Our Teachers

Meet Our Team

Ali Foy (Marcy)

PRINCIPAL

Ali is a driven and enthusiastic dance teacher with over 20 years of dance and performing experience, as well as over 6 years of teaching experience. Ali started her dance training at age 4 and by age 15, had successfully secured a place in the Australian International Ballet Academy at The McDonald College in Sydney. In 2012 she graduated from AIBA and The McDonald College with Distinction.

After graduating high school in 2012, Ali successfully auditioned for Ev & Bow Dance Training Centre. Under the guidance of acclaimed Ev & Bow choreographer Sarah Boulter, she gained her Certificate IV in Dance & Performance. During her dance career, Ali was a member of the Premier State Ballet Company, Locreado Contemporary Dance Company, Sydney Youth Musical Theatre Company and Akjun Ballet Company in New York. She has also appeared as a backup dancer in music videos for Disney and on the television show – The Voice.

Her qualifications include RAD ballet distinction to Advanced 1 level, ADA jazz and tap with honours and distinctions, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop and body conditioning elements and 10 years of experience in musical theatre and as a vocalist.

Sheri Marcy

TEACHER

Sheri is a very enthusiastic and caring dance teacher who has had many years of experience as a dancer and performer.

Sheri began her dance training at the tender age of 2. She trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip hop and musical theatre. Throughout her training, Sheri successfully completed many examinations in both the RAD and FATD syllabus. From 2012 to 2016, Sheri attended the McDonald College After Hours Program, training in Musical Theatre. During her time at the college, Sheri had the opportunity to perform lead roles in many musicals the program hosted.

In 2013, Sheri had the opportunity to be featured in Disney star - Naomi Sequeira's music video "Edge of The Sun".

Sheri also went on to study dance at high school and received exceptional results in HSC Dance at Rosebank College, Five Dock. Miss Sheri has just graduated Sydney University with her Masters Degree in Speech Pathology. When she is not teaching DAPA students, she is working as a Speech Pathologist!

She has a great passion for dance and loves being able to share it with our students at DAPA.

Rachelle Young

TEACHER

Rachelle is a proud and dedicated teacher to her dance craft. She cares for the dance welfare and fun of her students. Prior to completing her teachers exams with ADA, formerly FATD, Rachelle began dance at the age of 3 yrs old she progressed to completing dance examinations with honours and honours plus through out the years.

Rachelle's dance background consists of Jazz(theatrical and lyrical), contemporary, hip hop, ballet and tap. Rachelle also has a social dance background gaining all this experience with Joan Carmody. She has competition and performance experience in eisteddfods and championships.

Scattered through out her years in dance she has made appearances in country music videos, dance promotional work and she also includes choreography, costume design and modelling work(fashion and hair).

James asked to go to dancing lessons when he was 3, and trained at Dubbo Ballet Studio under the direction of Anna Bloomfield. In 2006 James and his family moved to Newcastle where he studied at Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy under the direction of Marie Walton-Mahon.

James has completed his RAD Ballet exams up to Advanced Foundation. From 2011-2012 James had the privilege on being a dancing/acting extra on the ABC tv show “Dance Academy” for season 2 and 3. From 2014-2017 James studied at Newcastle Ballet Theatre under the direction of Rider D. Vierling and Kristy Tancred. In 2016 he completed a Certificate III in Assistant Dance Teaching and in 2017 James started his fulltime dance training, completing a Certificate IV in Dance.

In 2018 James moved to Sydney and studied at Dargie Entertainment Fulltime under the direction of Betty Dargie and Ben Murray, graduating with a Diploma of Dance in Elite Performance in 2019. From 2021 James started dance teaching in various settings including disability and mainstream.

James has a keen interest in Musical Theatre. In 2023 he performed as an ensemble member in Green Days American Idiot The Musical for Hornsby Musical Society and in 2024 James will be performing in Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical with Inner West Theatre Company , performing the role of Wayne Burns.

James is passionate about passing on his absolute love of dance to his students.

James Hine