For Tiana Vassallo, the prospect of establishing herself in Los Angeles is becoming increasingly tangible. The Australian dancer, choreographer and teacher has already performed at the Sydney Opera House, appeared in two dance productions for the screen, taught internationally and developed professional relationships with some of the industry’s most respected creatives. Her recent signing with US talent agency Clear Talent Group marks another significant development in a career that has steadily expanded beyond Australia. Yet, amid these considerable professional achievements, Tiana is preparing for a rather different personal milestone. Despite having travelled internationally for dance, she has never lived away from home.
“I’ve actually never lived out of home before, so not only am I preparing to pursue a career in a completely different country, but I’m also about to experience a whole new level of independence,” she says. “It’s definitely a little daunting, but more than anything, I’m really excited to embrace that challenge and everything that comes with it.”
It is a significant undertaking for a young performer who has spent much of her life working towards a career in commercial dance. Tiana began dancing at just two years old, and by Year 7 had recognised that her enthusiasm extended well beyond recreational classes. Moving to a performing arts school surrounded her with students who shared her commitment and introduced her to the possibility of making dance her profession. “I honestly can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t dancing! Dance has always been such a huge part of who I am,” she recalls. “Being in an environment where I was surrounded by people who were just as passionate made me fall in love with it even more.”
Her subsequent training at Brent Street proved particularly influential. Studying on scholarship in the Full-Time Performing Arts Program, Tiana graduated in 2022 with an Advanced Diploma, having developed the technical versatility and professional awareness required of a commercial dancer. Just as importantly, she was learning from choreographers and teachers actively working within the industry, including Lucas Newland and Cassie Bartho, whose mentorship continues to influence her career. “I was incredibly lucky to be taken under the wing of Lucas Newland and Cassie Bartho who I continue to work really closely with and they taught me so much, not only about being a dancer, but also about becoming a teacher. So much of what I know today comes from them, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Brent Street’s emphasis on preparing dancers for the realities of professional employment encouraged Tiana to develop beyond any single discipline. “What I loved about being a student at Brent Street was that the training and how each of the courses really pushed me to become the most versatile and employable version of myself, which is ultimately what you need if you want to build a sustainable career in this industry.”
Her introduction to professional work began while she was still at school. At approximately 17, Tiana was assisting on professional jobs, gaining firsthand experience of the rehearsal environments and working relationships that underpin commercial productions. “I remember feeling so grateful just to be in those rooms, surrounded by people working in the industry, some who were my teachers, because it was something I had dreamed about for so long.”
Her first major professional performance contract followed with Gatsby at The Green Light at the Sydney Opera House. Performing nightly at one of Australia’s most recognisable venues gave Tiana a tangible sense of how far she had progressed from the young student imagining a future in dance. “When I booked my first major professional contract, Gatsby at The Green Light at the Sydney Opera House, it honestly felt surreal,” she remembers. “After so many years of training and working towards becoming a professional dancer, I was finally getting to do what I loved as my job and it was such an exciting and rewarding feeling.”
While her stage work established her professional experience, Prime Video’s Dance Life introduced Tiana to audiences far beyond the Australian dance community. The documentary series followed a group of Brent Street students navigating the demands of full-time training and the transition towards professional careers. Its international reach brought considerable attention to the young performers, with Tiana discovering that experiences she had once considered deeply personal were now familiar to viewers around the world.
Growing up watching programmes such as Dance Moms, Tiana had admired dancers whose careers she followed from a distance. Finding herself in a similar position, with younger performers approaching her to explain how much her journey had inspired them, was something she had never fully anticipated. “I was such a fangirl growing up, always looking up to dancers and being inspired by their careers, so to now have younger dancers tell me that I’ve inspired them is such a full-circle moment.”
The series also generated professional opportunities, particularly in teaching. Tiana has since travelled internationally to work with dancers, extending her professional connections and allowing her to share the knowledge she gained through her own training. “Professionally, the show has opened so many doors, particularly with teaching. I’ve had the opportunity to teach internationally multiple times because of the exposure from Dance Life, which has been amazing,” she says.
Public recognition has nevertheless required some adjustment. Having personal experiences shared with a worldwide audience brought greater scrutiny, alongside the opportunities. “There’s naturally a little more pressure and anxiety that comes with knowing so many people have seen your experiences and formed their own opinions, but I’ve tried to focus on all the positives that have come from it,” Tiana explains. For her, the possibility that her experiences might encourage another young dancer has made that exposure worthwhile.
Her involvement in Dance For Your Life subsequently took her to London alongside nine other Australian dancers, where she worked with choreographer Dean Lee and experienced a different professional dance environment. The opportunity to train and perform alongside London-based dancers offered valuable insight into the international industry while reinforcing her appreciation of Australian dance education.
“The talent over there is unbelievable, and it was so inspiring to be surrounded by dancers who are so driven, incredibly talented and all just lovely humans,” she says. “I think the experience also reminded me just how strong the Australian dance industry is. We have such incredible training and talent here, and it was really special to see that Australian dancers can absolutely hold their own on an international stage.”
For Tiana, London confirmed that working internationally was an ambition worth pursuing. The experience exposed her to different creative approaches and demonstrated the opportunities available to dancers prepared to extend themselves beyond familiar professional environments. “I know there’s still so much for me to learn and so many incredible dancers around the world to learn from, but being part of that experience showed me that working internationally is something I can genuinely keep striving towards.”
Alongside performing, Tiana has established herself as a teacher, choreographer and assistant, drawing upon the mentorship she received during her own training. She finds particular satisfaction in helping younger dancers develop confidence and achieve goals they once considered beyond their reach. “Having grown up with mentors who invested so much time and energy into me, it’s really special to now be on the other side of that,” she says. “Their successes genuinely feel like my own and I find that so rewarding.”
Although choreography and creative direction remain important interests, Tiana is particularly focused on developing her performance career and continuing to work alongside established creatives. She is reluctant to confine herself to one professional discipline, recognising that the commercial dance industry offers opportunities across performance, teaching, choreography and assisting. “I think the exciting thing about this industry is that you don’t necessarily have to choose just one path. Teaching, choreographing, assisting and performing all fulfil different parts of me, and I hope to continue exploring all of them throughout my career.”
Los Angeles now represents the next stage of that development. Having visited the city several times, Tiana has experienced its training environment, established friendships and developed professional relationships that have strengthened her determination to work there. “Every single time I leave, I come home with an even bigger fire in my belly,” she says. “The energy is incredible, the training is constant, and you’re surrounded by dancers who are so hungry to work, improve and push themselves.”
While appreciative of the opportunities available in Australia, she recognises the greater scale of the American commercial entertainment industry, particularly for dancers seeking work with recording artists, music videos and international touring productions. Performing on a world tour has remained one of her most significant ambitions, and she sees Los Angeles as an important base from which to pursue that work.
“One of my biggest dreams has always been to dance for an artist and hopefully book a world tour, and I feel like being based in LA would put me closer to those opportunities,” she explains. “There are so many incredible choreographers, creative directors and artists working there, and I would love the chance to be in those rooms, continue learning and hopefully work alongside people I’ve admired for years.”
Her preparations have already included developing relationships with American industry professionals, including Chase Bowden, whose support and guidance she greatly values. “Chase Bowden has been such an amazing support, and he’s someone I’ve looked up to for such a long time. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance and encouragement, and I’m so excited to continue working closely with him as I make the move.”
Signing with Clear Talent Group has further strengthened her professional connections within the United States. For Tiana, securing representation with an agency she had admired for years represents an important achievement in itself, as well as an opportunity to pursue work within a considerably larger entertainment market.
Among the choreographers and creative teams she hopes to collaborate with are Robbie Blue, Kyle Hanagami, Kiel Tutin, NappyTabs, The Squared Division, Sean Bankhead and Brian Friedman. Their work reflects the breadth of commercial performance that interests her, from live concerts and international tours to music videos and major productions. Yet she remains equally interested in opportunities that might take her in unexpected directions. “I think the biggest thing about me is that I’m such a ‘yes’ person,” she says. “Whether that’s touring, music videos, live performances, assisting or working on something completely unexpected, I just want to keep saying yes to opportunities, challenging myself and learning from as many people as possible.”
Leaving Australia will inevitably involve considerable personal adjustment. Tiana has built strong professional relationships, friendships and a support network at home, and establishing herself in another country will mean stepping away from much of what has made her early career possible. Nevertheless, she approaches the prospect with the same enthusiasm that has characterised her willingness to accept unfamiliar professional challenges. “I’ve always believed that growth comes from pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, and I feel really ready to take that leap.”
Beyond the ambition to work with major artists and tour internationally, Tiana is thoughtful about the professional reputation she hopes to establish. Having benefited from the generosity of experienced teachers and choreographers, she understands that ability alone does not define a successful working relationship. “I want people to remember me not only for my dancing and the work I’ve done, but also for the kind of person I am,” she says. “I want to be someone people love having in the room, someone who works hard and genuinely loves what they do.”
For a dancer whose earliest professional experiences involved assisting the people she admired, that sentiment carries particular significance. Tiana’s career has already brought opportunities that once seemed distant, from performing at the Sydney Opera House to working internationally and reaching audiences through television and documentary productions. Her ambitions now extend towards a much larger professional landscape, but the enthusiasm that first drew her into the studio remains unmistakable.
“I’d love to leave my own little mark on the industry and hopefully inspire younger dancers the same way I was inspired growing up,” she says. “I have so many big dreams and so much I still want to do, and I honestly can’t wait to see where it all takes me.”