Xtend Barre Stones Corner

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Former Moulin Rouge and Lido dancer, author of the bestselling book ‘Memoirs of a Showgirl’, star of her own stage show and mother of two – Shay Stafford has just spent the past three years teaching Xtend Barre at Sydney’s top studios following a stellar career on the Paris stage.

As a certified Pilates Mat and Reformer instructor, Shay built up an enviable private clientele at the exclusive Sydney health club, training CEOs, pre and post-natal women, retirees and a parade of professional dancers. She also worked as Sarah Murdoch’s personal trainer, teaching her Xtend Barre for more than a year.

“It’s been almost twenty years since I left Brisbane to dance in Paris,” says Shay. “I’m so excited to be finally coming home and bringing Xtend Barre with me.

“No other exercise program gets results like Xtend Barre. The classes fly by because each one is challenging yet elegant, inspiring and most of all FUN”

It’s possible there are fitness instructors in Brisbane who are as technically qualified as Jess, but you won’t find one who is more enthusiastic, dynamic or as committed to her craft.

A dancer since she was small, Jess has performed professionally with some of the most respected contemporary dance companies in the country, including Paul Malek’s Contemporary Companies Project Y.

Trained in Matwork Pilates and currently studying Exercise and Sport Science at UQ, Jess promises to infuse her classes with all of the anatomical theory she’s learned in lecture halls, and all the fun she otherwise injects into her everyday life.

“I love Xtend because it combines Pilates principles with sculpting ballet techniques,” she says. “After years of going to the gym, to boxing and to bootcamps, I’m a total convert. I have finally found something that sculpts and lengthens my muscles, creating the long, lean body I’ve always wanted.”

Did we mention she’s also a former Broncos cheerleader and does a mean Paso Doble?

From Alice Springs to Xtend Barre Brisbane, via Miss Australia and the blue skies of Qantas. For her age, mum of three and Xtend Barre instructor Emma is not much of a one for wasting time. Which is why when you do one of her classes, every second is maximised. Raised in the Alice, trained in Melbourne at the National Theatre Ballet School and 1999’s Miss Northern Territory (true story!), Emma briefly gave up dance to pursue a career with Qantas. But the lure of the barre proved too great. And now you too can take advantage of her unquenchable passion for dance and exercise.

“I absolutely love Xtend,” says Emma. “For me, it’s as much mental as physical. I love the way my body has responded to the movement. It is so encouraging as an instructor to see client’s bodies change and their lives change too. They stand a little bit taller, walk a little bit prouder. It really empowers women. It’s such a positive space at Xtend Barre and such a great workout. Everyone should try it.”

“I have never liked the gym and always forced myself to go just to “get fit” or “lose weight”. But it never stuck. Once I found Xtend Barre I haven’t looked back!”

So says Brianna, who started dancing at the age of 3 on the Sunny Coast where she grew up. A certificate 4 in musical theatre and commercial dance was followed by a stint as Snow White in Tokyo Disneyland, eventually leading back home to Brisbane where she completed a double degree in Nutrition and Media/Communications.

“I started go to Xtend Barre because I want to, not because I feel I need to,” she says. “It perfectly tones and sculpts my body, back to the dancers body I always had.”

“I love that Xtend Barre brings so many people together in a beautiful, friendly and supportive environment. Seeing clients grow and improve their technique is so rewarding. You would think we were all a class of ex-ballerinas!”

Townsville native, Emily is qualified pharmacist who specializes in haematology and medical oncology. Her interest in anatomy fired a passion for both dance and exercise, which eventually led her to Xtend Barre.

“I love Xtend Barre because it combines Pilates principles with dance moves to lengthen and tone your muscles for a full body workout,” says the long-time ballet, jazz and contemporary dancer.

When not Xtending, Emily can either be found in the kitchen cooking or whipping herself into shape at any number of the studio’s Pilates, circuit or barre classes.

“My daily mantra is: make the most of every minute,” she says. “As far as we know, we only have one shot at this life, why wouldn’t you want to make every day count?”

She practiced criminal law (and was very good at it too) for many years, but Brisbane-born Shauna never really got out of her system the ballet or championship Irish dancing she had done from the age of six to seventeen.
Now working as a freelance copywriter, she relishes the opportunity to get out of her writing cave and into the studio. ‘Teaching Xtend has reawakened all the muscle memory I thought I’d lost’ she says. ‘And there’s nothing I love more than seeing others make the same discovery, finding that inner ballerina once again.’
A Stott trained Pilates mat instructor, she’s a stickler for technique and relishes the opportunity to help people find, and Xtend their limits. ‘I want to see your legs shake, I want to see you sweat, but above all, I want to see you leave with a great big smile on your face. That’s what makes me happy.”

A high-flying lawyer and former federal police agent by day, an Xtend Barre instructor by night (and occasionally really early in the morning), Sheree brings to the Xtend Brisbane team a unique and varied skills set.

From the Australian Youth Ballet and the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus as a young girl, Sheree segued into legal studies before graduating at the top of class at the Australian Federal Police academy. As you do.

She worked for many years as a high-level agent, rising to become a member of the Prime Minister’s personal protection detail, before deciding to pursue law in the banking and financing sector – with a few triathlons along the way.

But it’s in the dance studio that she feels most at home, channeling her three year-old self who made her ballet stage debut as a butterfly in an end of year production.
“The women that attend Xtend classes are a wonderfully eclectic group with varying skill levels,” Sheree says. “The one thing they absolutely have in common though is a passion for movement and dance. And it’s a complete joy to help them realise that passion.”

From high-kicking on the high-seas to Xtending in Stones Corner, Erin brings thirteen years of international dance experience back to Brizzy after a career that has seen her perform in all corners of the world.

After graduating from QUT with an Associate Degree in Dance, Erin joined the Carnival Cruise company, where she quickly rose to dance captain performing on cruise ships in Asia and the Americas. Not bad for a local girl whose mother enrolled her in dance just to get her to sit still.

After “retiring” as a dancer Erin undertook her Xtend Barre training in May 2013 as a way to keep her love of dance alive.

“It’s the most effective way I know of toning my body and maintaining the dancer’s physique I honed over more than a decade on stage,” she says. “The beauty of Xtend is that it is designed for all abilities, all ages and all body shapes.”

Erin teaches an enthusiastic and fun class and wants to see you achieve your best each and every day.

From graduating a dance degree at QUT, classically trained and RAD-certified Jaclyn is the pocket-rocket, Energizer-bunny of the Xtend Barre Brisbane team. What she doesn’t have in height, she more than makes up for in passion for her craft – and the kind of in-class discipline that ensures results.

She’s toured China, danced with prestigious contemporary companies in New York and achieved distinction in her ballet teacher studies – all of which means she is ready to put you through your paces.

“I’ve never encountered a work-out quite like Xtend Barre,” she says. “It brings elements of dance that I love with easily the most effective workout on the market today. It’s fun, we sweat, we get results. What’s not to love?”

Samara has worked in the entertainment industry as a dancer and model. She has performed in many corporate events, national advertising campaigns, television commercials, dramas and films including The Great Gatsby. Most recently you could find her dancing her heart out aboard Sydney Showboats and across the seas at the 2016 Auto Expo in India modelling for Mercedes Benz.

After being introduced to Xtend Barre and realizing it not only strengthens but also sculpts your body, she chose to study Pilates and Xtend Barre to become a qualified teacher. She has also continued to further her training by studying pre and post natal Pilates.

For the last four years Samara has filled her days with teaching at all of Sydney’s top studios and she is delighted to now be apart of the Xtend Barre Brisbane team. “Xtend brings all of my passion for Dance, music and fitness together and combines them in a fun, addictive and motivating workout, however my favourite part is seeing the clients lives change as they bring health, fitness and even more happiness to their lives.”

Parisian cabaret star, Italian TV diva, Kingscliff native: if Julia’s international accomplishments as a dancer are not impressive enough, she also happens to be one of the most experienced Xtend Barre instructors in Australia.

Julia was one of the first people to qualify as an Xtend instructor and has since trained hundreds of barre instructors.

She began her professional dancing career at 16 – a career that took to the Moulin Rouge in Paris and made her a star of some of Italy’s highest-rating TV variety shows.

After nearly nine years overseas, Julia returned to Australia where she promptly qualified-up: she has a Diploma of Professional Pilates Instruction from Pilates ITC, is a certified Stott Pilates instructor, holds a Diploma of Remedial Massage, and has also completed a Certificate in Nutrition.

Julia owned a successful Xtend Barre studio in Sydney before moving north with her young family. She now prides herself on teaching classes that burn like a workout should.

A dancer since she was seven, Bridget trained in the Queensland Ballet Junior Program and received Distinction in all RAD Classical exams. Bridget is now a fully qualified RAD teacher and holds a Certificate 3 in Fitness.

Bridget has lived and breathed the fitness industry her whole life. She grew up in the community of her parent’s family owned gym in Tarragindi, which has been successful training locals for more than 20 years.

Currently completing a degree in Marketing and teaching classical ballet to budding little ballerinas in local dance schools, Bridget is now also proud to share her passion for health, fitness and dance with the Xtend Barre Brisbane community.

“I love how Xtend takes the principles and foundations of classical ballet to a whole new level, turning it into a fun and challenging workout for everyone. The energetic vibe and encouraging environment Xtend creates makes it a workout unlike any other I have experienced!”

Townsville born and bred, Anita danced her way around the globe. Armed with Honours in her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exam, she landed a series of dance gigs in Asia and aboard the Sydney Showboat before high-kicking her way through a flotilla of cruise ships en route to the Moulin Rouge in Paris.

Musical theatre roles in Germany and Finland soon followed before the clarion call of the homeland drew her back to Australia.

Anita has an Honours degree in occupational therapy and had worked extensively with children with developmental disabilities. She completed her Yoga Instructor Certification with Triyoga in London, is a ballet, jazz and contemporary examiner for Asia Pacific Dance Association, and a qualified Xtend Barre instructor.

Why come to an Anita class? Because she radiates warmth and when she says the twin disciplines of dance and exercise can change your body and clear your mind, she means it.

Dance, pilates and the noble art of teaching. Put these three things together and you have the essence of what Meka Ingram brings to our Xtend Barre studios.

A graduate of QUT’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Dance degree, Meka also completed her Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education. Now, by day she is a high school dance teacher and by night she continues to nurture her love affair with Pilates.

Meka became a Polestar Pilates Mat instructor in 2014. This allows her to combine her twin passions for teaching and movement.

She loves to see the transformative effect that prolonged exposure to Pilates can have on clients who come to her class.