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Meet the Team
Stepaside Studios | Dance Classes | West Ryde
Rebecca Cavenagh
OWNER + STUDIO DIRECTOR
BEdu (Birth to Twelve), ADance (Performance), ADV & Progressing Ballet Technique Certified + 123 Dance With Me Trained
Rebecca is a performer, choreographer, teacher and studio owner. She grew up and trained in Sydney across the styles of Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Commercial and Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Ballet. In 2016 Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Birth to Twelve) from the University of Notre Dame Australia, and has worked in schools across Sydney as a classroom teacher and dance/drama specialist. Rebecca’s students have performed in NSW State School festivals and placed first at inter school competitions. She is now working with schools choreographing and producing their annual musical productions as well as advising on developing dance programs within schools.
In 2018 Rebecca graduated from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts with an Associate Degree of Dance (Performance). She has been taught by and worked with industry professionals such as Chloe Zuel, Cassie Batho + Rod Salcedo across a wide range of styles. Rebecca has worked in internationally acclaimed movies such as ‘Truth’ with Cate Blanchett as well as local Australian television as an extra/performer. She has been at Stepaside Studios from 2013-2021 as a teacher and performance troupe head coach, and since 2022 is the Owner/Director. Rebecca has over 14 years of teaching experience across jazz, ballet and lyrical and enjoys working with teenage students to develop their teaching skills.
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Sally Dangar
TEACHER
Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts &
Owner/Director of 123 Dance With Me
Sally Dangar is a performer, dance teacher and choreographer. She graduated from ED5INTERNATIONAL with a Diploma of Performing Arts and has worked in theatre, television and film. Most notably, she appeared in Australian film Ladies in Black as a featured dancer and played the role of a Dancer/Nurse in the ABC drama Wakefield.
Sally was the associate choreographer of Into The Woods for Bloom Creative Productions, assistant choreographer of; Matilda for Wenona School, Wicked for Packemin Productions and Pulse Alive for The Arts Unit, and has also choreographed for Home & Away. In addition to this, Sally teaches an array of dance programs in NSW studios and schools including Wakakirri and her own programs 123 Dance With Me and Dance Challenge. She is also proud to teach for the Dance Health Alliance, a NFP organisation specialising in inclusive and accessible dance classes.
Lizzie Corbett
TEACHER & ADMINISTRATION
Advanced Diploma of Dance, Diploma of Musical Theatre, Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management & ADV Certified
Miss Lizzie began dancing at the age of 9 when a dance school opened in her small hometown of Junee. Whilst boarding at Abbotsleigh, she trained in a variety of styles including Cuban Salsa. After taking a gap year working fulltime at a dance school, Lizzie was accepted into Lee Academy to study dance professionally. She trained there in a wide range of styles, including jazz, acro, ballet, hip hop, tap, contemporary, aerials (lyra and silks), singing and musical theatre.
She graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Dance – Elite Performance, and a Diploma of Musical Theatre. She also holds her Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management through Transit Dance/ATOD, and is Module 1 Certified with Acrobatic Arts. She has been teaching dance for over 7 years now. As a performer Miss Lizzie has worked in cabaret shows, corporate and private events, TV shows and immersive theatre productions.
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Rachelle Silsby
TEACHER
Bachelor of Dance (Performance), Certificate III in Business Administration, Reformer Pilates Certification (KX Academy) & ADV Certified
Rachelle began dancing at the age of 3 and has trained in the styles of ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, tap and hiphop. She is an independent contemporary dancer who over the last few years has had the chance to learn from and work with many established creatives in the industry, be a part of independent dance companies and performing at events such as Sydney Festival and March Dance. Rachelle has a passion for learning and studying in various fields to support her dance and teaching practices and has completed her Bachelor of Dance (Performance), Certificate III in Business Administration and Reformer Pilates Certification (KX Academy).
She began as a student teacher at the age of 12 and for the last 6 years has taught ballet, contemporary, lyrical and jazz. She has also enjoyed growing as a teacher by being a performance troupe coach and ballet examination teacher since joining Stepaside. Rachelle is especially passionate about passing on technical and performative skills through exciting and challenging choreography.
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Natalie Pierangeli
TEACHER
BEdu (Primary)
Joining Stepaside Studios in 2018, Natalie is trained in a variety of styles & has completed Classical Ballet examinations under R.A.D and Advanced Classical examinations under Cecchetti Ballet Australia. Natalie has performed and competed in various competitions at a national and international level, having recently just returned from competing in Orlando, Florida placing 5th overall.
Currently studying a Bachelor of Primary Education, Natalie’s love for working with children is evident in her fine tutelage & guidance given to her students. Natalie enjoys watching her students grow from young lovers of dance to mature, hard working students.
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Caitlin Catford
TEACHER
Bachelor of Dance (Performance)
Caitlin has completed a Bachelor of Dance (Performance) at Academy of Music and Performing Arts Majoring in Jazz. She began her dance training at the age of four and is now entering her sixth year of teaching. She has been trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical and Hip Hop. Caitlin has performed in shows such as Australian Dance Festival, Impetus, Fusion, Eclipse, Reflections and Elysium, as well working with the Manly-Warringah Seabirds during the NRL Season as a member of their cheer squad.
Caitlin is excited to join the Stepaside Studios community in 2022 as a jazz, ballet and soloist teacher.
Zoe McLennan
TEACHER
Advanced Diploma of Dance & Diploma of Musical Theatre
Zoe is an accomplished dancer, actor, singer and aerialist. She graduated from Lee Academy with an Advanced Diploma of Dance and a Diploma of Musical Theatre.
She also has completed Advanced RAD ballet, Acrodancer and Glenn Wood Tap exams, as well as being a qualified Glenn Wood Tap teacher.
Zoe recently returned from NZ working with the World Festival of Magic and has also toured with various tribute shows and musicals around Australia. She also has appeared on the television shows Ten Pound Poms, Strife, One Night, Appleton Ladies Potato Race and was a grand finalist on Australia’s Got Talent.
This is Zoe’s third year teaching at Stepaside and she absolutely adores working with all of her students!
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Olivia Smith
TEACHER
Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts
Coming soon...
Ella Fitzpatrck
TEACHER & ADMINISTRATION
Advanced Diploma of Dance & Diploma of Musical Theatre
Ella began ballet when she was 4 years old, every year finding another style of dance to fall in love with ranging from jazz, tap, acrobatics, hip hop, musical theatre, lyrical and contemporary.
At the age of 15, Ella left her hometown to pursue her passion of dancing and started Full Time at Lee Academy. She has completed her Certificate III in Dance, Certificate IV in Dance, Diploma of Musical Theatre and Advanced Diploma of Dance, as well as Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management and Certificate IV in Arts Administration. Returned from her contract with Royal Caribbean international on “Freedom of the Seas”, Ella is excited to share her knowledge and passion for dance.
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Isabelle Bested
TEACHER
Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (current) & 123 Dance With Me trained
Isabelle began her dance training at the age of 5, in the styles of ballet and tap. She has since completed ADV examinations from beginner through to level 6 at Stepaside Studios. Isabelle was a lead in the 2021 Stepaside concert ‘Enchanted’ as the ‘Fairy Queen’ and the 2023 Stepaside concert The Wizard of Oz as the Tin Man. Isabelle has trained in ballet, tap, musical theatre, contemporary, lyrical, cabaret and jazz. She began teaching in 2018, where she assisted in class with younger students as well as assisted on stage with Tiny Tots. This year will be her second year as a Stepaside teacher. Isabelle is currently in her first year at Ed5International completing an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts. She can’t wait to work with the younger students at Stepaside and continue watching them grow this year.