The Teachers.

Meet our amazing team.

Catie Shepherd

Catie began dancing at 6 years of age and studied jazz, ballet, and calisthenics. Through vigorous training she represented WA at a national level from 2001 winning national Championships. With her love and passion for performing arts, Catie furthered her knowledge and completed a Certificate 3 of Dance at WAAPA. Catie was an assistant teacher in her local calisthenics club from the age of 12 and progressed to coaching her own teams at 17. When Catie was 18 she owned a dance franchise in Perth and taught through many different schools around South Perth. After moving South, she started teaching for Dunsborough Dance Co and found her niche. Catie has a first aid certificate and is a Certified Acrobatics arts instructor. Catie has successfully grown DDC for 12 years now and has currently 350 students coming to classes weekly. Catie is always looking for more environmentally friendly practises of running the business.

Kate LONGWORTH

Kate started dancing in high school when she was accepted into a specialist dance program. After training for 4 years, she graduated at the top of the class and was accepted into APAN full time cert 4 course in 2014. Kate was accepted into the hip hop crew ‘Envy’ and competed in many competitions nationally and globally. Kate has been teaching students her skills since completing her certificate 4 training and has guided students from beginner and competition level. Kate also runs her own adults hip hop classes on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm at DDC. These classes are one of the best adult dance programs in the southwest. Dance teachers and ex dancers seem to all flock to these classes even if hip hop wasn’t their first love. These classes feel like in house training because of Kate’s clear ways of explaining how to do different moves or skills.

Kate is noth8ng short of a DJ. If you have seen one of her routines on stage you'll know what we mean

She edits all of her own music to the highest quality.

Kate has a passion for creating classes that have the heart in the right place. It is not about comparisons. It is not about competition. It is all about personal growth and being a team player. We find this is so important to nurture especially in teens. Kate has also newly Qualified as a Personal Trainer making her classes a full body workout! Need a PT hit her up!

KIMBERLEY CAMERON

Kimberley started dancing at the age of 8 in Perth. For the next 12 years she competed in competitions doing troupes, solos and duos. Her training includes Jazz, Neo, Ballet, Gymnastics and Acrobatics. She has also danced at many charity events, balls and cheer-leaded for Perth Glory. Her biggest passion is Acrobatics and she loves teaching the kids new tumbles and balances as well as contortion. Kim is now a mum of three beautiful boys so her life is very busy but she always makes time for teaching an acrobatics crew here and there. Kim never stops learning. She continues to take Hip Hop and gymnastics classes today.

LAINI LE CHAT

Laini is a Physiotherapist, Pilates instructor, Certified Acrobatics Arts instructor. Laini is also qualified to assess students for pointe shoes. Laini’s skills as a Physio and Acro teacher make her classes a safe and inspiring environment. Laini has taught in the southwest now for 4 years and continues to take classes herself to stay relevant in the dance world. Laini has recently started teaching solos and duos at competitions and has had the privilege of watching her students thrive from this experience and yes the pictures above are her. She is still flipping around after having two children.

ANnelise COLman

Annnelise began her dance training in regional WA studying Cecchetti Ballet, contemporary and theatrical dance. After representing Western Australia at the National Lucie Saranova Memorial Awards, Annelise was then offered apprenticeship programs at Ajkun Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet School New York. Annelise completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and during her final year undertook secondments with Leigh Warren and Dancers, The Australian Ballet and performed in Coppelia with the West Australian Ballet company. Since graduating, Annelise has contributed to a contemporary dance work which was presented at Adelaide Fringe in 2019. Recently she co-produced and performed at Perth Fringe World Festival 2020. Annelise has taught and choreographed for several prominent dance schools in Perth and the South West and continues to develop her knowledge of dance through courses and workshops. Annelise owns her own dance company that hosts classes for 500 students weekly. If you are looking for an incredible dance school try Tutu Dance Company. The values align with Annelise’s beautiful nature as is an asset to her hard work.

Miss Amelia started dance at age 3. She has now taught dance for over 10 years in various different schools and dance companies around the south west. Amelia is extremely skilled at preparing dancers to perform at a professionally level. You can see her passion for tap and jazz in her joyful choreography

Our students are guided through the competitive dance community with Amelia and this has been a wonderful experience for many of them which has improved their performance quality dramatically.