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About Us

In 2020, after 19 years under the banner of Burdekin Celtic Dancers and the retirement of Cheryl Medley, the Townsville studio continued under a new name.  As we are BCD at heart we felt we needed to continue the BCD name which is where Bella Celtic Dance has originated from. Our love of Highland and Irish dancing will continue through our new studio along with new and exciting adventures.

At Bella Celtic Dance we teach our students the traditional and modern forms of Highland and Irish dancing. We enjoy exploring the more traditional forms of dance through the technical books produced by An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) for Irish Dance, and the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD) and our highland examining body National Dancing Association of Australian Incorporated (NDAAI). Our students learn these traditions through competitions and examinations, learning the history of the dance forms, basic and more advanced movements and can train towards becoming teachers and adjudicators themselves. 

Along with the traditional side of our dance forms, we love exploring the more modern side of dance. In recent years along with lockdowns and the online world, our students and teachers have enjoyed learning the more modern side of their dance forms. We perform for our local community along with our online community as now more than ever we can meet dancers and teachers from all over the world and learn from their experiences. 

Bella Celtic Dance offers a range of classes both face to face and online:

• Competition classes
• Street dancing & performance classes
• Celtic Kids (for under 7 years)
• Ceili classes

Please see our Classes page for further information.
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Meet Our Teachers

Renee O'Farrell

NDA Advanced Highland Dancing Teacher
ADCRG Adjudicator (Irish)
TCRG Irish Dancing Teacher

Originally raised in the Burdekin region, Renee started learning Highland and Irish dancing under her mother Cheryl Medley. Renee successfully competed in both dance forms to the top level of Premier in Highland and Open in Irish and placing as high as 2nd at the Queensland State Irish Dancing Championships. In addition to her competition winnings, Renee also completed all of her NDA Highland Dancing exams up to her Advanced Teachers and all An Commisiun (CLRG) Irish Dancing exams before leaving home for university.  While continuing to dance throughout university, Renee was choreographing her own dances and starting to teach while home on holidays. Renee completed her TCRG  for Irish Dancing in 2000 being the first North Queensland dancer to pass all exams up to the teaching certificate. Renee opened a school with her mother under Burdekin Celtic Dancers in 2001 in Townsville, where she has inspired many dancers over the years and has seen some also complete their TCRG. In 2010, Renee completed her ADCRG exam and has enjoyed judging in New Zealand, North and South Queensland and New South Wales. 

Tracey Tait

Trainee Irish Teacher

My dance journey began in 2003, when I was inspired to follow in the footsteps of my older siblings, who had already been involved in Irish dancing. From the very start, my passion for dance was clear, and I quickly immersed myself in training. Over the years, I competed in many competitions locally in Mount Isa, as well as travelling to the coast to Townsville, Mackay, Cairns and Ayr. I also had the privilege to travel to Brisbane to compete at the Qld State Championships twice. 

When the opportunity arose to assist my teacher, Erin Dean, with teaching the younger students I jumped at the chance. When Erin moved, I reached out to Renee to see what I could do to become an Irish Dancing teacher. This is when I became a dancer with Bella Celtic Dance and started completing my senior exams. I have to date completed the first 10 grades and am now focused on attaining Grade 11 & 12 with the view of completing my TCRG. By attaining this status, Mount Isa will again have a resident registered Irish dancing teacher so we can continue to grow Irish dancing in the outback. 

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​Willow McLeod

Trainee Irish Teacher

At the age of five I started Irish and Highland dancing after watching an episode of the wiggles with Irish and highland dancers. From the moment I started dancing, I loved it.  As time when on, I was more drawn towards Irish, which I have focused on. In late 2013, I joined the BCD family and competed in my first Irish competition and became hooked. I could never miss a competition as a child, travelling to Cairns, The Burdekin, Mackay & Mt Isa, as well as local competitions. In 2016 I moved to Tasmania with my family where I continued Irish. In that time, I competed at Nationals in Cairns in 2018, before taking a break from 2019. Whilst I was in Tassie, I began Irish again in 2022 over zoom with BCD and when given the opportunity to move back to Townsville for uni in 2023, I could not wait to start back in person at BCD. Since being back, I have completed Irish exams from grade 7-11 and had the opportunity to teach the younger children’s class and look forward to doing grade 12 this year and teaching again. Dancing has been a huge part of my life and I am very fortunate to be a part of the BCD family.

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Keeley Alexander

​NDA Student Member
NDA Trainee Teacher 
Premier Highland Dancer
Primary Irish Dancer
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Having danced since I was two years old, I have learnt many dance styles including ballet, jazz, tap and lyrical. As a 6 year old I was handed a pair of second hand highland shoes and I fell in love. I have competed throughout Australia from Cairns to Canberra and out to Mount Isa with highland dance and I become a Premier dancer at the age of 13 in 2018. I have finished my NDA exams receiving honours and honours with distinction throughout and I am now training to become a qualified teacher. BCD is my family and after being with them for 5 years I started Irish mid-way through 2021. I really enjoy Irish as it challenges me due to the fact that it’s not second nature like highland. I love sharing my dancing love and knowledge with the younger children through interactions and teaching.

Rebecca Edwards

Trainee Irish Teacher
Premier Highland Dancer
Intermediate Irish Dancer

Rebecca is a late starter in the world of dancing, having spent much of her youth pursuing music and theatre interests.  Rebecca finally entered the dance community, bringing her daughters as toddlers to classes, in 2012. She decided, at this time to take the step to try something new and hasn’t looked back. For the last 13 years, Rebecca has competed in Highland and Irish dancing working her way through the competition levels. She has also worked to complete NDA Highland dance exams and CLRG Irish dance exams with an aim to complete Teacher exams in the future. As a qualified high school teacher and past musician Rebecca is able to bring her skills onto the dance floor to assist with her own and others’ growth and love of dance.