From the moment Max Simmons steps into a studio, you can feel it — the confidence of a dancer who has poured years of discipline, creativity, and heart into his craft. Born and raised in Sydney, Simmons discovered his love for movement at just eight years old. What started as a childhood hobby soon became a calling. When he was just 11, he won Abby’s Ultimate Dancer in Australia by Abby Lee Miller. This moment really defined Simmons’ excellence and that he was on the right path to success. By his early teens, his potential was undeniable, and he trained with the elite training program at Brent Street Performing Arts, one of Australia’s most well-known studios.
Leaving traditional schooling in Year 10 to pursue full-time training, Simmons spent long days perfecting everything from jazz and contemporary to hip hop and musical theatre. His dedication paid off: he earned a scholarship and completed his Diploma of Dance in 2022, later gaining national recognition through the Amazon Prime series Dance Life, which followed Brent Street’s graduating class.
Since then, Simmons has danced on major stages across Australia — most recently performing as a back-up dancer for Katy Perry at the AFL Grand Final as well as being a lead dancer with the Dream Dance Company, Australia’s leading commercial dance company — and is now turning his focus to the next chapter of his journey: breaking into the vibrant U.S. dance industry. Energetic, focused, and full of creative drive, Simmons represents the new wave of Australian talent taking their artistry global, and we dive deep into his journey.
You started dancing at just eight years old. What do you remember most about those early days and discovering your love for dance?
“I remember being young and dancing everywhere I went. It was my way of expressing myself without needing to talk. I could never sit still. I was lucky enough to join Brent Street at the age of eight, where I was constantly inspired by the older kids at the studio, people like Cassie Bartho, Michael Dameski, and Paris Cavanagh. I never really felt like I fitted in at school, but when I went to my dance classes as a young boy, it felt like home. That’s how I knew it was what I wanted to pursue as I got older.”
Brent Street is known for shaping some of the country’s top performers. What were the most challenging and rewarding parts of your full-time training there?
“Brent Street is Australia’s top dance studio, and it was a privilege to train there from the age of eight through to my full-time training in 2022. My hard work paid off when I received a scholarship in 2021, my final year of schooling at Brent Street. The training during my full-time year was physically and mentally challenging, and there were days when my body was sore and I was completely exhausted, but those experiences shaped me into the dancer I am today. It was rewarding to be surrounded by Australia’s top talent and to be taught by the country’s leading choreographers. The training I received was at an elite level, and I use it every day as a professional dancer. I’m now lucky enough to be teaching at Brent Street, which feels like a full-circle moment.”
Viewers got to know you through Dance Life. How did it feel to have cameras capture such a pivotal time in your career?
“It was a life-changing experience being a lead in the TV show Dance Life on Prime. It was a pivotal moment in my career, as viewers got to see my transitional year from student to professional dancer. Full-time training is already tough, with everyone striving to be the best, and having cameras in your face adds another layer of pressure. It was certainly an adjustment getting used to being filmed, but over time, it felt natural. Ultimately, I’m so grateful for the experience. Being on camera taught me to be my true self at all times and gave me an extra push to become the best dancer I can be.”
You’ve worked with some incredible choreographers — Cassie Bartho, Matthew Gode, and Mitchell Woodcock among them. What’s one piece of advice or insight that’s really stuck with you?
“One piece of advice that really stuck with me is that you can only be yourself. If you compare yourself to others or try to dance like someone else, it will ultimately work against you. Focus on improving yourself, and that is where you will succeed. At the end of the day, I’m going to get hired for being me, not someone else, because that person already exists.”
Performing at the AFL Grand Final with Katy Perry must have been huge. Can you take us behind the scenes of that experience?
“Dancing for a crowd of 100,000 people at the AFL Grand Final for Katy Perry was a dream come true. This experience definitely fueled my international aspirations of dancing for the world’s biggest artists. We had two weeks of rehearsals and got to perform six of Katy’s most iconic songs, songs from my childhood. There were dancers from Australia and LA, and it was incredible to be surrounded by so much talent. I was just taking it all in every day, especially getting the opportunity to work with the Squared Division.”
Every dancer faces setbacks and self-doubt. How do you stay motivated and grounded when the industry gets tough?
“Self-doubt is ingrained in dancers, and it can be hard to trust yourself when rejection and setbacks happen. I have learned to use rejection as motivation rather than letting it hinder my confidence. When something doesn’t go my way, I let it fuel a fire in me to work harder and be better. I also stay grounded when the industry gets tough by remembering why I’m doing this. Dancing, although it is my work, is also my passion. I do it because I love it, and that love keeps me going.”
As you look toward opportunities in the U.S., what excites you most about taking that next step overseas?
“What excites me most about taking this next step is being surrounded by the world’s best dancers and choreographers, as there truly is no environment like it. I’m beyond excited to be signed with Clear Talent Group, my dream agency, and to start working with them. I’m also thrilled to be working under Brian Friedman at Radix Dance Convention as a lead dancer. Being recognized for such an important role by Brian means the world to me, especially being all the way from Australia. Moments like this remind me that my hard work is paying off.”
Finally, what’s one dream project or artist you’d love to work with in the next few years?
“One dream project I would absolutely love to do in the future is to dance for Troye Sivan. Troye is an artist I feel so aligned with, and I really feel like I could be my truest self as a dancer performing for him. I am beyond inspired by him and his dancers, and I actively manifest this moment.”
By Renata Ogayar of Dance Informa.
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