Rejane Garcia

Born in Brazil, Rejane is a choreographer, educator, and former professional ballerina who has performed and taught all over the world.

In spite of growing up in a tough neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Rejane always knew she wanted to dance.  She began her training in classical ballet at nine, at the renowned Maria Olenewa State Dance School (Municipal Ballet Rio de Janeiro affiliated School), based on the Vaganova Method, and graduated in 1997.  Rejane then went on to win a a scholarship to study at Centro Pro-Danza in Cuba, directed by Laura Alonso. While in Havana, she performed with Ballet Laura.  She then moved to London in 1999 for professional training in classical ballet at the London Studio Centre, where she was awarded a scholarship.  Later, she continued with teacher training in ballet technique with the Royal Academy of Dance under the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA).

Over some 20 years based in the UK as a dancer, Rejane worked with leading choreographers Gary Clarke, Wayne Sleep, Mark Short, Boris Storojkov, Mark Baldwin, Jean Abreu, Everaldo Pereira, Dora Frankel, Rosie Heafford and others, and performed and taught for acclaimed institutions such as the British Museum, City Academy, The Place, Saddler’s Wells, Cochrane Theatre and Channel 4.

Rejane is passionate about access to dance and dance education, and has taught for all ages and abilities, from professional ballet dancers from the English National Ballet to groups of children and adult with disabilities and over 60s.  She has been repeatedly acknowledged for her work on well-being and education through dance, including most recently by the International Dance Council-UNESCO for contributing to arts and heritage. 

Since relocating to Adelaide in 2019, Rejane has continued to teach and choreograph, establishing a thriving community dance school Dance Alive and encourage people of all ages, abilities, and experience to embrace the life changing opportunity that is dance.