About Ballroom Blitz

Aric Yegudkin is an Australian choreographer, professional dancer, instructor and adjudicator, whose list of accomplishments is second to none.

Aric may be best known to the public as a regular face on Australia’s most successful reality series ‘Dancing With The Stars’. He went on to win the series straight off the bat, with his partner Ada Nicodemou from Home and Away. Since then, Aric has been a regular finalist on the show and achieved the highest overall scores in DWTS Australia’s history. He finished his successful run with another win in 2015, partnering TV and Radio personality Emma Freedman, and making Aric the reigning champion.

Apart from DWTS, Aric has also been a resident choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance Australia and the acclaimed stage productions such as Shake Rattle and Roll and Ultra Swing Lounge, selling out in theatres across Australia. He has also toured with the acclaimed stage production “Burn The Floor” and was the lead dancer and supporting act for Human Nature’s National tours 2015-2017 along with his partner Masha Belash.

As well as touring with Human Nature, Aric has also danced alongside stars like Ricky Martin, Josh Groban, Olivia Newton-John, Seal and Delta Goodrem, he has appeared and performed on Channel 7’s Candles by Candlelight, AACTAs, The Morning Show and Olympics Opening ceremony.

Away from the commercial spotlight, Aric is an Australian Dancesport Latin champion, South Pacific champion, National champion and State champion. He has trained all over the world, spending most of his time in London, and represented Australia at the World Championships multiple times. At the British Open Championships in Blackpool, Aric placed 13th out of over 250 couples from all over the world in the Youth Latin.

Now Aric is also an acclaimed coach and instructor. He has been invited to teach all over Australia, as well as overseas, and has produced champion couples himself. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of NSW, and is the co-founder of MOVE by Aric and Masha.

Illusionist Anthony Street from Healesville, Victoria, was raised with motorbikes, race cars and hunting; little did he know he would eventually have a successful career on the stage! A young Anthony became captivated by magic after watching a magician at a local fair, that year Santa Claus gave him his first magic kit and it was from here that his obsession with magic & performing grew. He quickly perfected his tricks and became a favourite entertainer at parties and gatherings for his family and friends.

At age 14 after seeing a performance of Riverdance on Eurovision, Anthony’s grandmother enrolled him a local Irish dance class where his passion intensified for dance. At age 19 he was offered a contract to dance with Gaelforce and then Dance of Desire in Ireland and Europe. The 5-month contract turned into an 8-year career touring the world. He was soon accepted into Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and on the 2nd day of rehearsals, Anthony was asked to learn the leading role. He was the first Australian to perform a lead role in the show and even went on to play the very role Michael Flatley performed himself.

Anthony returned home from touring in 2009 with a goal in mind to combine his love for dance with magic. After much focused planning and hard work, his cast was assembled and that dream became a reality, with Celtic Illusion premiering in November 2011. The show’s success grew and grew with every tour and has performed to sell-out audiences across Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada and the USA.

This was Anthony’s inspiration and driving force to start experimenting with bigger, more mind-bending tricks which meant the beginning of his own illusion show, Spellbound! As director, producer and lead performer, Anthony oversees the planning, production and construction of the illusions performed in his show, which incorporates some of the most daring and dazzling illusions come to life.

Now Anthony is producing the ultimate dance extravaganza, Ballroom Blitz! This show will remind you that the possibilities are limitless when it comes to dance.

Hayden Baird is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and teacher based in Melbourne Australia. Having originated from New Zealand, Hayden’s passion for music started at age 5 on piano and later progressing to saxophones, flute and clarinet. Gaining his education from The New Zealand School of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Jazz Performance. Hayden graduated in 2009. His early years saw him performing in various groups and clubs with some of Wellington New Zealand’s finest musicians & Dj’s.

Hayden has lead a successful international touring career for the last 8 years performing to audiences in tribute shows across Europe, Canada, South Africa, Asia, The Middle East and Australasia. Most notably performances at the London Palladium, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Massey Hall Toronto, Harpa Center Reykjavik, Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Mandela Theatre Johannesburg and Wiener Konzerthaus Vienna supporting Britain’s Got Talent semi finalist Belinda Davids in “The Greatest Love Of All Show” a tribute to Whitney Houston.

Hayden has also toured with various other tribute productions including the music of Michael Jackson, Abba, Elvis, Tina Turner, David Bowie & Neil Diamond. Hayden’s work in these roles has enabled him to pursue and develop an edge in music production and arranging – producing various backing tracks, arrangements for large ensembles and the musical direction of touring ensembles in large scale theatrical environments globally.