Hello and welcome to episode 1 of In Bed With YAYA. On my very first show, I have a very special guest, who is also a friend of mine from way back when. I’m very excited to have her on the show and that she has agreed to let you see a little more of what’s rarely seen.

About Simone. 

A fellow Melbournian, Simone began her full-time training in classical ballet at the prestigious National Theatre Ballet School, in St Kilda, Melbourne. 

After her training, she commenced her professional stage career with the Australian Opera Ballet and soon after was asked to join Graeme Murphy’s prestigious Sydney Dance Company, dancing many principal roles during her six-year tenure, including a season of the critically acclaimed Ellipse in New York.  The Sydney Morning Herald noted Simone’s triumph in Ellipse as, “an outstandingly vivacious performance.”

She has performed in many professional musical productions in Australia, London, and Paris, including, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Sinatra and ENO productions of On The Town.

Simone has also completed several films - most notably Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, and Alice in Wonderland by Oscar-nominated director Tim Burton. She also had the honour of singing the demo track Take It All for director Rob Marshall’s film Nine. She has also appeared in numerous tv shows and commercials and performed on world stages at prestigious awards shows.

Her creative roles have encompassed workshops for major West End productions such as The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, and Shoes.  As well as choreographing for Love Never Dies  (Hamburg), Sadler’s Wells’ Most Incredible Things with the Pet Shop Boys, Strictly Dance Fever for the BBC, and the 2012 London Olympic Games ceremonies with Danny Boyle.

Not only is Simone incredibly beautiful - still as beautiful as the day we met - but her talents have made her a much sought after dance coach and creative/choreographer all over the world. I am so excited to have her as my first guest on the show!