Arts a Go Go - About Us

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About Us

Arts a Go Go! is an award winning company run by Upper Hutt residents, husband and wife Rachel Main and Stuart Grant. Rachel and Stu are both qualified and experienced teachers who both have a passion for working with children and developing creativity through the arts.

	Rachel was a school teacher before starting Arts a Go Go! almost 4 years ago. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Teaching, plus a Certificate in Education Leadership. Rachel has been very involved in musical theatre over the years, and has performed on stage in a number of roles. She trained in drama teaching in Auckland as part of her teacher training, and was Teacher in Charge of the Arts at an intermediate school before having her family. She has directed many shows and dance productions for children, and directed and trained children in singing. Before forming Arts a Go Go! in 2008, Rachel specialised in teaching creative dance to 5-12 year olds in schools. She also has an advanced diploma in modern dance. As a performer, she has been part of a professional singing, dancing, storytelling entertainment group for young children.


	Stu is director of Capital E, an internationally recognised performance and creative technology facility for children in Wellington. Prior to that, he was head of Drama, Art and Music at a Hamilton middle school. His own acting experience includes many years in professional improvisation theatre and various plays. Stu has created and directed a number of productions for children. He has an honours degree in arts and the media, and has been invited to speak internationally on children and creativity.

Rachel and Stuart have three children, Nine year old boy and girl twins and a four year old girl.

Drama Teacher: Phoebe Smith Phoebe is a graduate from the Otago University Theatre Studies programme at Allen Hall. She has been involved in theatre since the tender age of 5 when her role as a baby moa evoked her theatrical passion. Phoebe has acted in numerous plays including the title role in the solo show Spoonface Steinberg for which she was named “Best Newcomer” by The Listener in 2003. Phoebe could recently be heard in the play “Shaping Up” for Radio New Zealand. Phoebe has written several plays for performance including Done Eden and Four Short Arguments at Allen Hall Theatre, and Hansel and Gretel at the Playhouse Theatre. Her directing credits include Four Short Arguments, Done Eden, Naomi in the Living Room and Skungpoomery. In 2010, she was one of three directors nominated for “Most Promising Director” at the Chapman Tripp Wellington professional theatre awards. Phoebe has coordinated and taught drama classes to a range of age groups for more than 6 years. Phoebe is currently a supervisor of Te Aro School’s After School programme. In her “spare time” she is a theatre reviewer. Phoebe finds little more rewarding than observing the development of children’s talents.

Drama Teacher: Debs Rea Debs Rea is a graduate from Wellington Performing Arts Centre with an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts. She now studies at the prestigious “Toi Whakaari, NZ Drama School”. She regularly performs in professional theatre and film and also owns a children's entertainment company, “Must Be Dreaming Productions”, where she delights girls and boys as “Fairy Cerri” at birthday parties and events all across Wellington. Debs has been teaching drama for the past six years and also runs specialist clowning workshops for children.

Irish Dancing Teacher: Charlotte Wright Charlotte has been dancing for 13 years, and has been competing nationally and internationally for 10 years, travelling across NZ and over in Australia. Last year, she attended the World Irish Dancing Championships, held in Dublin, Ireland. Charlotte is currently the New Zealand National Champion in her age category. She is passionate about dancing and enjoys teaching, competing and performing.

Boys Dance Class and Introduction Class Dance Teacher: Hazel Douglas Hazel has spent many years training in different aspects of performing and the creative arts. She studied dance full time in her home country of Scotland. After graduating she travelled to the Philippines to live and volunteer as a dance teacher. There she worked with a variety of classes aged 3-24 in orphanages, young offenders institutes and many other environments, including running a boys only class at a rehabilitation centre. Since that time she has also spent 3 months teaching dance at an American summer camp where she then decided to move to New Zealand. She is passionate about the use of dance as a form of outreach and personal development. With a wide array of dance experience and interest in working with younger performers, her classes will suit every aspiration.