Meet the team who will help you develop and grow in dance

The Birth of Bill’s Ballroom

Bill and Sue Donald created Bill’s Ballroom in 2005. After much discussion of names, they settled on “Bill’s Ballroom” at Sue’s insistence.

Opening firstly at Rathmines Hall at Easter, the Studio soon expanded to include Morisset Hall later in the year, and in 2006 moved their base to Teralba Community Hall, whilst still teaching classes at Morisset until the hall closed temporarily. When Morisset re-opens, we will return classes to that area.

The Studio was founded on several basic principles that Sue and Bill both believed in. They wanted to offer ballroom dancing in all its standard forms to people from a variety of backgrounds and areas, and of all ages. They wanted to provide a platform where anyone could learn socially and then develop their skills to the best of their ability. They wanted to provide an atmosphere where all levels of dancers of all ages could mix freely. They were determined to base their teaching on quality. All this seems to have worked as there are some students who have been dancing at the Studio for the entire 17 years of its existence.

Over the years there have been many successes. A large percentage of their students have undertaken the medal assessments programs, overwhelmingly gaining Honours results over the four styles of dancing. This includes students as young as five years and right up into their 80’s. Some students have reached Gold Star status and continue to advance.

Many students, again, of all ages, have tried out the competition floor, varying from social competitions through to A Grade National Titles. Success has come regularly. It is not uncommon for Bill’s Ballroom couples and teams to fill all three placings in some events. At the highest levels, the Studio has produced Australasian and South Pacific Champions in all four styles and over various age divisions from Junior through to Adults and Masters categories. This, of course, takes a lot of time, effort, and practice, but is so satisfying and rewarding.

Through all this, family and friendship have been the focus of the Studio. These tenets have bound the Studio together with so much genuine support at medal days and competitions for all participants. What has especially pleased Sue and Bill over the years is the involvement of multiple generations of families over time. It is so good to see children dancing with their parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents with such an easy blending of all ages on the dance floor.

This is really what Ballroom Dancing is all about - a fun activity that can be enjoyed throughout life by everyone.

Bill Donald

  • Started dancing and competing at age 13

  • Reached A Grade status as an Adult competitor

  • Turned Professional in 1977

  • 5 x South Pacific Classical Champion

  • 2 x Australian Masters Champion - New Vogue and Classical

  • 1 x Asian Pacific Classical Champion

  • Numerous finals over 3 styles, Modern, New Vogue, and Classical

  • Co-Principal of Ballroom Dance-In (1977-1994)

  • Co-Principal of Bill’s Ballroom (2005-Present)

  • National Championship Adjudicator

  • Elite Coach - D.S.A.

  • Examiner for medal tests and Professional Exams

  • Former Director A.N.D.A. and F.A.T.D.

  • Qualification Level: Fellow in Modern, Latin, New Vogue, and Classical Sequence.

 

Mallory Co

ley

I had never put any thought to being a dancer until a friend took me along to a social Latin class when I was 13. A couple of months later, I entered my first Ballroom competition, and have been competing in Graded and Open events ever since.

Bill’s Ballroom is actually my second dance studio, having moved to Lake Macquarie when I was 15. Bill and Sue welcomed me with open arms and have been my mentors ever since. I work very closely alongside Bill, whose knowledge and love for Ballroom is incomparable to anyone else I have met. Under his training and guidance I have worked my way to a standard of dance I would have previously thought unattainable. I have made several achievements I am quite proud of, including: South Pacific Classical Champion, Australasian Latin Champion, and Gold medal status in 3 styles (the 4th is a work in progress!). However, the achievement I value most is my Certificate of Accreditation with Dancesport Australia, which means I am a qualified Amateur Coach. I really enjoy teaching what I have learned, and continue to learn, on to others, and seeing what difference I can make to their dancing.

Even though my Ballroom career did not begin at Bill’s Ballroom, I owe all of the knowledge and achievements I have gained to Bill, who has made me the dancer I am today. Bill’s Ballroom is regarded as a very welcoming, supportive and caring studio, which Bill and Sue worked hard to create, and I am extremely proud and humbled to be part of it.

Rhiannon McKay

I started dancing at the age of 4 doing tap, jazz and ballet whilst living in Sydney. After moving to Newcastle in 2013, I struggled to find a new dance studio. My mum stumbled across Bill’s Ballroom and asked if I was interested in trying ballroom dancing. I had never tried this style of dance before so I was very excited and open to the idea.

I have now been at Bill’s Ballroom for 10 years and have made some wonderful achievements. I have successfully completed medal tests up to Gold. I competed regularly as a Junior during which time I won the Australasian Ballroom and New Vogue Championships. In 2020, I also received a Certificate of Accreditation as a DanceSport Instructor alongside Mallory and Keeley. This qualifies me as an Amateur Coach, and able to assist instructing students in the studio.

Dancing at Bill’s Ballroom has been amazing as both a coach and a student. The biggest highlight is watching our students step out of their comfort zones and dance beautifully.

 

Keeley Fuller

Since I was little, all I can remember is dance. My grandparents, Sue and Bill, have been teaching me dance in a formal and informal setting since I was about four and I fell in love.

I have been competing since age six in all levels of competition and events, as well as completing medal tests up to a Gold Star level. I have also twice represented NSW in the East Coast/West Coast Classic in Perth.

In 2020, I obtained my Certificate of Accreditation as a DanceSport Instructor. This qualifies me as an Amateur Coach and allows us to teach students of all ages and share our passion with a wide array of people.

I am a lover of kids and I adore teaching all children of all ages. I love my job and I thrive in an environment where I can be creative and have fun.

Dancing at Bill’s Ballroom along with my friends and family is an amazing experience not only as a teacher, but as a student as well. It has given me the confidence I need to thrive in all aspects of my life.

Zain Hamid

I started Latin American dancing at 16 or 17 years of age in Newcastle. Practised when I could and competed in some local competitions as well. I eventually could not fit dancing into the schedule of my then career and stopped dancing for about 10 years unfortunately.

A friend of mine introduced me to Salsa and Bachata around 2016. In looking for a competitive partner I found someone whose primary passion was Ballroom, so we compromised and competed in Street Latin as well as Ballroom for a few years. Since then I have dedicated myself to Ballroom and have been fortunate enough with my amazing dance partner to have won the Australasian Championships in Latin-American, in 2018, 2019, and in 2022 we won Latin-American, Ballroom, New Vogue, and Classical Sequence. (2020 and 2021 were not held due to COVID).

I love sharing my passion of dance and having a laugh with the students. I love watching them achieve their goals, whether it is getting a step right that has been challenging them, achieving a high score in medals, or deserving a podium spot in a competition, I am right there with them, every step of their journey.