A young Griffith dancer who was accepted into an elite Sydney academy earlier this year has performed in Canada and is set to appear on TV show Dancing with the Stars.

Jake Sergi, 17, was often bullied as a child but is now having the last laugh as his career surges at Brent Street, a performing arts studio that has trained some of Australia’s brightest stars.

“We are super proud considering what he went through,” Auntie Yvonne Turnell said.

“He was in a dark place. He was once in the top class at school, but slipped down after getting bullied. Dancing became his sanctuary.

“I told him the best revenge is what you’re doing. Dancing will make you so strong, make the bullies come and pay to see you.”

Jake dances in the hip-hop hardcore genre. Through persistence and hard work, he was accepted at Brent Street.

“Thousands apply from all over Australia,” mum Nide said. ”They initially take a pool of 300 for trials and then only accept 80. He’s one of the youngest that made it.”

Ms Turnell said you couldn’t take your eyes off him when he danced.

“He’s really good and he’s worked so hard for it – he dances six hours a day. He’s done a lot of competitions and he usually comes first. He’s from a small town and competing against all these Sydney kids.”

Through Brent Street, Jake has been selected to do a guest performance on TV show Dancing with the Stars, to air this season.

Region caught up with him to find out about how he overcame adversity, his Griffith influences and his plans.

Were you bullied because you were a male dancer?

Being a dancer as a boy wasn’t challenging, it was more because I was a bit different in terms of how I looked and dressed.

How did you overcome it?

I found if you ignore bullying, it eventually stops. The bullies get bored and move on. It started in Year 9 and 10 but stopped in my senior years. I tried to put it out of my head and focused on my dancing.

Jake with mum Nide and dad John.

Who were your positive influences in Griffith?

Auntie Yvonne has been so supportive from the beginning, since the time I first auditioned for Brent Street in 2023. She tried to convince my parents to let me go. My parents were reluctant to let me go to Sydney by myself so young, but now they’re supportive.

Jodi from Jodi’s Dance Company pushed me out of my comfort zone, which led to me enjoying dancing and I started to work really hard to get to where I am today.

What’s your routine at Brent Street?

On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday I dance from 8 am to 8 pm. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I do three hours of school and three hours of dance.

Do you have a role model in dance?

Abby Faith Whyte. She’s a dancer at Brent Street. I admired her a lot and now I get to dance with her. I’m also being taught by choreographers I admire.

What advice do you have for younger dancers who would like to perform at Brent Street?

Work really hard. If you have a goal, work hard at it. Don’t focus on others. You might be surrounded by good dancers in the same room as you, so you can be self-conscious. But just concentrate on yourself – fake it until you make it.

What’s your career goal?

I want to move to Los Angeles and work towards being a back-up dancer for celebrities, someone big like J.Lo, and work towards becoming a choreographer.