Our Team

Students are taught in a positive environment and encouraged to reach their fitness, self-discipline and confidence goals.

Astrid Chiochiu

Principal / Director

Astrid Chiochiu (ARAD, ATOD affiliate, Certificate IV in Dance & Teaching Management) began dancing at the age of 4. Winning multiple championships and bursaries, Astrid studied with the Queensland Dance School of Excellence at the age of 16. She also owned and operated a RAD ballet school for 6 years.

Astrid went on to represent Australia as a Professional Dancer throughout Europe, where she met her husband, Anatolie. For 11 years Astrid danced throughout Europe, Asia and the United States, and has held positions of Company Manager, Soloist, Lead Adagio Act, and Line Captain, for various International Companies. Over the past 5 years, Astrid has been training other Professional Dancers in LA and Las Vegas for Production Shows.

Astrid has been an Assistant Director, Choreographer, Talent Scout and Trainer for NYK and Crystal Cruises. Now, after starting their family, Astrid is excited to teach in Australia again and pass on her international knowledge and experience to her students.

Anatolie Chiochiu

Principal / Director

Anatolie Chiochiu was born in Moldovia, an Eastern European country near Romania. Anatolie began ballet, national, and folk dancing at the age of 10. His professional career began at the age of 17 in the national, folkloric company, JOC, has 100 professional dancers and performs throughout Europe.

By the age of 20, Anatolie was the male soloist for JOC, and travelled throughout Europe performing within various companies. After meeting his wife Astrid, Anatolie started performing onboard cruise lines. There he was Male Line Captain, Soloist, and Lead Adagio Act. Once settling in Australia, Anatolie taught Ballroom and South Amercian Dancing in Brisbane for several years. Anatolie’s experience and patience make him an ideal partner of the Five Star Dance Academy team, bringing his European style to dance.

Meet Our Teachers

Kate Tomsett

TEACHER

Miss Kate has been dancing since the age of 4. She has a wide range of experience, having trained in all styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acrobatics, cheer, lyrical, and musical theatre. Kate has completed her ATOD Jazz and Tap, and RAD ballet examinations to a high level. Her talents have taken her to perform for the Broncos Cheer Squad, and for the University College of London Performance Team.

Outside of Dance Kate is a published author in scientific literature and completed her First Class Honours in Biomolecular Science. Dance has always been a fundamental part of Kate’s life and at Five Star Dance Academy, she hopes to create a warm and nurturing classroom where ‘everybody’ is worthy of love and belonging.

Annika Chiochiu

TEACHER

Annika is born and bred Five Star — daughter of Miss Astrid and Mr Tollie. She is committed to maintaining the culture and ethos of the Academy, and is currently studying her Certificate IV in Dance and Teaching Management. Annika has been part of many performances within the community, plus a valued dancer in our 2017 USA Disneyland Tour. She has consistent promotional work with Elite Talent Agency & TS Talent, connecting with people and bring joy and energy to each product they launch.

Annika is a new, vibrant, next generation Five Star teacher to encourage young dancers to feel beautiful, confident and humble in all that they do. She brings to our Academy positive and happy energy. A true connection within the community and respect towards all those that are engaged with our family business.

Isabella Palmer

TEACHER

Isabella Palmer was born in Brisbane and began dance at the age of 4. In 2017, she received a Vice-Chancellor’s Elite Visual Arts and Performance Scholarship from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance. Isabella trained at QUT in ballet and contemporary, and has performed in various choreographic works by renowned choreographers.

Isabella was also coached by Jane Devine in classical ballet for many years. In 2019, she was a finalist in the Brisbane International Contemporary Dance Prix, and received an International Dance Performance Scholarship from QUT. Isabella graduated from QUT with Distinction in 2020. In 2021, she completed the Victorian State Ballet Pre-Professional Program and performed with the company throughout the year. Isabella is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. Isabella excitedly joined Five Star Dance Academy in 2022, with the goal of helping students thrive in dance.

Alexis Cooper

TEACHER

Alexis Cooper has been dancing since 3 years of age, learning a range of styles including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, and acrobatics. Alexis has been with us for the long haul, having joined Five Star Dance Academy as a 6-year old student when it first opened in 2012. She has completed many Acrobatic Arts courses and workshops, including a Module 1 certification, Contortion workshop, Aerial and Back handspring workshop and is currently a Module 2 certified teacher in training.

Alexis has completed her Certificate II in Sport and Recreation and her Certificate III in Fitness. She has been assistant teaching for 2 years, and has recently begun to teach some classes of her own. Alexis was awarded the 2022 Senior Acrobatics Award, for not only her improvement, but also her versatility in her ability to juggle teaching and being a student for the same class. She is so excited to up skill during 2024 and continue to grow and nurture our students.

Jazmyn Von Dohren

TEACHER

Jazmyn is a former Five Star Dance Academy student; she has completed her ATOD examinations in both ballet and jazz. Jazmyn was part of Five Star Dance Academy’s performance team and was a performer in our 2017 Dance Around the World USA Tour. In 2020 she danced part-time at the Queensland College of Dance and has completed a Certificate III in dance. Jazmyn has performed three seasons with Merge Dance theatre working in a pre-professional environment with various contemporary choreographers. 

Jazmyn is a current Queensland University of Technology (QUT) student studying a dual degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Fine Arts Film and Screen minoring in Dance. She has received the Emily Thomas Memorial Endowment Scholarship from ESA international for her studies.
Jazmyn found her love for dance within the Five Star community and regularly attended weekly Ballet, Jazz, contemporary, acrobatics and musical theatre classes. Jazmyn looks forward to educating the next generation of performing arts/ creative industries students to be their most authentic and creative self.

Tahlia Ashdown

TEACHER

Tahlia Ashdown graduated in 2018 from Queensland College of Dance with a Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance). Once graduated, she taught at multiple studios across Brisbane before moving to Sydney to complete further dance education with The Dream Dance Company – Business. Through this course, Tahlia worked closely with Australia’s industry leading dancers/ choreographers like Marko Panzic, Katie Sanchez, and Sophie Holloway. Tahlia has strong classical and jazz technique training and is excited to share her knowledge with the Five Star team.

Keiarah Watson

TEACHER

Miss Keiarah had been dancing since the age of 2, learning a range of styles including jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, tap, acrobatics, and musical theatre. Keiarah was a formal student of Five Star Dance for many years before finishing her dance training at Promenade Dance Studio. She has completed many exams in ballet, jazz and tap with ATOD training and RAD training. Keiarah has competed in many Eisteddfods with both Five Star and Promenade. She has also completed Certificates 1, 2 and 3 in Dance and is currently studying for her Diploma in Dance at Queensland College Of Dance. Miss Keiarah is excited to share her skills to her Five Star students. 

Hannah Munster

GRAPHIC AND WEB DESIGN

A Design veteran of 20 years, winner of international design awards and a published illustrator, Hannah joined the Five Star family in 2013, creating our first ever End of Year program for BIG TOP. Since then, she has created many on-and-offline promotions for Five Star, as well as our popular end of year programs each year.