Dean McKerras
Faculty – VOCATIONAL | GRADES – Musical Theatre
Dean McKerras is a choreographer, director, educator, and creator of DanceNZmade, with a career spanning more than three decades in performance and dance education. He has directed and choreographed major productions including Cats, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia, and Chicago, and his work has taken him around New Zealand and internationally to London, Vancouver, and the Philippines. Founder of RED STAR DANCE and the innovative Dance in Education programme, Dean has shared dance with over 50,000 school children and continues to inspire through workshops, masterclasses, and professional development for teachers.
Dean has Directed / Choreographed and /or produced many shows including Cats, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia, 42nd Street, Broadway bigger than ever! with Jackie Clarke, The Rocky Horror Show with Richard Long and the touring Chicago starring Michael Barrymore and Tina Cross.
2022 saw Dean McKerras School of Dance rebrand as RED STAR DANCE offering the Danceman an opportunity to reboot thirty years of tradition.
Having gained a Diploma of Teaching and Bachelor of Education, Dean has created and implements a ‘Dance in Education’ programme which has seen him share dance with over 50,000 school children. Alongside Dance Resources he has written, Dean is in demand for Professional Development Courses, guest lectures at Massey University, and teaches weekly at the stunning Te Auaha in Wellington.
He currently shares his ‘passion and energy’ for dance with students through master classes which see him travelling around New Zealand, and internationally has taught in Vancouver, London and the Philippines.
Dean is the creator & director of the DanceNZmade branding which runs competitions and workshops around the country for studios and schools, and provides Hip Hop, Contemporary and Performance (jazz based) Levels- a syllabus being danced in studios around the country.
Taking off his dance shoes, Dean enjoys compeering, gardening and dabbles in Interior Design. He is blessed together with Liette to be raising three beautiful teenagers in a 105yr old home affectionately name Stanley Manor.
It is an unequalled passion and energy for Dance, in performance, choreography, and teaching, which makes this ‘danceman’ unique.