When Max Simmons first walked into Brent Street Studios in Moore Park as an eight-year-old, he didn’t yet know he’d one day share a stage with global pop icons. Back then, the cavernous studios just across from Surry Hills felt like another world — one filled with mirrors, music, and movement that would shape the next decade of his life.
“I swear I’ve been dancing since I was born,” Max laughs. “My mum would always put music on the TV and dance around the house. It was a way for me to express myself without saying anything.”
Born and raised between South Coogee and Maroubra, Max started dance lessons at a small Randwick studio before making the leap to Brent Street, one of Australia’s leading performing arts schools. There, from the age of eight through to nineteen, he honed his craft under some of the country’s most respected teachers.
“I never really connected with school,” he admits, “but I always felt at home when dancing.”
By Year 10, he was so committed to his passion that he left traditional schooling to join Brent Street Academy — a full-time dance and academic program designed to prepare students for professional careers. It was a bold decision that would soon pay off.
Among the mentors who left their mark, two stand out. “Lucas Newland, the owner of Brent Street Studios, helped shape my work ethic from a young age,” Max says. “And Cassie Bartho, who’s also from Maroubra, has been teaching me since I was eight. She taught me that sometimes ‘good enough is just not enough.’ That lesson sticks with me every day.”
Today, Max has come full circle. He now assists Bartho and teaches classes across Sydney — including at Brent Street — guiding the next generation of dancers who stand where he once stood.
But the road from the studio floor to the world stage hasn’t always been smooth. “A lot of my close friends started booking jobs straight away, and I didn’t,” Max recalls. “It’s tough when the people closest to you are living the dream you’re working so hard for. You start to question yourself and pick yourself apart. But I learned that rejection only means something else is waiting for you. Everything happens in its own time — you just have to be patient and stay focused.”
That patience paid off. Max was handpicked by Katy Perry’s personal choreographer to perform at the AFL Grand Final, dancing in front of 100,000 people.
“Performing next to an icon whose music shaped my childhood was surreal,” he says. “That performance made it clear: I want to dance on the world’s biggest stages.”
Soon after, Max starred in Prime Video’s Dancelife, which he says became a huge success. “Sharing my story and my love for dance on a global platform was incredible,” he says. “Getting messages and love from around the world really made me realise: I want to keep doing this. I want to share myself and my artistry with as many people as I can.”
His growing résumé includes dancing at Netflix’s Wednesday premiere alongside Jenna Ortega and working with world-renowned choreographers in both Australia and Los Angeles. He’s since been offered representation by a leading LA dance agency — a turning point that’s set him on course for an international career.
“Getting offered representation by a leading LA agency was a massive goal ticked off,” he says. “It opens so many doors — from connecting with top choreographers to being submitted for major auditions that I wouldn’t have access to otherwise. The visa process takes time, money, and a lot of preparation. And while the thought of leaving behind the comfort of home is scary, I’m ready to take that leap. I truly believe that the bigger the risks you take, the greater the reward.”
Even with his sights on LA, Max continues to teach in Sydney — from Randwick to Moore Park and Botany — determined to pass on what he’s learned. “Talent matters, but work ethic and who you are as a person matter just as much,” he says. “I’d rather hire someone who shows up on time, listens, and works hard than someone who’s just naturally talented.”
Looking ahead, Max dreams of joining a world tour with artists like Troye Sivan, Ariana Grande, or Lady Gaga. He also hopes to expand into choreography and directing — continuing to tell stories through movement.
His pre-show mantra captures what keeps him grounded: “Do it for yourself. If I’m not enjoying it, the audience won’t either.”
And though his journey now spans continents, the roots of it all trace back to a Moore Park studio — where a young boy discovered that passion, persistence, and a few well-timed steps could open the world.
Published 7-Oct-2025
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