Meet Our Teachers
Rachel Gilliland
BA (Hons), RADÂ Registered Teacher
Rachel is a graduate of the Scottish School of Contemporary Dance with extensive experience in performance, choreography and teaching. She trained in classical ballet from a young age and has gone on to become a qualified and registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance.
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She has performed in a variety of pieces across Northern Ireland and Scotland including ‘the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Academy of Dance’, ‘Neworks’, ‘Precipieces’ and ‘Independence Day’ and during her training, worked under renowned choreographers including Thomas Small (Smallpetitklein) and Jack Webb (Jack Webb Performance).
She set up RGDA with the objective of providing the highest standard of professional dance instruction to students and allowing them space to grow and share creative expression through a discovery of the joy of dance.
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She is also Head of Ballet at JMDA and choreographs for the school's highly successful competition teams in ballet, contemporary and lyrical.
Katie Hanna
BA (Hons)
RAD Ballet Teacher
Katie trained and graduated from The Royal Academy of Dance with a Bachelors of the Arts in Dance Education.
She trained as a dancer in various styles including Modern, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Street and Ballet and has gained Grade 8 Ballet with the Royal Academy of Dance and Intermediate Modern with The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance.
Katie has also worked as a creative assistant on various amateur and professional productions at Theatre at the Mill, New Lodge Arts, The Courtyard Theatre and the Braid Arts Centre.
Having taught dance for 7 years, Katie’s true passion is working with children and nurturing their love for dance.