Mauricio Bustamante
Founder

Mauricio Bustamante began his acting career in his native Mexico City at the age of twelve, working on live television with the greats of the Spanish speaking world. He has acted professionally in the United States since 1967.

Mauricio studied with Lee Strasberg starting in 1973, and has been part of the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute Faculty since 1994. Has toured nationally in a variety of starring roles that have given him coast to coast critical acclaim. In NYC, he has appeared in New York Shakespeare Festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, Repertorio Espanol, Teatro LATEA and Multi Stages.

Currently, Mauricio is acting in a number of film projects with established directors from Japan, Israel, US, Spain and Mexico. He is a member of MENSA International, an international high IQ Society.

Mauricio is currently part of the New York Acting Alliance.

Harry Oram
Founder

Harry has over 15 years working professionally as an actor in the theatre, film and television industry.Harry studied at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute in New York where he studied under Mauricio and some of the best teachers in the world. He has performed in Film and TV in the US, UK and Asia. 

Harry became a teacher at IAFT in Hong Kong and founded an acting studio and theatre company, Third Culture Theatricals. He also founded and directed the Third Culture Film Festivals and was a patron of Shakespeare in the Park, HK.
He left London in 2020 where his performance was cut short because of COVID, to return to New Zealand. Now based in Tauranga he has been teaching here for the past year.

Committed to the Bay of Plenty, he is very excited to share his experiences and knowledge with the growing cultural and entertainment sector here.

Elizabeth Montesena
Administrator and Coordinator

Elizabeth was an Associate Producer in Classical Music at Radio Television (RTHK) in the 70’s in Hong Kong and through the 70’s and 80’s she was a Producer with a Far East film dubbing company involved in the distribution of films worldwide.

More recently she was actively involved in the Third Culture Film Festival in Hong Kong.

In New Zealand, she has been with the Apex Academy for Performing Arts since its inception in January 2021.

Tesia Dhall
Go-To-Gal

Tesia is the go-to gal at Apex Academy of Performing Arts, known for her versatile involvement in various projects. She began her journey with Apex by starring in the short film The Seed, part of the Apex Endeavours series. Since then, Tesia has become an indispensable part of the team, taking on any role that needed filling, from acting to behind-the-scenes work. However, her true passion lies in managing sets, organizing events, and overseeing project management. Her dedication and ability to juggle multiple tasks have made her a key figure in ensuring Apex’s productions run smoothly and successfully.

DHAIVAT MEHTA
Film Maker and Writer

Dhaivat Mehta is a multifaceted artist and instructor based in Tauranga, New Zealand, renowned for his contributions to both the film and music scenes. With a background in film-making and a varied career in the local music scene, Dhaivat has established himself as a prominent figure in the local arts community, inspiring creativity and artistic expression among students and peers alike.

As a poet and spoken word artist he was a part of the Slam scene in the early 2010’s as well as Tauranga Writers. He has also been in the bands D-Day Saints, Legion Of Dissent & Tryptofunk…and has performed at numerous local venues, captivating audiences with his innovative lyricism and dynamic stage presence. His contributions as a poet, songwriter and performer have been instrumental in shaping a unique sound and artistic direction.

Since then, he and artist Kingsley Smith have released a new original Rock Opera “Shadow & Light”, that they plan to bring to the stage in 2025.

Through Apex, he has also been an integral part of all the original short films and the “Book Of Vesna” Feature Film.

As a part of CRAFT he has also been involved in the Third Culture Film Festival and The Tauranga Shakespeare Festival.

Teaching at the Apex Academy Of Performing Arts. He teaches as part of the Academy’s regular term program, which offers a diverse array of classes and workshops aimed at nurturing young talent for Screen & Theater. 

Dhaivat’s Writing courses cover the essentials of narrative structure, character development, and dialogue, providing students with the tools they need to craft compelling stories for the screen. 

Ariana Osilla
Dance Instructor

From the tender age of three, Ariana Osilla embarked on a journey fueled by an innate passion for dance. Beginning with Baby Ballet, Ariana quickly demonstrated a remarkable enthusiasm and natural aptitude for the art form. As years went by, this early love blossomed into a diverse array of dance skills, encompassing gymnastics, jazz, and hip-hop.

During her formative years, Ariana became a prominent member of her school’s jazz and hip-hop varsity teams. Under their participation, the teams achieved notable success, securing first and second places at the prestigious Philippines National Dance Competition in 2019. This achievement not only highlighted Ariana’s talent but also underscored their dedication and ability to perform at a high level. In pursuit of new challenges and opportunities, Ariana relocated to New Zealand. There, she seamlessly integrated into their high school’s hip-hop troupe, continuing to pursue their passion with the same vigor. Competing in local dance competitions, such as DanceNZMade in Tauranga.

Since then, her exceptional commitment and leadership were recognized when they were appointed as the troupe leader for the current year. This role not only reflects Ariana’s dedication to the art of dance but also their ability to inspire and guide others. As they prepare to transition to university, Ariana leaves behind a legacy of excellence and leadership in dance, carrying forward their passion into new horizons.

Starting her journey at the Apex Academy of Performing Arts, she is excited to share her passion for dance by connecting with new people and having fun through teaching innovative choreographies. Her goal is to inspire and empower others, helping them build confidence in their performance abilities.