Our Team
Leighton Stevenson
Leighton started dancing locally in early childhood and was a mainstay of the Australian competitive circuit for many years. At age 22 he packed his bags for England where he would train under world leading coaches for 6 years, and compete against the worlds best. After returning to Australia he joined the Professional division and has since made every major final in the country. After working as a freelance coach for many years, in 2021 he founded Dance Lumiere, aiming to share his love for Ballroom dance to the next generation of Australian dancers.
He is passionate about introducing dancing to as many new people as possible, focusing on sound fundamentals from the very beginning, and promoting confidence and inclusivity as part of the coaching process; to produce not just excellent dancers, but people too.
Olga Shnyakina
Olga was born in Russia and commenced her competitive dance life in childhood. Having decided as dance for a career, Olga achieved a Sports Science degree at university. A highlight of her career was to become a two-time finalist of the World Showdance Championships.
Olga’s coaching career has taken her all over Europe, the US, and now Australia. She has worked with competitive couples, formation teams, and also on the entertainment side of the industry in stage shows. With many strings to her bow, she is also a dressmaker for the industry.
Olga is passionate about finding the best in her students, even when it’s more than what they thought they could do, exploring artistry and story though dance, and instilling strong technical knowledge to her students.