Meet Our JUDGES & MC //

Meet the fantastic team of judges for our 2025 season!

Lisa Jayne Fine

Lisa Jayne Fine is a performer and dance educator from the UK. With a Diploma in Performing Arts from London Studio Centre and a CBTS Qualification from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), she has dedicated over three decades to the world of performance, both on stage and screen.

Lisa’s international career began as a young dancer straight out of college, where she toured productions such as “Spirit of the Dance”, “Broadway”, “Le Grand Cirque”, “RED: The Indian Dance Spectacular”, and “The Hannah Montanah Show”, performing in locations such as Monte Carlo, Las Vegas, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, America, Europe, UK, and South Africa.

Her extensive experience includes dancing, modelling, and acting in numerous TV commercials, music videos as well as working on cruise liners and in Bollywood films. Lisa also made her mark as a model/dancer at South Africa Fashion Week.

Today, she is the proud co-owner and principal of her own dance academy, where she continues to passionately inspire and educate the next generation of dancers.

Stephan van der Walt

Stephan van der Walt is an accomplished performer, choreographer, and dance educator with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry.

A graduate of TUT with a B.Tech in Musical Theatre, he has performed in international tours of Chicago, Jersey Boys, We Will Rock You, and Mamma Mia, among many others. His diverse skill set includes Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, and Pas De Deux, as well as basic Tumbling and Aerial work.

As a dance captain and choreographer, Stephan has worked on major productions for Norwegian Creative Studios, The Joburg Theatre, and OAK Entertainment. He has also served as a lecturer at SAFATA and choreographed for competition groups, music videos, and corporate events.

With his extensive stage experience and passion for mentoring young performers, Stephan brings a keen eye for technique, artistry, and stage presence.

Lesego van Niekerk

Lesego van Niekerk is a dance, theatre and entertainment specialist with a professional career of almost 20 years. A product of Meadowlands, Soweto, she is an alumnus of the National School of the Arts matriculating top of her class. Lesego’s professional career started with the legendary African Footprint where she toured multiple countries as a lead dancer. During those years, she acquired a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics. She has been seen in Chicago the Musical, West Side Story, Winnie the Opera, and danced with singer Lira. She dominated the corporate theatre world for years before returning to the world of musical theatre.

Recently, Lesego has pioneered multiple projects including her role as the Curator of JOBURG MOVES Dance Festival, and as the Director and Choreographer of the original musical Sho’t Left Broadway. She coordinated the legendary 31st Zwakala Festival at the Market Theatre and was part of the pioneering team of the Luxurious Marble Circus. She has made a name for herself as a vibrant and visionary choreographer and has a reputation for her incredible ability to lead and coordinate large groups of people.

Lesego is a judge for the Naledi Theatre Awards Dance Panel, is the sitting Chairperson of the Theatre and Dance Alliance, and is currently serving as the Representative for Dance at the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

After a six-year hiatus, Lesego will return to the stage later this year as she rejoins the cast of the upcoming season of Chicago the Musical.

Prelude Sibindi

Prelude Sibindi, known on stage as Izinyane LeSilo (“the young one of a ferocious animal”), is a multidisciplinary artist with a rich background in performance and voice. Born in Nkayi, Matebeleland (Zimbabwe) and raised in Bulawayo, Sibindi’s artistic journey began early through music, dance, and performance in school, church, and community gatherings.

He is a founding member of Zimbabwe’s renowned IYASA (Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts), where he was professionally trained in dance, choreography, music, acting, and poetry. After relocating to South Africa in 2006, Sibindi re-emerged in the entertainment industry as a dynamic praise poet, MC, voice artist, and radio presenter, earning recognition for his commanding voice and poetic delivery.

Since 2014, he has served as the official Praise Poet for Henley Business School’s graduation ceremonies and has worked with notable brands and organisations including FNB, Standard Bank, Shoprite & Checkers Woman of the Year, SASRIA, Transnet, SAFA, St Gobain, Deloitte, and the Chefs World Tour Against Hunger. He was also featured at The Next Level of Dance Competition and formerly presented on UJ FM as a sports newsreader.

Currently, Sibindi is a full-time Professional Practitioner in Real Estate, but remains active in the creative space, with a focus on praise poetry, presenting, and voice-over work — staying true to his belief that his voice is his greatest artistic asset.