Inside ‘the takedown’ of a Brisbane dance enterprise

The lights were dim, and the screams of support were loud. The space provided a haven for dancers who valued expression over perfection.

Heels dance classes at The Scene Creative Studios, run by Kristy Maree Horn, were almost always sold out.

But in recent weeks, the dance empire crumbled, amid claims of unpaid work and emotional manipulation engulfing the close-knit circle.

Horn, who describes herself as a leader in the dance industry and someone who leads with love and integrity, had been the heart of the thriving community that fostered empowerment, confidence and embracing sexuality.

Affectionately referred to as “Mumma” by members and staff, there was a sense of unquestioning respect and admiration for the owner, whose business was based in Brisbane but had expanded to the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Melbourne.

“She used to always like being called Mumma by students and staff. Weird, I know, but when she’s your boss it’s kind of like OK,” says a former staff member, who wishes to remain anonymous for employment reasons.

In since-deleted social media posts, some members expressed gratitude for Horn, and people declared the 33-year-old changed their lives through the dance studio.

But recent allegations of emotional manipulation and claims of illegal working conditions have since embroiled the group.

Aleisha Balfoort has been documenting her experience with The Scene to her Instagram followers.

Claims broadcast to hundreds of thousands on Instagram

For weeks, Aleisha Balfoort documented allegations about Horn and The Scene to her 111,000 followers in an Instagram story highlight labelled “The Take Down”.

On October 17 – against a screenshot of The Scene Creative Studios Instagram page, from which she had been blocked – she wrote “blocking me won’t make the lawsuits or news media go away”.

“I have been emotionally abused, gaslit and manipulated out of thousands of dollars,” she posted.

In one incident, Balfoort recalled being in hospital with her son after a medical emergency when his heart stopped.

“[Horn] was hounding me with crying voice messages ... I was like, I can’t deal with this … I’m literally sitting here waiting to see if my son’s heartbeat comes back because he was on his god-damn deathbed,” she alleged.

Balfoort says she has been inundated with messages from former ambassadors and teachers, which she has shared on Instagram through screenshots with names removed.

Balfoort at a Valentine’s Day shoot hosted by The Scene this year.Credit: Instagram

In her Instagram story, Balfoort claimed The Scene would not have reopened in 2025 if she had not paid studio fees via a loan agreement with Horn.

Balfoort claimed on Instagram that Horn had agreed in writing to pay $3500 over a six-month period in weekly instalments of $145. Balfoort shared a screenshot of a November 2024 email from Horn outlining this payment arrangement.

In screenshots shared to Instagram, Horn inquired with Balfoort about the payments. Horn expressed concerns about reopening the studio in 2025 if payments were not made.

In a message sent by Horn to some dance crew, and seen by this masthead, she said the loan from Balfoort was a donation.

Balfoort says it was not.

“I asked a friend for help … I was deeply grateful and honestly embarrassed to even ask. That support was offered as a donation to the studio,” Horn wrote.

This masthead does not suggest Horn has committed any wrongdoing, only that the allegations have been made.

Kristy Maree Horn has been part of the Brisbane dance community for years.

The inner-circle of the ‘it girl’

This masthead has been told by former employees the success of the studio was largely because of a support team who completed administrative work in return for classes.

Former staff claim the position was unpaid, and that they joined as a way to save money on the membership.

Cassidy Commons, who joined the ambassador team in 2023 before becoming a teacher the following year, says the opportunity to be part of the team, later known as the support crew, was exciting and sounded enticing to dancers looking to expand their training and be part of Horn’s inner circle.

“It’s like [Horn] is the ‘it girl’. You want to be a part of it, and then she’ll give each person a little bit of attention … you start to crave it,” Commons says.

Contract documents shared with this masthead outline an ambassador’s responsibilities.

Cassidy Commons was an ambassador and teacher at The Scene.

Unpaid ambassadors were required to create and post at least one weekly Instagram video to promote the studio, with topics pre-approved by Horn, post daily timetables and attend at least three classes a week.

But the requirements for the role evolved, with one former support crew claiming she was in the studio four nights a week – about 16 hours in total.

Another former team member says the pressure and stress at The Scene damaged their mental and physical health.

“There was a point [during my shift] where I was like, ‘I’m about to have a panic attack, I cannot be here’,” they say.

‘It’s like she [Horn] is the ‘it girl,’ you want to be a part of it, and then she’ll give each person a little bit of attention … you start to crave it.’

WhatsApp messages obtained by this masthead reveal Horn’s communication with ambassadors.

“In this role we dance for free here and in this role we love and care a lot for you,” she wrote.

“I’ve had far too many people take advantage of this role and turn around and say they were burnt out without letting me know.”

Commons questions how compensation could be provided in dance classes.

Kristy Maree Horn often presented as the face of the empowerment studio.Credit: Instagram

A number of former ambassadors say Horn’s influence on the dance community has been widespread.

There were promises of workshops from international choreographers, showcases and even a professional “Rock Queens” stage show.

Commons was hired to be part of the show, with Instagram posts promoting the opportunity describing it as “lucrative and paid for aspiring performer”.

“We learnt three routines and also did a photoshoot for advertising and marketing where we had to supply our own costumes,” she says.

“After all this time, effort and work, we were completely ghosted.

“The stage show was never mentioned again. No dancers or choreographers were paid for this time.”

Horn was contacted for comment about the allegations, but did not reply by deadline.

The fall of the empowerment dance studio

A former teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, says they were saddened to hear how other people have been affected.

“It was only OK to do well if we were under her or if we were branded KM,” they allege, referring to when the business was called KM Studios.

Through numerous rebrands, studio and teacher changes, Horn always remained at the helm.

But this changed last month.

In a since-deleted statement posted to her Instagram, she wrote that she had decided to step away from The Scene to focus on herself and her family.

Months earlier, she had posted: “What matters is that I keep showing up. I keep trying, learning, evolving.”

Karina-Anne Green spoke to her Instagram followers about her decision to the leave the studio after five years.

Karina-Anne Green, who worked at the studio for five years as a teacher and manager, did not hold back in an Instagram video on October 24.

“Countless women have walked through these doors and have walked away hurt, mentally, emotionally, disrespected because of the actions and treatment of the owner of this company Kristy Maree Horn,” she said in the video.

She added she would no longer be affiliated with The Scene Creative Studios or Horn as of November 17.

This masthead is not suggesting that Green’s allegations are true, only that they have been made.

Behind the dance studio

The Scene Creative Studios, formerly known as Sexual Heeling, KM Studios, KM Heels, Icon Creative Studios and in a recent development rebranded to IT Studios, has been a cornerstone of the Brisbane heels dance community since 2019.

In a personal statement sent to a select few team members via WhatsApp, Horn said every decision to rebrand came from a place of growth, creativity and wanting to evolve – “never from dishonesty or bad intentions”.

On October 24, in its first statement as Icon Creative Studios, the account owner wrote on social media that Horn was no longer affiliated with the organisation and did not have access to the social media account or any communications.

Icon Creative Studios is registered with the Australian Business Register under Isobel Textor, a former content creator at The Scene. It’s been an active ABN since October 23.

A new Instagram account has been launched under “IT Studios”, with the former account reverting to The Scene Creative Studios. For a few days, the account was also named STUD10.

The Scene Creative Studios is still an active business, registered under Kristy Maree Horn’s name.

The future of Brisbane’s dance studios

After experiencing what she described as a toxic work environment, Commons decided to leave the company in May.

“In all fairness, I shouldn’t be a teacher because I’m not qualified – I don’t have a certificate.”

She says her experience has given her trust issues with other companies, and urges other people to be aware of their work rights.

“Kristy was so big at the time,” she says.

“Studios should only be hiring people who have studied, have industry experience and really know what they’re talking about.”

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