About Us

Arts a Go Go! is an award winning company run by Upper Hutt residents, Rachel Main and Stuart Grant. We now welcome Danzworx Dance School under the Arts a Go Go umbrella, a school that has been running in Upper Hutt for 30 years. Rachel and Stu are both qualified and experienced teachers who  have a passion for working with children and youth and developing creativity through the arts. They are joined by a team of enthusiastic and dedicated trained and industry experienced performing arts teachers.

 

Rachel March 2021

Rachel is a registered teacher and was a school teacher and performer before starting Arts a Go Go! in 2008. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree and Diploma of Teaching, plus a Certificate in Education Leadership. Rachel has completed Level 1 and 2 of "Estill Voice Training" and also has an advanced diploma in modern dance (jazz). She is a member of NEWZATS (The New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing) and MTNZ (Musical Theatre New Zealand). She is the Co-Covenor of the Hutt Valley Performing Competitions Society under 18 vocals. Rachel has been very involved in musical theatre since she was a child, and has performed on stage in a number of roles, including professional work. She trained in drama teaching in Auckland as part of her teacher training and was Teacher in Charge of the Arts at an intermediate school before having her family. She has written and directed many shows and dance productions for children, and directed and trained children in singing , drama and dance for  over 3o years. 

Rachel teaches dance, drama, singing and musical theatre at Arts a Go Go.

Headshot Stu 2021

Stu was director of Capital E, an internationally recognised performance and creative technology facility for children in Wellington, where he worked passionately for 17 years. He was also the founder and director of the Capital E National Arts Festival, bringing two weeks of professional national and international theatre and performances to thousands of children and school groups every two years. Prior to that, he was head of Drama, Art and Music at a Hamilton middle school.

His own acting experience includes many years in professional improvisation theatre and various plays. Stu has created and directed a number of productions for children.

He has an honours degree in arts and the media and has been invited to speak internationally on children and creativity. In 2015 Stu travelled to Edinburgh at the request of the British Council to peer review the Edinburgh Children's Festival and was also invited to attend the International Children's festival in Okinawa, Japan, to forge relationships with Japan for New Zealand professional theatre. 

Stu teaches drama at Arts a Go Go.

Katrina Robinson-Reidy: Danzworx Creative Lead & Head Teacher, Teacher of Ballet, Funk & Jazz

Katrina has been teaching in Upper Hutt for 30 years. Katrina shares her passion for dance and her enthusiasm for teaching with each and every one of her students. On top of her dance qualifications, Katrina has a Diploma in Dance Movement Therapy, which was the accumulation of many years dedicated to supporting children with neurodiversity and life challenges.
 

Hannah McKenzie Doornebosch: Drama, Bubbles and Creative Writing Teacher 

Dr Hannah McKenzie Doornebosch is in her 10th year teaching, directing, writing and designing at Arts a Go Go. She started performing on stage in California when she was four years old and has been performing ever since. Hannah is a playwright and scriptwriter with a background in acting, directing, and design.

She has performed in Australia, Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland and her writing work has represented New Zealand overseas. Hannah has been involved in amateur and professional productions across the country and spent many years with Canterbury Children's Theatre.

Hannah has a BA in theatre and film, an MA in creative writing, and a PhD in creative writing with a focus on scriptwriting. Hannah's plays have won the David Carson-Parker Embassy Prize in Scriptwriting, the Dominion Post Scholarship, been read as part of the Writers on Mondays festival, shortlisted for Write Out Loud Wellington and the Adam Play Awards for best New Zealand play, and have won Write Out Loud Wellington and best New Zealand play by a woman playwright. Hannah is a script supervisor and assessor and a script and performance tutor.

She also has a passion for working with young people. In addition, Hannah is a costume designer and regularly creates costumes for clients across New Zealand.
Headshot Jo 2021 

Joanne Roelofs: Music Teacher

In charge of the pre-school music programme is Joanne Roelofs. Joanne has a Bachelor of Music (composition) and Diploma of Early Childhood Music Teaching from The Institute of Registered Music Teachers.

She holds Trinity College of London Grade 8 Piano and is the choral director of Upper Hutt's "Hutt Valley Singers" and "Major Minors Children's Choir". Joanne also plays the trombone and has been a member of Wellington Youth Symphonic Band, Victoria University Orchestra, Victoria University Big Band, Evening Post Wellington Brass Band (now Pelorus Trust Brass Band) and Titan Hutt City Brass Band. Joanne runs her own successful music education business "Joanne Roelofs Music" and teaches music and choir in schools. Joanne is Co-Convenor of the Hutt Valley Performing Arts Society Under 18 Vocal Competitions.

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 Jess Weston: Intro Dance Teacher

Jess Weston is a Wellington based emerging performer. They have a diploma in Performing Arts (Musical Theatre) and a Bachelor’s degree in  Musical Theatre from Te Auaha, Whitireia. Jess has been playing music and dancing since she was four years old, and has achieved their level 6 Trinity College certificate in piano, and her level 8 American tap and Elementary Ballet NZAMD Certificates while training at Danzworx. They also achieved Grade 6 in Trinity Musical Theatre with Distinction while a student at Arts a Go Go. Last year, she toured in the professional show "Fat Girl's Cry". Jess was musical director for Hutt City Musical Theatre's "Evil Dead" and for Wellington Footlight's "35mm - A Musical Exhibition". She choreographed her old high school, Heretaunga College’s 2021 original production of "Freya The Bride and Treasures Of The Gods".  Jess trained in singing under Joanne Roelofs and achieved many awards, including winning the Voice of Upper Hutt.
 

Emily Gupwell: Funk & Lyrical Dance Teacher

Emily started dancing at the age of 5 after a pivotal moment in primary school. For a homework assignment, students were asked to choreograph a short dance, and Emily chose to perform a routine inspired by The Little Mermaid (of course). The teachers were so impressed, they called her mum in to see it, and by the end of the week, she was enrolled in dance classes. Since then, dance has been a powerful outlet for self-expression and creativity, and remains are very big part of Emily's life. With 25 years of experience at Danzworx and 16 years of teaching, she specialises in funk and lyrical dance, while enjoying a variety of styles on the side. Her passion for movement is contagious, and she loves sharing it with her students, inspiring them to find their own voice through dance. Whether in class or on stage, Emily strives to create a supportive and energetic environment where dancers can thrive and have a safe space to learn, grow and express themselves too

Briar Lakeman: Jazz & Lyrical Dance Teacher

(bio to come)

Tamaryn Andries: Contemporary Dance Teacher

Tamaryn is originally from South Africa, married with 3 beautiful children with a full-time occupation as a hand therapist.  Her love for dance started as a little girl and the excitement that dance brings has not changed.  She has a background in both gymnastics and dance, and spent more than 13 years training to compete internationally in gymnastics.  Once completing her university studies, she danced for three years full-time before starting her career as physiotherapist.  She danced with Jazzart Dance Theatre, a 51-year-old dance company and South Africa's oldest contemporary dance company.  Since moving to New Zealand in 2022 Tamaryn discovered Danzworx and is absolutely delighted to have found a dance school for her daughters and a place to share her love for dance.  She looks forward to working with all the students at Danzworx and celebrating their growth and development as dancers and little artists.

Kennedy Rushton - Preschool and Pre-Grade Ballet & Fusion Dance Teacher

Kennedy found her passion for dancing when she started ballet at the age of four and has continued to love it over the past eleven years. She has continued to study Ballet, while expanding into several other styles of dance over the years including Contemporary, Funk, Jazz, and Lyrical, all here at Danzworx. She has achieved her Elementary Ballet NZAMD Certificate in 2023 and is soon to sit her Intermediate Ballet NZAMD Certificate.  She is currently teaching pre-school/pre-grade/pre-junior Ballet and Fusion while finishing her studies at Upper Hutt College. She looks forward to meeting and dancing with you all.
 

Kat Filer: Intro Drama Teacher 

(bio to come)

 

Melissa Pepler: Musical Theatre Dance Teacher

(bio to come)
 

Ciara Main-Grant - Junior Irish Dancing Teacher & Show Choreographer 

Ciara studied creative dance, musical theatre dance, drama, singing and Irish dancing at Arts a Go Go, before taking on a role as teacher and show choreographer. Ciara also studied jazz, ballet, tap and lyrical at Danzworx. Ciara has performed in three Upper Hutt Musical Theatre shows, including being a specialist dancer in "The Prom". Ciara is completing her final year at Sacred Heart College and enjoys Dragon Boating and Outdoor Education. She looks forward to working with you soon.

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