LEGACY DANCE STUDIO
The Team
Who We Are
Tash Higginson
Founder/Director/Teacher
Tash has been dancing since she was 7 with a background in jazz then transitioned to hip hop when she was 18 years. She has been teaching hip hop in Christchurch for 25 years and is well known in the hip hop dance scene. This is the second hip hop dance school she has founded and managed. She has done extremely well as a competitor and choreographer in the past and spent some time dancing in London. She is a mum of three kids and focuses on running Legacy and teaching the younger beginner classes. She is fun and passionate about getting to know each family that join the Legacy family.
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Theresa’s movement and dance journey started with Siva Samoa (Traditional Samoan dancing) when she was 9 years old. Often dancing Siva Samoa with both sides of her family, and usually in celebration with family and community events. Theresa discovered Hip Hop at 15 years old and fell in love with the rhythm, the creativeness, and the performance. She now specialises in Hip Hop, Contemporary and Street Freestyle, but she enjoys all forms and expressions of movement and dance.
She has been teaching dance since she was 17 years old and since then dance, performance and teaching, has taken her throughout New Zealand and across the world to Australia and the United States of America. Dance and movement for her means self expression, community, service and deep resonance in passion for music and movement plus the gift, that dance has helped her and others heal and grow.
Lauren Bennett
Teacher
Lauren has been with Legacy since the beginning of 2022. She started learning dance at the age of 5 and comes with a background in a variety of styles, including hip hop, which became her favourite.
Lauren has performed for the Canterbury Rams, Crusaders games and many other events. In 2025 her crew placed 2nd at Shakedown.
She achieved Excellence endorsements in senior NCEA Dance, completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury, and is currently studying a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching to become a Health Education, PE and Dance teacher.
Lauren continues to upskill herself through being a part of her own advanced crew, bringing new ideas and experiences into her teaching. She loves being part of her students’ growth journey, helping them achieve their potential while creating a fun, supportive, and connected class environment.
Steph Philips
Lead Teacher
​Steph has been with Legacy since 2021. She's been dancing since she was 4years old with a background in modern jazz, contemporary, ballet and hip hop. She also competed in solo competitions.
She has been teaching hip hop for 23 years and had her own Dance Studio in Dunedin called 'Moon Studios' before she moved up to Christchurch 6 years ago.
She is also a busy mum of 3!
Steph's passion for dance and teaching is where she can fully bring her true self. She is fun, and brings whanau vibe to her classes fostering a greater sense of confidence and belonging to each student and class.
Kathy Oliver
Teacher
Kathy has been dancing at Legacy dance Studio since she was 8 years old. At the age of 9 she was invited to join a hip hop crew where she had the opportunity to perform at many events throughout Christchurch including Coca Cola Christmas in the park.
She's currently a member of Legacy’s competition crew. To date they have performed as half time entertainment for the NZ Football Ferns, Tactix netball, Canterbury Rams and on What Now TV.
Kathy loves to encourage students to believe in themselves, and to become more confident within themselves, and on the stage. She is currently studying a certificate in youth work through Legacy Dance Studio.