Junction19 Performing Arts Academy

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Gemma’s passion for performing began at a young age and has remained a defining part of her life. While at school, she was a member of her school choral group and took part in a concert tour of Austria, an experience that strengthened her love of performing, music and being part of a like minded community.

Gemma went on to study Musical Th

Gemma’s passion for performing began at a young age and has remained a defining part of her life. While at school, she was a member of her school choral group and took part in a concert tour of Austria, an experience that strengthened her love of performing, music and being part of a like minded community.

Gemma went on to study Musical Theatre at Sheena Simon College of Performing Arts in Manchester, where her credits included The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Is There Life After High School? She also toured schools across the North West of England, using educational theatre to engage, inspire and connect with young audiences.

Alongside her studies, Gemma performed a number of principal roles in amateur theatre productions, including Nancy in Oliver!, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, Mabel in Fame and Glenda in The Pajama Game. She also appeared in supporting roles in productions including My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls and Annie, developing a broad performance background across musical theatre, drama and community productions.

Driven by her belief that performing arts should be accessible to everyone, Gemma went on to establish the original Junction 19 within her local community in the UK before immigrating to Australia.

Gemma later pursued further study and now works as a Behaviour Support Specialist. Through this work, she has developed an in-depth understanding of human behaviour, emotional regulation, confidence, communication and the importance of creating environments in which people feel safe enough to express themselves and grow.

Gemma believes theatre offers far more than the opportunity to perform. The arts can give children and adults a place to belong, a way to communicate and the courage to step beyond the limits they may have placed on themselves. Participation in theatre can support emotional wellbeing, positive mental health, social connection, resilience and self-confidence, all while allowing people to explore their creativity and experience the sheer joy of making something together.

Theatre and music remain constants in Gemma’s life. She continues to see almost every production that comes to Adelaide, now sharing that love and excitement with her daughter. Gemma is also a passionate piano student and is committed to continuing to develop her musicianship and explore her lifelong love of music and performance. Her creativity also extends to writing, having recently co-authored and published Self-Help for Grown-Ups, Written by Your Kids with her daughter.

Bringing Junction 19 to Adelaide feels like a dream come true. For Gemma, the opportunity to guide and support emerging performers, build a welcoming creative community and produce exciting, ambitious and inspiring work is both a privilege and the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter.

Monica’s dance journey began at Marlupi Dance Academy in Surabaya, where she trained extensively in classical ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus up to Advanced 2, alongside jazz, modern dance, and a wide range of performance styles.

Her teaching experience started early. At the age of 12, she began assisting her mothe

Monica’s dance journey began at Marlupi Dance Academy in Surabaya, where she trained extensively in classical ballet through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus up to Advanced 2, alongside jazz, modern dance, and a wide range of performance styles.

Her teaching experience started early. At the age of 12, she began assisting her mother with the Klampis branch of Marlupi Dance Academy and gradually took on greater responsibility in the studio. She soon progressed into a main teaching role, leading classes and preparing students for RAD ballet examinations. Her teaching focused on developing strong technique, musicality, coordination, performance quality, and confidence, while helping students understand and enjoy the process of learning dance.

Monica also coached students preparing for competitions, including the Malaysian International Ballet Grand Prix (MIBGP) and Asian Grand Prix (AGP). Her role involved refining choreography, strengthening technical execution, and helping dancers build the stage presence and confidence needed to perform under pressure.

As a performer, Monica took part in many recital productions throughout her years at the academy. Some of her roles included the Diamond in Aladdin, a villager in La Fille Mal Gardée, and one of the mermaids in The Little Mermaid, among many other character and ensemble roles.

As she moved further into teaching, her involvement in productions shifted towards choreography, rehearsal, and student support. She choreographed and trained selected sections of productions such as Cinderella, Swan Lake, Kabayan, and other academy recitals. She was also closely involved backstage, helping younger dancers get ready, calming nerves, keeping them focused, and supporting them before and during performances.

Outside the academy, Monica also used to perform at weddings and special events across multiple cities in Indonesia. Her past performance experience included Broadway-inspired choreography, cabaret, jazz, modern dance, and fusion pieces influenced by Chinese and Indonesian traditional dance. These experiences gave her exposure to a broad range of styles, characters, musical approaches, and ways of connecting with an audience.

Across approximately 19 years with Marlupi Dance Academy, Monica developed a teaching style that combines technical discipline with encouragement and creativity. She particularly values helping students grow not only in their dance ability, but also in confidence, expression, stage awareness, and genuine enjoyment of performing.

Paul brings more than 12 years of experience as a Drama teacher in the UK, alongside a background in writing, directing and performing.

Having studied Performing Arts and Drama in the UK, Paul went on to work across theatre and performance, writing and directing productions as well as performing in professional shows. He was also cast in a

Paul brings more than 12 years of experience as a Drama teacher in the UK, alongside a background in writing, directing and performing.

Having studied Performing Arts and Drama in the UK, Paul went on to work across theatre and performance, writing and directing productions as well as performing in professional shows. He was also cast in a variety of roles for television.

For Paul, performing arts has always been about much more than what happens on stage. His passion lies in using drama to build confidence, develop relationships, encourage creativity and, most importantly, make performing enjoyable.

Paul believes there should be a place in performing arts for everyone. For the complete beginner, J19 can be somewhere to have fun, make new friends and discover confidence they didn't know they had. For students with ambitions to pursue acting and performance more seriously, it can be a place to develop their craft, discipline and understanding of the performing arts.

His approach combines a relaxed and supportive environment with the discipline required to create great performance. Students are encouraged to take creative risks, learn from mistakes, work as part of an ensemble and take pride in what they create.

Whether you're stepping onto a stage for the first time or hoping it might one day become your career, Paul believes everyone deserves the opportunity to find their place in the performing arts.