Welcome to Pretty Things Dance Studio!
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Laetitia Herrod
Studio Director & Dance Instructor
✨ Favorite Style: Contemporary + Lyrical
🎭 Experience: community performances + choreography creation
💗 Loves: being a Mummy, helping children build confidence, creativity + love for dance 🎀 Fun Fact: Qualified beauty therapist since 18 years old
Dance has been a lifelong passion for Laetitia, beginning in early childhood. Her passion for dance technique and education grew profoundly when her daughter, Isla, began competing several years ago. What started as supporting her daughter quickly evolved into a deep dedication to training, choreography, ongoing learning, and creating meaningful opportunities for young dancers within the local community.
Since then, Laetitia has immersed herself in a wide range of dance styles including ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and acro, gaining valuable experience through performances, competitions, concerts, choreography, and teaching. Laetitia is passionate about ongoing professional development, with a strong focus on safe dance practice, technical excellence, and creating a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child feels valued, encouraged, supported, and truly seen – a place where dancers can grow not only in technique and artistry, but also in confidence and self-belief.
Bianca Ansford
Senior Tap Instructor
✨ Favorite Style: Tap
🎭 Experience: Eisteddfods, concerts + performances
💗 Loves: Watching students grow in confidence
🎀 Fun Fact: Loves horse riding
Bianca has been dancing since she was very little and has always had a strong passion for performing. Over the years she has trained extensively across a wide variety of dance styles, and that journey has given her confidence, discipline, and so many memorable experiences that have shaped the dancer and teacher she is today.
Bianca has an extensive background as a soloist in the competitive dance world, bringing a wealth of performance experience and technical knowledge into everything she teaches. Her training spans across genres including Song and Dance and Musical Theatre, giving her a well-rounded and dynamic approach to dance education. While she has studied and performed across many styles, it is tap dancing where her heart truly lies — and that passion is infectious in every class she teaches.
As her love for dance has grown, Bianca has moved into teaching tap, where she loves helping students build their skills, confidence, and passion for dance just like she did growing up. She is dedicated to creating a fun and encouraging environment where every student can find their rhythm, discover their love for tap, and grow with every step.
Shekinah Goddard
Student Assistant Teacher
✨ Favourite Style: Contemporary + Jazz
🎭Experience: Competitions, performances + workshops
💗 Loves: Expressing herself through dance and friendships
🎀 Fun Fact: Dancing since she was 2
Shekinah's passion for dance was noticed even before she was old enough to realize it herself — her daycare teacher Rose spotted her natural rhythm and sense of beat and invited her to her dance studio. From that moment, her love for dance only grew stronger.
Since then, Shekinah has trained extensively in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-hop, Acro, Contemporary, Tap, and Heels, performing as a soloist, in duets, and as part of competition troupes. Her journey has seen her earning multiple places at competitions.
Shekinah loves teaching and passing her passion for dance down to children, helping them grow in confidence and become the best versions of themselves. Her dedication has led her to pursue full-time training at Dynamite Studios Australia — and she couldn't be more excited for this next chapter year.
Taliah Getajanc
Student Assistant Teacher
✨ Favourite Style: Lyrical + Tap
🎭 Experience: Concert
💗 Loves: Watching the kids learn new things and have fun
🎀 Fun Fact: Loves to draw, paint and crochet
Taliah has always loved dancing, but over the last year at Pretty Things Dance Studio she has absolutely loved coming out of her shell, growing in confidence, and learning so many new skills.
Now she has the opportunity to help teach and inspire the younger generation, encouraging them to believe in their potential. One of her favorite parts is watching each student grow in confidence and ability every week.
Kate Watson
Senior Dance Instructor
✨ Favourite Style: Jazz
🎭 Experience: Ballet examinations, performances + competitions
💗 Loves: helping children grow confidence, creativity and technique
🎀 Fun Fact: Currently studying psychology and criminology full time
Kate has nearly 14 years of dance experience, having fallen in love with movement and expression at just four years old. Dance has always been more than just a passion for Kate — it has shaped her journey as both a performer and a dedicated mentor to the next generation of dancers. Kate's training began as early as 4 years old, studying Ballet and Commercial Jazz before expanding her repertoire into Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, and Commercial Heels.Her love for performance naturally led her into teaching at NJ Dance, working alongside Nicole.
Now at Pretty Things Dance Studio, Kate brings that wealth of experience, warmth and dedication into every class. You'll almost always find her in the studio, whether she's teaching weekly classes or running solos with students. With a strong foundation in both technique and performance, Kate is committed to fostering a supportive and inspiring environment where every student can build confidence, refine their skills, and develop their artistry across every style they explore. She truly believes dance teaching is the best job in the world!
Isla Herrod
Student Assistant Teacher
✨ Favorite Style: Lyrical
🎭 Experience: Competitions + performances
💗 Loves: The excitement of performing and dancing and the friendships
🎀 Fun Fact: Loves baby cows + is good at cooking
Isla began her dance journey at just three years old at Rose Dance Studio in Tully, where she trained for years. In 2019 she began training under Nicole at NJ Dance Studio, quickly developing a deep love for lyrical and contemporary dance — and it was here that her potential as a competitive dancer truly began to shine.
Nicole recognized Isla's strong stage presence early, giving her multiple solo opportunities at community events and choreographing her solo for the immersive production Pan on Silks at Mission Beach in 2022, where Isla also performed in a duet with Shekinah and danced in various troupes.
Isla began competing at 11 and, now 14, has built an outstanding competitive track record across Cairns Eisteddfod, Innisfail Eisteddfod, FNQ Dance Festival, Evolution Dance Competition, Time to Shine, and Light Up the Stage — accumulating an impressive collection of placings across all genres. In 2024 she was awarded Judge's Choice for Most Versatile Dancer at Time to Shine, took out Highest Scoring Soloist at Evolution Dance Competition in Cairns, and has competed at Nationals where she received multiple judges awards.
Beyond her own achievements, Isla is incredibly passionate about sharing the beauty of dance with others. She radiates kindness and enthusiasm in the studio, and truly shines when lifting the younger dancers around her up
Eyor-Aqua Ford
Student Acro Assistant Teacher
✨ Favourite Style: Acro
🎭 Experience: Acrobatics arts assistant teacher certificate and 5+ years of experience in dance
💗 Loves: Encouraging students to grow and discover their love for dance
🎀 Fun Fact: Can unicycle and juggle
Eyor's love for dance began as "the window girl," watching classes through a studio window before finally joining herself! With a background in dance, gymnastics, acro and performance through her family's entertainment company, she brings energy, creativity and encouragement into every class. Eyor holds her Acrobatic Arts Assistant Teacher certification and Gymnastics Australia Fundamentals Coaching certification, and is passionate about helping every student grow in confidence and shine.
Our Mission
Our mission at Pretty Things Dance Studio is to empower children through the joy of dance, fostering confidence, creativity, and a sense of community. We aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment where every dancer feels valued, inspired, and encouraged to reach their full potential, both on and off the dance floor. Through expert instruction, nurturing guidance, and a passion for the art of movement, we strive to create a space where lifelong memories, friendships, and a love for dance can flourish.
The Four Cornerstones
Pretty Things Dance Studio’s foundations are built on Creativity, Confidence, Consistency, and Community.
- Creativity: We inspire dancers to explore their artistic expression, fostering originality and imagination in every step.
- Confidence: Through positive instruction and encouragement, we empower our dancers to believe in themselves and embrace their unique potential.
- Consistency: We value dedication and the importance of showing up—helping students build discipline, resilience, and steady progress over time.
- Community: Our studio is a family where connections flourish. We create an inclusive, welcoming environment where everyone feels supported and part of something special.
These four cornerstones are the foundation of Pretty Things Dance Studio, shaping the meaningful experience we strive to provide for every dancer and their family.