About - Bollycise Bollywood Dance

Racheal Leigh has always loved to dance, and was inspired to to perform after seeing her first Shirley Temple musical film. Whilst Racheal did take a few Jazz Ballet and Gymnastics classes during her younger years, it wasn’t something her parents could continue to afford. So it wasn’t until she moved out of home at the age of 19, and became involved with the local performing arts community in Brisbane, that led Racheal to start taking Dance Classes in various styles.

Over the following years, Racheal took dance lesson in Broadway Jazz, Tap, Irish Dance, Flamenco, Hip Hop, Belly dance, K-Pop, and Ballroom. For majority of these styles, Racheal never had much opportunity to perform, but did complete Ballroom Dance exams up to Oscar Level with the Commonwealth Teachers Society of Dance.

In 2009, Racheal was involved with a theatre production and was assisting with choreography. One of the scenes in the show was to take place on a Bollywood film set and the Director therefore wanted some Bollywood-style choreography. Racheal jumped at the chance, after learning a bit about India and Bollywood a few years earlier when she was offered an opportunity to perform in Mumbai which never went ahead. Racheal decided to enrol into a short taster class with a local Bollywood teacher, and awoke her passion for Indian dance.

After 6 months of intensive learning, Racheal’s teacher asked her to teach a beginners class. This led to Racheal wanting to learn more about all forms of Indian dance & culture, so she could become a better teacher. She attended classes with other teachers around Brisbane, as well as started to learn Bharatnatyam – then later (after a painful bout of tendonitis and having to rest for 6 months) she switched to learning Kathak.

Over the years, Racheal also completed studies to improve her teaching qualifications and abilities. She already had graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Stage & Screen Performance from The Actors Conservatory in early 2001 (now known as The Performing Arts Conservatory which she later went back and completed her Bachelor Degree), as well as completed a Diploma in Business & Events Management, as well as a Cert 4 in Training & Assessment. And after completing a Skillset Certificate for Teaching Dance with AusDance, she went on to complete a Cert 4 in Dance Teaching and Management, a Cert 4 in Fitness, and became a Level 2 Wellness Coach with Wellness Coaching Australia.

This led her to not just teaching & performing Bollywood Dance, but she was also a Zumba, Metafit & Thump Boxing Instructor, and a Personal Trainer. She also created Brisbane’s first professional Bollywood Dance Performance Group – SARI Bollywood Dance – who performed regularly in both QLD & NSW.

Bollycise Bollywood Dance is operated under Racheal’s main performing arts business: Star Rae Productions.

2020 was a difficult year for the performing arts and entertainment industry, so Racheal spend her time focusing on further studies – and relocated to her new home in the peaceful Tamar Valley, Tasmania.

Since her relocation, Racheal re-started Bollycise Bollywood Dance, and now offers classes both in person and online.

Racheal’s relevant qualifications include: