Growing up in the beachside stretch between South Coogee and Maroubra, Max Simmons’ world was filled with rhythm long before he ever set foot on a professional stage. His earliest memories are of his mum dancing around the house with music playing on the TV.
“I swear I’ve been dancing since I was born,” he laughs. “It was a way for me to express myself without saying anything.”
That instinctive love for movement soon found direction when his parents enrolled him in a small Randwick studio, before he moved on to Brent Street Studios in Moore Park — a leading performing arts school. From the age of eight to nineteen, Brent Street became his second home.
“I never really connected with school,” Max admits, “but I always felt at home when dancing.”
By Year 10, he was so certain of his calling that he left traditional schooling to join Brent Street Academy, a full-time dance and academic program designed for serious performers. It was there that he met mentors who would shape his career. Lucas Newland, Brent Street’s owner, instilled in him a fierce work ethic, while lead teacher — and fellow Maroubra local — Cassie Bartho taught him a lesson that stuck: “Sometimes good enough is just not enough.”
Today, Max assists Bartho in class, returning to the same rooms where he once trained, now as a teacher guiding the next generation.
For all his success as a dancer, Max’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Rejection, he says, is part of the job.
“A lot of my close friends started booking jobs straight away, and I didn’t,” he 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.”
His persistence paid off in spectacular fashion when he was handpicked by Katy Perry’s personal choreographer to perform at the AFL Grand Final — 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.”
He also starred in Prime Video’s Dancelife, which he says became a huge success and gave him a chance to share his story and love for dance on a global platform.
“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,” he says. That momentum carried through to Netflix’s Wednesday premiere, where he performed alongside Jenna Ortega, and other international gigs that put him in the orbit of world-renowned choreographers.
Now, with representation from a leading LA dance agency, Max is preparing to take the next leap.
“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.”
Despite his sights set firmly on Los Angeles, Max hasn’t forgotten his roots. He still teaches in Sydney — from Randwick to Moore Park and Botany — helping young dancers understand that work ethic and attitude matter just as much as talent.
“I’d rather hire someone who shows up on time, listens, and works hard than someone who’s just naturally talented,” he says.
As for what’s next, his dream is simple but ambitious: to move overseas, go on a world tour with artists like Troye Sivan, Ariana Grande, or Lady Gaga, and keep creating — whether on stage, in music videos, or behind the camera as a choreographer and director.
When asked what keeps him grounded, Max doesn’t hesitate. His pre-show mantra says it all: “Do it for yourself. If I’m not enjoying it, the audience won’t either.”
And if he could choose a Maroubra spot for a photo shoot? “Definitely Mahon Pools,” he smiles. “I love swimming and soaking up the sun there — the water is stunning. I can totally picture a shoot by the rocks at sunset, with the ocean in the background. It captures that raw, natural beauty of Sydney’s coastline.”
For a boy who once practised Blame It on the Boogie in his living room, Max Simmons’ rhythm has carried him far — and it’s clear this Maroubra kid is only just getting started.
Published 7-Oct-2025
