lda Faculty
One of our key missions is to provide excellence in dance. We achieve this is through well planned classes, and some of the best teachers in the region. All of our teachers are highly capable dancers themselves and have exceptional credentials behind them. Collectively they have over 70 years teaching experience!
Kerry Mills, Studio Owner & Director
Kerry Mills
ARAD, CBTS, RAD RTS, ANZAMD, pbt certified
Kerry started her dancing journey at the age of four, she began with ballet and later added jazz, tap and drama to her repertoire.
Over the years she has gained dancing qualifications with the RAD & BBO for ballet, NZAMD & AJDA for jazz, and BAL for Tap. During her training Kerry gained the highest marks in New Zealand 3 years running for her AJDA jazz exams.
The highlights of her dancing career to date include; receiving two Scholarships to the prestigious Edge studio in LA, competing and gaining a gold medal at “The LADF Performers of the Year” competition in Long Beach California, dancing with a performance troupe performing high level events such as the All Blacks, Silver Ferns, Chiefs and Tall Blacks games, choreographing shows and teaching at Hamilton Girls High School, and being invited to judge the Stage Challenge and J Rock competitions.
In 2008 Kerry completed her RAD teaching qualification (CBTS) and Advanced 2 Ballet exam, resulting with distinction (ARAD).
Kerry has a great passion to learn and improve her her craft as a teacher. She attends CPD courses with Lisa Howell, and has recently gained her teaching training certificate in Progressing Ballet Technique to help students reach their full potential by unlocking their technique.
The absolute highlight of Kerry's career to date would be purchasing the Margaret Fairhead School of Dance, a studio Kerry has grown up in. She started dancing there at the age of 10, started teaching at the age of 21 and has now has taken over ownership of the school.
Kerry would like to thank the wonderful and talented teachers, and assistant teachers of the school for all the hard work, and passion they pass onto the students.
Kerry would like to thank her family especially her mum and dad, as well as the students and parents of the school for their continued support of the school.
Rachael Pugh, Dance Teacher
Rachael Pugh
cbts, ARAD, RAD RTs, certified polestar practitioner of pilates studio, pbt certified, total barre foundation certified
At the age of six Rachael began ballet training in Hamilton, at the Margaret Fairhead School of Dance.
Under Margaret's direction, Rachael was accepted in to the 'New Zealand School of Dance.' Whilst there, she was a Shell Scholar and recipient of the Best All Rounder Scholarship (Ballet and Contemporary). She also travelled to England to compete in the Adeline Genee Competition.
After graduating with 'National Diploma in Dance Performance' she went on to dance with the Royal New Zealand Ballet Company for the next five years. Highlights include performing in the ballet Dracula, in Melbourne and dancing for choreographers, Russell Kerr, Eric Languet, Christopher Hampson and Michael Partmenter. Since then Rachael has danced with Toby Behan at Southern Ballet Theatre and guest taught in Darwin and Queensland.
Rachael has been teaching in her old school since 2006. She teaches RAD Grade and Vocational levels, NZAMD Contemporary, Introductory to Level Six, open classes and private competition lessons, as well as being the mother to three wonderful boys.
Rachael has successfully passed her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies gaining Registered Teaching Status (RTS) with the Royal Academy of Dance. She has completed many courses conducted by RAD teachers to continue her professional development and always aims for improvement and excellence when teaching dance. Last year Rachael gained her teaching training certificate in Progressing Ballet Technique, in Melbourne.
Rachael is also a certified Polestar Pilates Instructor, (2013), and is the Hamilton Manager for Blue Mat Pilates. She teaches beginner, open mat classes and private studio sessions. In 2017 Rachael also became a qualified Total Foundation Barre class instructor.
Rachael loves the close intertwined relationship between Pilates and dance, and brings her own experiences to enhance the overall outcome experienced by her clients and students.
Rachael would like to thank her family, especially her husband and sons for their continued support of her and her dance career.
Hayleigh Rossetter, Dance Teacher
Hayleigh Rossetter
BA (Honours), lrad, ARAD RTS
registered ballestics instructor
Originally from Scotland, Hayleigh trained in ballet, tap, modern/jazz and disco/freestyle to an advanced level and has completed many of the RAD and ISTD examinations. After three years in London, she graduated from the RAD’s BA (Hons) Ballet Education course with Registered Teacher Status and also attained the Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Dance, the highest award associated with the academy.
Hayleigh has performed at various events across the UK and her experience includes teaching both adults and children in a variety of contexts including Summer Schools, Primary schools and community outreach groups. She has experience preparing students for shows and examinations and worked at the RAD HQ’s Dance School where she was also mentored by examiner, Kate Swainston. A very personal interest in dance for those with additional needs led Hayleigh to working with specialist schools and groups in Scotland as well as in London with the RADiate project.
Hayleigh is also the first Ballestics instructor in New Zealand – a dance fitness program which combines the fundamentals of classical ballet with a high-energy aerobic workout.
Holly Kennedy, Dance Teacher
Holly kennedy
Holly began dancing at Limelight Dance Academy when she was 4 years old, starting with ballet and then discovering her passion for contemporary, jazz, and lyrical as she progressed. Over the years, she has trained extensively in these styles and gained her NZAMD Solo Diploma in Jazz in 2023.
Holly has proudly represented Limelight at various community events, with her most recent standout being her performance at the Sunset Symphony (Feb 2024). Alongside her passion for dance, Holly is currently studying at the University of Waikato, majoring in Psychology, with a strong interest in child psychology.
Before stepping into a teaching role, Holly gained experience mentoring younger dancers and assisting in classes at LDA. She finds immense joy in helping students grow in both confidence and technique, she is passionate about fostering a supportive and inspiring dance environment for the students.
Holly is excited to share her love for dance and help students express themselves through movement.
Emily De La Rue, Dance Teacher
Emily De LA RUE
Emily is thrilled to join the teaching staff at Limelight Dance Academy, a place that has felt like home since she began her dance journey at the age of five. Starting with ballet and jazz at LDA, Emily's passion for performance grew as she discovered musical theatre and began singing at 15. Her dedication led her to compete in national singing competitions during her high school years, showcasing her talent on stages across New Zealand. A highlight of her musical career came in 2018 when she travelled with the Hamilton Civic Choir to New York, performing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall.
In 2021, Emily earned her Bachelor of Performing Arts, specialising in musical theatre, from the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts (NASDA) in Christchurch. During her time there she danced in all styles including ballet, jazz, tap, theatre Jazz, lyrical and contemporary.
Emily’s stage experience is extensive, featuring roles in numerous productions, including All Together Now (JKPA,2021), The Drowsy Chaperone (NASDA,2021), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (NASDA,2021), I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (NASDA,2021), On The Town (NASDA,2020), The Book of Everything (NASDA,2020), Flowing Waters (HGAF, 2018), and Oklahoma (Musikmakers Inc, 2017).
She is now completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Teaching at the University of Waikato and looks forward to teaching full-time in 2025 while continuing to share her passion for dance and teaching at LDA.
Faculty of Limelight Dance Academy, Nov 2024
Guest Tutors
margaret fairhead
ARAD TCh dip (london) - distinction; Dip Dance (new zealand school of dance - formerly national ballet school)
Former grades examiner rad
Margaret Fairhead is a graduate of the New Zealand School of Dance, having completed the Professional Dancers course.After stints with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, Television New Zealand and various contracts in Germany and the UK, she returned home to Hamilton and opened her dance school - the Margaret Fairhead School of Dance. This eventually moved to Rototuna when Margaret and Peter bought ‘the Church,’ which was then over a kilometre out of Hamilton. This growing school later became the Limelight Dance Academy and is being successfully run but Kerry and her team of highly qualified teachers. Many of her former pupils are still actively engaged in the dance world.
In the early 90’s, as well as directing her large school, Margaret also toured nationally and internationally as a Grade Examiner for the Royal Academy of London for nearly 20 years. Margaret now guest teachers at Limelight to help prepare senior students for their annual examinations and end of year production - choreographed by her former colleague Peter Boyes.
Margaret is married to Peter and had two daughters and three grandchildren.