2003
'The Magic Flute', Blue Mountains Opera Company, 1999
Olympic Torch Relay Festival, Penrith, 2000
'Sound of Music', Mountain Youth Theatre, 2004
'Seussical the Musical', Riverside Lyric Ensemble, 2005
'Global Lounge Benefit Concert', invited choreographer, Wentworth Falls School of Performing Arts, 2010/2011
'Blue Mountains Musical Society Queensland Flood Apeal Concert', invited choreographer, Springwood Civic Centre, 2011
'Wycliffe Christian School Celebration Concerts', Senior Dance Company Choreographer, 2011, 2012.
Fusion Movement Studio Concerts, 2009-2018

Lara Saunders

Lara has been dancing since the age of 3 across a wide variety of styles including physical culture, jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, salsa, Irish and musical theatre. She has been involved in various musicals through Blaxland High School such as '42nd Street', 'Fame'; 'Back to the 80s'.
Lara has also choreographed a number of shows for Blue Mountains Musical Society including Pirates of Penzance and Grease.

Lara is a qualified Zumba instructor and recently completed a Social Science degree at UWS, and is now a qualified primary teacher.

Emma Joseph

Emma has been dancing since the age of 7. She has trained in a number of different styles including Hip Hop, Salsa, Jazz and Contemporary.

She received honors in Level 6 Jazz exam, completed HSC Dance, and was cast in three different musicals during her school years.

Emma has a real passion for choreographing, teaching and performing. She recently finished a certificate 4 in Performing Arts at Urban Dance Centre in Sydney majoring in dance ans specialising in Hip Hop which is Emma's passion.

She is now completing a Bachelor of Health Science at UWS.

Emma Lamont-Hunt

Emma graduated from the University of Western Sydney with a BA in Dance and PDHPE in 2004, and has been teaching at Jamison High School since 2005.

Her choreographic credits include various school musical productions and performance nights, the Western Sydney Region Drama/Dance camps, Sydney West Dance Festival and Blue Mountains Dance Festival.

She has also performed in many Blue Mountains Musical Society productionsincluding 'Cinderella' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

Michelle Robinson

Michelle has been a senior student with Fusion Movement Studio for the past three years training in Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Cheerleading and Senior Performance Group.

She has performed at a number of festivals and special events such as the Global Lounge Benefit Concert, the Queensland Flood Appeal Spectacular, Relay for Life, and Leonay and Nepean Carols.

She has undertaken her teacher-training at Fusion over the past 12 months and has been an outstanding role model for her students. Michelle is now a valuable member to our Fusion team.

Melissa Borgen

Melissa has been dancing for just over 20 years across a variety of styles, including classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, and musical theatre and circus arts. Since completing her HSC in 2003, Melissa has taught at a variety of local dance studios to students of all ages, while also completing an Honours degree in Communications at UTS.

Melissa has also choreographed for Springwood High School's award-winning Rock Eisteddfod team, as well as their 'On Broadway' musical theater production. While she isn't dancing, Melissa loves creative writing, reading, film and skiing and is mum to two beautiful children.

Kate Saunders

Dance has been a huge part of Kate's life for the past 25 years. She has experience in many different styles, including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Lyrical, Contemporary, Salsa, Irish and Musical Theatre.

She has choreographed musicals for Blue Mountains Musical Society including 'Bye Bye Birdie', 'Oliver', 'Grease' and `Pirates of Penzance'. She has also performed in BMMS productions 'Brigadoon', 'Paint Your Wagon', 'Spamalot' and 'Cats'.

Kate is very passionate about dance and loves being part of the Fusion team.

When she isn't dancing, Kate works as Paralegal in Sydney.