Inside Brent St Studios talent factory producing Australia’s next generation of performance talent

Sydneysider Cassie Bartho has danced on stage alongside some of the world’s biggest acts. Her story has inspired future generations of Aussie dancers.

Brent St Studios head choreographer Cassie Bartho, who features in Prime Video's Dance Life series. Picture: Supplied

There’s that old adage “those who can’t do – teach”. Cassie Bartho is definitely an exception to that rule.

The 30-year-old has performed alongside some of the world’s biggest acts from Sam Smith, Katy Perry and Dua Lipa, but her greatest joy comes from teaching and shaping the next generation.

She’s head choreographer at Australia’s prestigious Brent St Studios which is the setting for Prime Video’s new fly-on-the-wall, five-part docu-series Dance Life following nine students through their final make-or-break year.

Cassie Bartho has performed alongside the likes of Dua Lipa. Photo: Don Arnold/Getty Images

“I don’t think there’s one particular (standout) moment in my career,” Bartho said, adding while choreographing for David Guetta in Spain was wild, she loves seeing her students succeed.

“It’s more hearing choreographers or creatives wanting to book the kids that you’ve taught. And seeing them achieve their goals and knowing that you had just a little bit of a part in that.”

Some 90 per cent of working dancers in Australia – including Bartho – came through the Sydney institution’s intense full-time program.

Alumni have been seen on world tours with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Robbie Williams, Blackpink, Jason Derulo and Nicki Minaj.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras perform on stage during The BRIT Awards. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Brent St Studios head choreographer Cassie Bartho, who features in Prime Video's Dance Life series.

They dominate screen – with dozens cast in Rebel Wilson’s upcoming movie musical The Deb – and theatre stages, with six in Chicago, three in Grease, four in Wicked and six in Hamilton. Notable graduates include original Hi-5 members Charli Delaney and Nathan Foley, and National Treasure: Edge of History actor Jordan Rodrigues who enrolled in the performing arts school after his role on Dance Academy.

Bartho started at Brent St when she was 16, after dancing from “almost the moment she could walk” at her mum’s Newcastle dance school and she’s only left to go do “her gigs”.

Aspiring professional performers – such as Arabella, Tiana, Asher and Kim flock to be taught by her, confessing in the series that they love her while also being “a little scared of her”.

Dua Lipa performing during a concert at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: Medios y Media/Getty Images

Kim, in particular, found out the hard way what the consequences are when you break a rule in Bartho’s class.

As Bartho explains: “If they can’t handle what I’m giving them or the other teachers they won’t be able to handle the real world.”

But the self-confessed “hard-ass” is a little anxious how she’ll be perceived by viewers.

“I’ve been through like a thousand emotions,” Bartho said.

“You just never know how people will receive you as a person. And I’ve just had so much time to think about that because we finished shooting at the end of 2022.

“But also I’m like really confident in what I do.

“And it all comes from a place of love. I don’t just be yelling “this isn’t good enough” for no reason. Everything is a lesson. Everything needs to be explained.”.

Originally published as Inside Brent St Studios talent factory producing Australia’s next generation of performance talent