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

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

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.

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.

Isabella McClean

Bella began dancing at Limelight in 2012 with ballet, before expanding into jazz, contemporary and lyrical. From 2019 to 2024, she was a dedicated member of the LDA troupe, stepping into the role of troupe captain in 2024. Her achievements include completing her Advanced 2 ballet and receiving her Solo Diploma in both jazz and contemporary, along with scholarship nominations for other NZAMD exams. 

Bella’s highlights through her time at Limelight include competing at PACANZ for troupe four times and performing at the Alana Haines Australasian Awards in 2019 in Wellington for ballet! 

She is now studying towards a Bachelor of Sport and Human Performance at Waikato University. She continues to build on her understanding of the body, a passion that first developed through dance! She loves teaching, as it allows her to support young dancers in building confidence and enjoys watching their growth and progress over time.

Olivia Shortt

Olivia began dancing at the age of 5 at LDA, starting with ballet and joining jazz and lyrical as she grew older. Dance has helped shape her confidence, creativity, and sense of self from a young age. She completed her NZAMD Solo Seal Jazz Diploma during her last year dancing at the studio in 2020.

One of the highlights of Olivia’s dance journey was travelling to the USA with LDA in 2016, where she performed on Hollywood Boulevard and on stage at Disneyland! They also took classes at some of LA’s most well-known studios, including Millennium Dance Complex. These experiences deepened her love for dance and the experiences that come from it!

During her final few years dancing at LDA, Olivia assisted in both jazz and ballet classes. Where she discovered how rewarding it was to help younger dancers grow in both skill and confidence. She is passionate about creating a supportive and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable to express themselves, challenge themselves, and enjoy dance.

Alongside her passion for dance, Olivia completed both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Interior Architecture at Victoria University of Wellington. Even while studying in Wellington, she always stayed connected to dance attending the odd open class and loved returning home during the summers to help backstage at LDA’s end-of-year shows.

LDA has always felt like a second home to Olivia. With her mum, Jane, also teaching jazz at the studio for many years, she grew up surrounded by the strong sense of community, support, and passion that makes the studio so special. Many of the teachers she now teaches alongside were once her own teachers and role models, which makes returning to teach at LDA incredibly meaningful. Olivia is so excited to give back to a place that had such a positive impact on her life and to help inspire the next generation of dancers to grow in confidence, friendships, and love for dance just as she did!

Lucy Golebiowski

Lucy's dance journey began in Taupo at the age of 6, where she immersed herself in AJDA jazz, RAD ballet and NZAMD contemporary genres. She achieved Distinction results in her exams, she gained the top mark of 100% in her ADJA solo seal exam in 2019. 

In 2020, Lucy moved to Hamilton where she has been teaching ballet and jazz! Lucy is a fully qualified BBO ballet teacher. As well as ballet, she has also taught jazz after gaining her AJDA junior jazz certificate in 2017. 

Lucy has completed a bachelor's degree in Health, Sport and Human Performance, followed by a Masters in Teaching and Learning in the Secondary Sector. She is a full-time secondary school PE, Health and Dance Teacher. 

Lucy enjoys sharing her knowledge, passion and expertise with her students, helping them gain confidence and reach their potential!

Amelia Monsma

Amelia is excited to be a part of the teaching staff at Limelight Dance Academy, where it has felt like home and where her dance journey began. Amelia started her dance journey at the age of 3, starting with ballet then discovering her passion for contemporary, jazz and lyrical as she progressed! 

Before coming into this teaching role at LDA, Amelia studied in Auckland at Unitec and finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Performing and Screen Arts (Contemporary Dance).

Amelia’s stage experience is extensive, with competing in many competitions from a young age around New Zealand, attending and competing at Alana Haines and competing at PACANZ. 

During her time at Unitec she was given the opportunity to work alongside many experienced and incredible choreographers and dancers, which has helped her gain many skills towards performing and dancing. Amelia is very excited to be sharing her love and passion for dance and to help students find their love for dance!

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.