Behind the Stars

In this episode of Behind the Stars , Amelia Sanzo shares an inspiring and honest look into her journey through the world of musical theatre. She reflects on her time as a student, where she wasn’t always the strongest performer in every area, but consistently committed to hard work and intentional training. Amelia explains how she focused on improving her weaker skills rather than avoiding them,...

In this inspiring episode of Behind the Stars , we chat with former Star Academy student Sofia Maur , who is now training full-time at Brent Street — one of Australia’s most prestigious performing arts schools. Sofia shares how her years at Star Academy helped prepare her not only as a dancer but as an independent young adult — from mastering choreography and technique to managing her time, unifor...

 In this episode of Behind the Stars , we sit down with influencer and content creator Hayley Berlingeri to explore the world behind the perfectly curated feed. Hayley opens up about what it really takes to go from a brand brief to producing authentic content, how she juggles motherhood with her career as a social media influencer, and the highs and lows of living life online. She also shares valu...

In Episode 5 of Behind the Stars , we sit down with director and photographer Clay Glen , the creative mind behind the Netflix hit Gymnastics Academy: A Second Chance , and rising star Zoe Burns , who shines on screen as Scarlett. Clay shares his journey from photography to screenwriting and directing, and how his daughters’ love of gymnastics inspired a global franchise. Zoe opens up about auditi...

 Episode 4 of Behind the Stars welcomes special guest Jenni Guest , a former dancer whose love for ballet inspired her career as a leading physiotherapist for dancers. Through her Smart Dance program , Jenni is passionate about not only treating injuries but also preventing them, helping dancers train safely and sustainably. In this episode, Jenni shares her unique perspective on the challenges da...

In this episode, we sit down with Adelaide-born and raised performer Ambrielle Payne , who is currently touring Australia in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast . From a young age, Ambrielle trained extensively in all styles of dance, developing the discipline and work ethic that would eventually lead her to the professional stage. Our Star Academy community were lucky enough to have Ambrielle as part o...

In this episode of Behind the Stars , we’re joined by Malissa Fedele — Clinical Nutritionist, performer, and advocate for holistic health — widely known as The Mood Boosting Nutritionist . With her signature passion for helping people thrive, Malissa takes us through the fascinating world where food, performance, and mental wellbeing collide. Together, we explore how the right nutrition can fuel t...

Welcome to Behind the Stars — the podcast that shines a light on all things performing arts, from the spotlight on stage to the stories behind the scenes. In our very first episode, we sit down with Jenna Maiolo , Owner and Director of Star Academy, and Kristy Burns , Principal, to uncover the inspiring journey of how it all began. From a simple idea shared over coffee to building a thriving perfo...