About Us

Creating Rising Stars

At Rise our mission is to inspire and nurture passion and love for dance. Our staff are highly trained, highly experienced, and dedicated to their craft.

Our Story

I created Rise to give students who are truly passionate about dance a place to learn that is supportive, encouraging and nurturing. In my time as a full time dancer I found some teaching methods to be quite strict, and at times emotionally challenging. I took this experience and created Rise as a sanctuary for dancers who want to be pushed to grow and develop as dancers, but need a more nurturing approach. Dance was my first love, and I hope to inspire my students to love dance as much as I do.- Teisha Sherrard (Director and Head Coach)

Meet The Team

Teisha Sherrard

Director and Head Coach

Teisha has been teaching dance for over 15 years. She has qualifications with ATOD, ADA, AA, along with her cert IV in dance teaching and management.
Teisha has trained at Footlights Academy of Performing Arts, The Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne Ballet School, and the Australian Ballet. Teisha also has a background in Musical Theatre and has performed in multiple shows, both as an ensemble member and a Lead Role.
Contemporary and Lyrical are Teishas' favourite styles to teach and perform!

Sharyn Peters

Specialist Classical Coach

Sharyn has had an extensive career both as a professional dancer and a teacher. Her career highlights include touring with the West Australia ballet company, Queensland ballet, Australian Opera, Australian contemporary dance company, Sydney dance company and Tasmanian ballet company.
Sharyn a full member of RAD, ATOD and is an international dance teachers association and Cecchetti Ballet Australia licentiate.

Jennii Stevens-Johnson

Senior Coach

Jennii started dancing at the age of five at The Cherill Rowston School of Ballet. She began
teaching with the school at the age of 16 and taught for 12 years before moving to the
Mornington Peninsula. Jennii has completed her Associate Diploma (Classical Ballet) with Cecchetti Ballet Australia and
Associate Diploma (Jazz) with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing.

Ashley Byl

Junior Coach

Ashley began dancing at the age of 3 under the guidance of Sharyn at Footlights. She
continued her training at Peninsula Ballet Ensemble and was taught by both Sharyn and Teisha until successfully auditioning for Kelly Aykers full-time dance in 2021. Ashley holds her certificate II in dance, which she attained from the prestigious Patricks School of the Arts. She has completed all of her Cecchetti exams, including Advanced 1, along with studying RAD.