teaching staff

founder katherine weatherhead

Bachelor of Dance - Victorian College of the Arts
Diploma of Primary Education - Monash University
CICB (Associate Diploma) - Cecchetti Ballet Society Australia  

Katherine is a Graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the Victoria College of the Arts, where she was extensively trained in classical ballet and contemporary dance. Katherine then went on to study education, where she later applied these skills while working at Brunswick Secondary College (2004 to 2012).  She taught mathematics and dance to students from 48 different cultural backgrounds. It was here that a passion for choreography developed, producing a total of eight Rock Eisteddfod performances for the school. This resulted in placing first five times and gaining the title of best global choreography for Submerged in 2011. Whilst working as a secondary teacher Katherine also began Studio Kiki, now Kiki Dance Collective, through Hawthorn Citizens' Youth Club in 2003. KikiDC offers classical ballet in the Cecchetti method (Katherine currently holds an Associate Diploma status with Cecchetti Ballet Society of Australia) and hip hop, however Kiki Dance Collective specialises in contemporary dance. Katherine is extremely passionate about the development and training of contemporary dance for young dancers. In 2013 Katherine established Shadow Cut Youth Dance Company to extend young contemporary dancers through unique dancing opportunities. Having spent eleven years working with the youth of today, Katherine believes dance is a wonderful platform for a child’s overall development. Dance teaches so many skills for life in a fun, creative and innovative way, and Kiki Dance Collective provides a beautiful community, in which to explore dance.