Jake Sergi is to add TV star to his bio after an incredible experience in London. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Teenage Griffith dancer Jake Sergi will feature on the second season of the hit TV show Dance Life, after being filmed and interviewed while he was on an exclusive bootcamp in London this month.
In March 2025, he was accepted into Sydney’s elite performing arts studio Brent Street, where he auditioned to be selected for Project 10, a fully funded dance trip to the UK.
“They only chose 10 of us out of hundreds of Brent Street students and alumni. I was the youngest chosen,” Jake said.
In 2024, producers reached out to Brent Street to make a documentary series about dancers and their lives. The Dance Life episodes were screened on Amazon Prime and the ABC.
A second season is now in the works, focusing on Jake and his nine colleagues as they train and perform under the guidance of famed UK choreographer Dane Lee, who also works with Janet Jackson.
“The industry has long been based on how pretty you are,” Jake said.
“You get jobs based on your appearance, not on how you dance.
“But Dean Lee has a different perspective on dance. He doesn’t care what you look like, he only cares if you’re talented. That’s what they are trying to showcase in the new season of Dance Life.”
The 17-year-old said working hard to perfect your dance steps was challenging while a film crew was following your every step.
“We were doing 10-hour rehearsals every day,” he said. ”Some of us would be mic-ed up and the camera would be in our faces, but we couldn’t look at the camera. We’d then be interviewed afterwards and they’d film us in our London sharehouse. It was exhausting, but the group I was with was great.”
Jake performing at Brent Street. Photo: Brent Street.
Jake started his professional career this year and has already travelled to Canada, the United States and the UK. He says he often pinches himself at his new life.
“Abby Faith Whyte was my role model. I would watch her on social media and it’s crazy to think I’m actually dancing with her now,” he said.
“I was in awe of the other dancers; they’ve done so much. But as the days went by, I got on with all of them.”
Jake had dreams of moving to Los Angeles and pursuing a career as a backup dancer for a major performer. But that’s all changed.
“I’m now thinking of London,” he said. ”The environment is a lot safer. The LA industry just seems so much more competitive. All the jobs are going to London.”
Jake thanks his former teacher Jodi Andreatta and his family in Griffith for supporting him to achieve his meteoric rise.
His challenge now is to finish his HSC and then continue with Brent Street for two more years, until he graduates. He’s also adding more strings to his bow.
“I want to do teaching and choreography. Being a working dancer, your career ends when you’re 30, but a choreographer can go on for much longer.”
A trailer for the second season of Dance Life will be released by Christmas, with the series expected to debut in 2026.
