Rachelle Kellett – Principal      B.C.A., C.B.T.S., RAD R.T.S.

Classically trained in RAD under Angela Hill and Marita Lowden, Rachelle continued training through The Royal Academy of Dance and is a Registered RAD Teacher. Her diverse training also includes Contemporary, Musical Theatre, National, Character, Jazz, Funk, Tap and Hip Hop. For eight years she taught a number of dance styles at various Melbourne dance schools including Audrey Nicholls and Eve King School of Classical Ballet, Sierra Dance Centrepointe and Dance Explosion. She also performed professionally during this time, in stage shows and various theatrical events throughout Melbourne. In 2001, Rachelle completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts at the Victorian College of Arts, University of Melbourne. She is currently training to become a STOTT Pilates instructor, and is passionate about the benefits that pilates can play in lives of everyone, not just dancers.

Prior to Steps, Rachelle was exhibiting as a Visual Artist: photographic, textiles, silver-smithing and ceramic sculpture. She chose to put that life on hold, as her passion for dance and performance was more powerful. In 2000, Rachelle set up Steps-Performing Arts in the Macedon Ranges and Yarraville; which continues to provide enjoyable dance classes for students of all ages and abilities, offering opportunities for students both recreational and those looking towards a career in dance.

Steps is a dance school for the community and has become a 'dance family' for students and parents alike. Many of the original Steps students are still dancing today and it is not surprising that Steps students go on to become Steps teachers.

Angela Hill      A.R.A.D, B.A.(Hons), RAD R.T.S.

Steps is very excited to have Rachelle's childhood Ballet teacher, Angela Hill, join the school from 2012. After being a guest teacher at Steps since 2000, she will now be teaching regular Classical Ballet classes from RAD Pre-primary to Solo Seal, as well as open classes and performance choreography. With 35 years of teaching experience and a professional dance, theatre and television career behind her, Steps students will benefit from her wealth of knowledge, passion for dance and love of teaching.

Angela's experience also encompasses adjudicating for Eisteddfods, examining students and running her own successful dance school. She taught in partnership with Marita Lowden (Ex Channel 9) for ten years, and continued to run the school for another ten after Marita retired. Angela continued to work as a freelance teacher for a number of well known Melbourne dance schools, including Danceworld 301, a full time Ballet school. She was also chairperson of the RAD Victorian/Tasmanian Regional Panel for five years and Treasurer for three. Her other professional activities include costume design, bridal and formal wear design, pattern drafting, costume making and ceramic art. Steps is also hoping to benefit from her exquisite tutu making!

Jacqui McKechnie     BA, B.App.Sci (SP), RAD. Grade 8, GWT Level 8

Jacqui commenced her RAD Classical training in 1984 and now has over 25 years of dance training in Classical, Character, Jazz, Tap and Contemporary, thanks to her wonderful mother who convinced her to give Ballet more than a two week try at the age of five.

She began her training at the Jenny Kay School of Dance in Sydney (now Dance Theatre Network) and continued with adult casual classes at the Sydney Dance Company to maintain her technique and skills.

Jacqui began teaching at Steps in 2009, and has become a much loved, versatile teacher of Classical, Pointe, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap. Her most recent personal dance achievement was attaining her Glenn Wood Tap Level 8 Award in 2010.
With two university degrees under her belt, she works part time as a Speech Pathologist whilst undertaking her PhD studies. In her spare time she enjoys teaching for Steps, extending the students' technique and creating unique routines. Jacqui also still loves to perform on stage as a senior member of the school.

Freya Tullberg

Freya has over 18 years dance experience, including involvement in many dance competitions and Eisteddfods such as Royal South Street, Commonwealth Competitions and Metropolitan Festival. She has completed all levels of Australian Teachers of Dance examinations in both Jazz and Tap, including Advanced. She has also held the ATOD Australasian Senior Jazz and Tap titles, and has performed in overseas dance groups in Tokyo, Hong Kong and America.

Freya has been Steps' fabulous resident Hip Hop teacher for the Macedon Ranges since 2010, and has herself studied with Hip Hop greats such as Wade Robson, Phil Haddad and Bec Fairey. She currently teaches at four Victorian dance studios and is a guest instructor for many Summer Schools and holiday programmes. Steps is wrapped to have the hottest Hip Hop teacher in town!

Alicia Budgeon

Alicia Budgeon started her training at the age of 4 in one of Melbourne's private dance schools, with a primary focus on Cecchetti Ballet and Jazz .  In 2006 she was specially selected for a double feature dance role in the 2006 Commonwealth Games performing along side the Australian Ballet Company and working with choreographers Gideon Obarzanek and Wonda Rokicki.  Following the Games Alicia successfully completed 1-1/2 years of full time training at The Ministry Of Dance.  During her time at the Ministry Alicia studied a variety of genres including Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Street Tap, Ballet, Musical Theatre, Acting, Acrobatics and Singing, and had the privilege to work with renowned Australian dancers/choreographers Jason Coleman, Troy Phillips, Dana Jolly, Sue- Ellen Shook and Yvette Lee.  Upon graduating in June 2010, Alicia has become a strong, versatile and technical dancer with a variety of past credits and continues to pursue her career as a professional dancer within Australia and abroad.

Elyse Lee     Diploma in Dance Training and Management

Elyse has over twelve years training in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acrobatics, Singing and Contemporary. She began dance teaching at the age of 16 and completed her Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management at Box Hill Institute in 2007. Elyse began teaching at Steps in 2008, and hopes to continue teaching for many years to come. She loves seeing her dance students improve week after week, and finds it inspirational when they take on her knowledge and spirit of dance.

Helen Card     RAD Grade 8 Award

Helen trained at the Kim Harvey School of Dance in Canberra and has 18 years dance experience in RAD Classical, Contemporary and Jazz. She has spent many years dance teaching and been involved in the professional dance scene, circus and physical theatre. Helen is also a qualified remedial massage therapist and currently working in the alternative health industry.

Patricia Jones     RAD Grade 8 Award, GWT Level 8

Patricia (Miss Trish) has been with Steps since its inception; she was one of the two students in the very first Steps class way back in 2000. She has excelled in all areas of dance technique and performance throughout her twelve years of dance training in RAD Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Contemporary. Her most recent achievement was attaining her RAD Grade 8 Award with Distinction in 2012.
Patricia has been teaching Ballet, Jazz and Tap at Steps since 2008 and will continue to do so whilst continuing her tertiary studies in Primary Education.

Rachel Moore     RAD Grade 8 Award

Rachel began her twelve years of dance training under Rachelle Kellett at Steps in 2000. She is an exceptional dancer and performer in all styles of dance; nicknamed "the racehorse" due to her incredible strength and stamina.

In 2011, she attained her RAD Grade 8 examination award with Distinction and received the Grade 8 Scholarship from the RAD VIC/TAS regional panel at the Winter Workshops held at the Victorian College of the Arts. Rachel began teaching dance to junior Steps students last year, and is looking forward to continuing such whilst she undertakes her second year of Tertiary study in Photography. We are all looking forward to her travel tales when she returns from a stint of volunteer work in South Africa in January 2012.

Sinead Govan     Certificate 4 in Dance Training and Management

Sinead made her teaching debut at Steps in 2011, with Hip Hop classes in both Yarraville and Kyneton. Sinead has over fourteen years training in Jazz, Ballet, Contemporary and Hip Hop. Sinead's specialty in Hip Hop lead to her competing against other Hip Hop crews nationally and locally since the age of fourteen.  Sinead completed VCE Dance in 2009 at Salesian College and scored in the top 10% in the state. She also completed a Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching & Management at Box Hill Tafe in 2011.

Sinead enjoys passing on her passion, drive and knowledge for dance to her students, and seeing them improve on a weekly basis.  Sinead is one of Steps' newest treasures and we hope to benefit from her fun, energetic classes for many years to come.

Cairo James     RAD Intermediate, Cecchetti Intermediate

Cairo studied at several dance schools in the Cecchetti method achieving her Intermediate qualification in 2008. To further her training she danced at the National Theatre Ballet School in St Kilda under the guidance of Miss Beverly Fry and Miss Masami Sato where she gained her current RAD Intermediate qualification and performed in Miss Fry's The Nutcracker as one of the children, Act 1 and in the Waltz of the Flowers. As Cairo obtained an injury she has only recently come back to dance in late 2011 at Steps, where Miss Rachelle has inspired and encouraged her to teach and to continue to complete her RAD training. This year Cairo has gained a place at RMIT University's Fashion Design course allowing her to continue with both her passions: fashion and costume design and dance. She is looking forward to teaching her future students.

Brooke Moorhouse     RAD Grade 8 Award

Brooke has twelve years of dance training in Ballet, Jazz and Tap and has been a Steps student since 2007. In 2011, she attained her RAD Grade 8 Award and began emergency teaching junior classes. Brooke is looking forward to teaching regular classes in 2012, and commencing her diploma in specialist make-up (theatrical).

As to be expected, Brooke always has the most fabulous hair and wild eye make up!

James Hocking     GWT Level 8

James is a sensational senior performer of the school having trained at Steps from the age of 13 in Jazz, Funk and his all time favourite - Tap! He has also trained with former Tap Dog Darren Disney and the legendary Jason Samuels Smith. He received a Gold Award, 98% for his Level 8 Tap Exam in 2010 and is currently working towards Level 9. James is continuing his study in Music Production at RMIT, and teaches Tap, Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop in his spare time.