More of our Teachers

Kia Ora, I’m Claire,

My journey with RASA began in 2022! My love for dance started at age 4 in the UK. I immersed myself in ballet, baton twirling, and pom-pom, captivated by the costumes, performances, competitions, and the electric atmosphere. Over the years, I trained in various styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary, before hip-hop won my heart. By my late teens, I focused primarily on hip-hop, continuing to dance and compete into my 20s before embarking on nearly a decade of world travel. While traveling, I found it challenging to locate advanced adult classes and wondered if I’d ever experience that joy of dancing again. Moving to Dunedin and joining RASA filled that dance-shaped gap in my life. Since becoming part of RASA, I’ve rediscovered my love for being in the studio, dancing alongside others, and performing with renewed confidence. In 2024, I began teaching for RASA and joined Rasa Dance Company (RDC), performing across Dunedin. There’s nothing like the energy of a studio—lifting others with creativity, positivity, and fun—or the adrenaline of performing. Teaching at RASA has reignited my passion for dance. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive, inspiring community where dancers of all ages can feel welcomed, safe, and encouraged. From 3-year-olds to 65+, holding space for dancers to grow and thrive and to fill them with confidence and encouragement is such a privilege, it is so much fun and really is the highlight of my week! No matter your age, never give up on what you love most. Dance is my joy and my constant—what are you waiting for? Let’s move!

Kia ora
I’m Maya and I have been dancing with RASA for 9 years!
While I started my dance journey just down the hall from the RASA studios, doing Irish dancing, I’m so thankful I switched to Hip-Hop in 2016.
I immediately felt a sense of belonging through hip-hop, which only made my love for dance burn brighter each year. I took two years of straight UI classes before summoning enough courage to audition for the prestigious RASA crews, in which I was lucky enough to make it into ‘Diamond’ crew in 2019! I continued to take UI and extension classes, gaining some awards along the way, and finally completed the UI syllabus in 2023. This year will be my seventh year in crew, and I am beyond excited for what this competition season will bring. While dancing in crews, I still felt the desire to be doing even more, which lead to the birth of MnM, the duo that truly shaped and built up my appreciation for dance to its fullest.
Dancing in a duo for four years and in crews for 6 years and counting has fostered my love for learning choreography, growing with other dancers, and pushing to become than myself from the year before. I am ecstatic to be at a stage now where I have my own knowledge and experience to offer younger dancers. Having coached the Otago Girls’ High School junior Hip Hop crew for two years I am now stoked to be coaching my first RASA crew alongside the incredible Saf!
2025 is going to be nuts! And I can’t wait for all the great experiences that are yet to come!

Kia ora♥️♥️

I’m Martha, and I’ve been a part of the RASA whānau since 2013!

After a short ballet stint (traumatising), I found RASA and fell in loooove with hip hop, and its ability to completely bring me out of my shell.

I jumped in real quick, doing extension classes and UI classes, which I ended up getting some awards in, which boosted my confidence and drove me to want to take this further.

I started competing in competitive crews in 2016 and found being on stage to be one of my favourite things in the world. I stayed in crews until 2021, but kept dancing through my high school teams (Queen’s High School). After self-choreographing and competing in a duo with my other-half Lucy, I quickly scooped up the opportunity to coach a school crew! This was such a fulfilling experience, and really grounded me in my abilities as a choreographer.

I’ve been a part of the RASA Dance Company since 2023 and have done some suuuper fun performances with them around Dunedin!

I’m so so excited for what this year has to offer, and I’m eager to bring a new energy to the 2025 RASA year, and make sure EVERYONE is having a good-as time 🤩

love love love the dance community and all it’s done for me. can’t wait to be an old lady dropping it to ASAP and Missy Elliot.

let’s go 2025 ‼️‼️