Our Coaches

Our coaching team brings together performance experience, creativity and a shared passion for calisthenics. At Ignite, we want every participant to feel supported as they learn new skills, build confidence and discover the enjoyment of performing.

Meet the people who will help guide and encourage our members.

Tarsha Brown

Founder & Principal Coach

Calisthenics has been the biggest passion in Tarsha’s life for the past 19 years, and she has been incredibly fortunate to experience the sport from many different perspectives as a performer, soloist and coach.

Tarsha began calisthenics as a Tiny and has continued through to Seniors, including spending two years at Avonde Calisthenics College. Throughout her competitive career, she has represented Victoria at the Australian National Championships twice, winning with the Victorian State Team on both occasions, and has personally won two State Solo titles. She was also selected for the Jason Coleman MOD Star Program, providing her with further performance and development experience outside of calisthenics.

Solo work has been a significant part of Tarsha’s own calisthenics journey. She has received the Solo Graceful Girl Award at the Greater Valley Calisthenics Competition for five years, with her highest individual solo score being 98/100. She has also completed calisthenics exams, including achieving Honours in her Bronze exam.

Her experience extends beyond calisthenics. Over the years she has trained in ballet, including exams, jazz, acro, hip hop and lyrical, giving her a broader understanding of movement, dance technique, musicality and performance. She also studied VCE Dance and VCE Music in Year 12, further developing her knowledge of choreography, performance, musical interpretation and the technical elements of dance and music.

Tarsha has also obtained an Acro Assistant qualification through the Acro Dance Teachers Association, further developing her knowledge of safely supporting acrobatic skill development.

In recent years, coaching has become an equally important part of her love for the sport. She has coached Junior, Intermediate and Senior teams, soloists and calisthenics exam students. Her coaching achievements include leading a Junior team to a State Championship title in 2025, coaching multiple soloists to State Championship placings, and preparing students for calisthenics exams, with all achieving strong results.

What Tarsha values most about coaching is the opportunity to pass on the knowledge she has gained throughout her own journey. She loves seeing performers develop technically, grow in confidence and discover what they are capable of, while hopefully developing the same lifelong love for calisthenics that she has.

Opening her own club has been a long-held dream and feels like the natural next chapter in her future within the sport. As Founder and Principal Coach of Ignite, Tarsha wants to combine her competitive experience, coaching knowledge, broader dance training and passion for developing performers to create a club where the next generation can learn, be challenged, achieve their goals and genuinely love being part of calisthenics.

Eliza Hewes

Development Coach

Eliza brings extensive performance experience and a lifelong passion for calisthenics to Ignite. Beginning as a Tiny and progressing through to Seniors, her journey includes five years at Avonde Calisthenics College during her Junior and Intermediate years.

Her coaching experience spans both teams and soloists, with highlights including coaching her Masters team to an aggregate win in 2026. She draws on her own performance background to support skill development, build confidence and encourage teamwork.

As a performer, Eliza achieved 2nd place at State Titles for Graceful in both 2025 and 2026, alongside numerous solo placings and awards throughout her competitive career.

Eliza brings enthusiasm and a natural ability to connect with her performers, creating an encouraging environment where members feel supported to learn, improve and enjoy calisthenics.

Vanessa McKenzie

Development Coach

Leah Stewart

Foundation Coach

Leah brings eight years of calisthenics experience, dedication and enthusiasm to Ignite. Her background as a team performer has built her technical skills and understanding of the commitment and teamwork that calisthenics encourages.

Her coaching experience includes working as a Foundation Coach and assisting with an Intermediate team. She is continuing her professional development through enrolment in the Development Coaching Course in December 2026, covering team sections and solo coaching.

As a performer, Leah achieved a placing in her first Senior Graceful Solo season in 2026. Her willingness to embrace new challenges is matched by her commitment, demonstrated through exceptional attendance across both team and Foundation classes.

Leah will work alongside Ignite’s coaching team, contributing her knowledge and enthusiasm while continuing to develop her coaching skills through mentoring and practical experience.

Growing together

Our coaches will work together to create a positive and welcoming learning environment. Through mentoring, ongoing education and shared ideas, we aim to support both our performers and our coaches as they grow with Ignite.