Meet our teachers

Besides being qualified and experienced teachers and performers, all our staff hold first-aid certificates and Working With Children Checks. We are passionate about our artform and aim to inspire and encourage our students in every lesson. Besides our core team, we have regular special guests, who have danced with The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, West Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and prestigious international dance companies. All our staff are not only experienced and passionate teachers but have gone on to careers as professional dancers and performers.

Rain Francis

Rain Francis

Founder & Director

Miss Rain trained at Shirley McDouall School of Dance, Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and the New Zealand School of Dance. She has worked as a dancer, choreographer, teacher and writer in the USA, UK, Australia and Ireland, primarily with the National Ballet of Ireland and Opera Australia. She has won several awards for her choreography, including 1st place in the Australian Choreographic Competition, and was a regular contributor to Dance Europe magazine, Dance Informa and other dance publications. She holds a Diploma in Dance Performance, a Diploma in Dance Teaching & Management, has completed all of her Royal Academy of Dance examinations and has over 20 years of teaching experience.

Miss Rain started Rain & Lucky Academy of Dance in February 2016. The school’s mission is to provide a nurturing space for children to fall in love with ballet and performing arts, while providing the finest quality in training.

Caroline Clow

Studio Manager

Caroline has over 25 years experience in Office Management and Business Administration. She started working in advertising and marketing in London at 18. She moved to Chicago at 27 and then to Melbourne in 2010, where she has worked in the disability sector and for the Federal Government. Caroline is a local Northcote mum, whose children have attended Westgarth Primary and Northcote High, who loves being part of our community. She’s been a regular volunteer in local businesses and is an avid fundraiser for charities and her children’s school. Caroline joined Rain & Lucky in October 2019 and found her happy place. In 2023 she was promoted to Studio Manager and takes care of daily operations across both our Fairfield and Preston studios.

Rachel Diffey

Head of RAD Classical Ballet

Rachel trained at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts, London, gaining a BA Honours degree in Dance and Theatre Performance and I.S.T.D Teaching Associates in both Classical Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance with Distinction. She embarked upon a six-year performing career with 5 star Celebrity Cruises as a dancer, ensemble singer, dance captain/company manager, adage and aerial artist. In 2009 she completed the Royal Academy of Dance Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies and has entered candidates for exams as a fully registered RAD teacher every year since. Rachel has a Certificate 3 in Education Support.

Chloe Tipitsidis

Stardust Program Director and DanceStep Coordinator
Miss Chloe trained at Patrick Studios Australia, graduating with her Certificate IV in Dance. She has over 10 years of dance teaching experience, including syllabus knowledge in RAD, ATOD and PBT.  Chloe is also a qualified children’s yoga therapy and adults yoga instructor and previously studied pilates with KX pilates. She performs with Disney TES Live for shows and television across countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Southeast Asia, Australia, NZ and the UAE, and has danced professionally for Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Bluey, Barney the Dinosaur, Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly, Minions and many more.
 
Chloe cares about providing opportunities for students to express themselves, whilst maintaining safe dance practices that encourage physical, emotional, mental and social development. She cherishes being surrounded by the fresh artistry, energy, imagination and joy that her students have to share. Students and parents alike adore Miss Chloe for her kind, patient and imaginative teaching style.

Geraldine Lett

Head of Aspire – Elite Classical Ballet Extension Program

Miss Geraldine is a professional artist; dancer, teacher, choreographer and rehearsal coach. She was amongst the first 100 students to study at the Victorian College of the
Arts secondary school upon it’s opening. Her studies continued at the Australian Ballet school and then The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts, where she received a Bachelor in Performing Arts. As a performer Geraldine has both danced and choreographed for the West Australian Ballet Company, the One Extra Dance and Theatre Company, The Cologne Dance Company, the Bonn Opera House Germany, The Opera de la Monnaie in Brussels and The Australian Opera. The first piece she choreographed as a young artist, ‘Whaling’ was bought and performed by the West Australian Ballet Company. She has worked and studied with multiple artists and teachers such as Anne Woolliams, Lucette Aldous, Noelle Shader, Reyes de Lara, Kai Tai Chan, Kim Walker, Barry Moreland and Jochin Ullrich. Geraldine has been a scholarship recipient at the American Dance festival and danced as soloist for Maggie Willson’s duet piece received from a Victorian Art’s Grant. She has also worked as soloist and choreographer of The Seven Deadly Sins, playing opposite the renowned Anja Silja in the Brussels Opera House: Theatre de La Monnaie. Geraldine has danced and taught internationally for most of her life and has had many unique roles created for her. At the conclusion of her dancing professionally, she became Lecturer and Choreographer in Contemporary Dance at Cologne’s professional School of Dance and Music in Germany.

In 2005 Geraldine returned to Melbourne to continue her teaching in the areas of classical ballet, pointe and variations, contemporary dance, private coaching and mentoring, as well as choreography, as both a freelance artist and staff member. She works as teacher and Ballet Mistress for The Victorian State Ballet Company, The Victorian State Youth Company and pre-professional course, as well as sharing her knowledge and love of dance with students at Transit Dance, where she teaches both the Diploma, Origins Youth courses and High School Academy.

Geraldine has been part of the Rain & Lucky team since 2019 and in 2024 is very excited to be heading the Aspire Elite Classical Ballet Extension Program.

Rose Gentile

Teacher &
Concert Co-ordinator

Miss Rose achieved the RAD Intermediate Examination with Distinction in 2018, and subsequently completed the two year Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies to become a fully qualified ballet teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. She has completed all her RAD ballet examinations from Grades 1 to 8, and studied dance full-time at Patrick Studios Australia, training in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap, acrobatics, musical theatre and contemporary. Rose is also a qualified Acrobatic Arts teacher, receiving a mark of 100% for her Certificate 1 and 2. She has a gift for making every student feel special, and for creating exciting choreography.

Rachel Koenig

Teacher & Costume Co-ordinator

After extensive training throughout her childhood, Rachel gained a Diploma of Dance in Elite Performance from Dance World Studios, and a Cert IV in Dance Teaching and Management from the Australian College of Dance. Rachel loves to share her knowledge and passion for dance, specialising in tap, jazz and musical theatre, but equally loves working behind the scenes in studio admin and management. Fun facts! Rachel has worked as a magician’s assistant, taught dance in rural China, and performs as a suit artist for shows including Looney Tunes, Baby Shark and PJ Masks!

Adeline

Teacher

More coming soon!

Gigi Kam

Teacher

Miss Gigi is a Royal Academy of Dance registered teacher and also completed the Russian Vaganova ballet training and teacher teaching. She started her ballet training at the age of five and has completed the Commonwealth Society of Teachers (CSTD), Advanced Exam (Ballet) and Jazz Grade 7, the CSTD Eligible Teaching Certificate and all of the grade and vocational exams in the Royal Academy of Dance. She was awarded the Bronze Medal in the Hong Kong Challenge Cup and Silver Medal in the Hong Kong Solo Dance Competition. Miss Gigi has a fun and gentle teaching style with our youngest students, and is able to help our older students to get the very best results in ballet.

Joëlle Aeby

Teacher

More coming soon!

Claire Minney

Teacher

A highly dedicated and passionate teacher, Claire has obtained all RAD ballet examinations, including Advanced 1 in 2023.  In 2018, Claire completed VCE Dance, refining choreographic skills and achieving excellent results, and she now coordinates the VCE Dance program at the University of Melbourne VCE Summer School. Claire has a wide range of experience through intensive training in ballet, jazz and contemporary styles, and also recently completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. During 2019 Claire undertook teacher training which involves mentorship and class observations, working alongside senior teachers. Claire thoroughly enjoys working with the next generation of young students to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for dance.

Alex

Teacher

More coming soon!

Astrid

Teacher

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Catherine

Teacher

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Georgia

Teacher

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Katherine

Teacher

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Steph

Teacher

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Kailey Silver

Teacher

More info coming soon!

Lauren Jimmieson

Teacher

More info coming soon!