Rachel Edds-Gibson (known as Rae), was born in England, immigrating to Australia at 14 months of age. She started dance at age five at a local Dance School in Sydney. Here she trained in RAD Classical Ballet and FATD (now known as ADA) Jazz and Tap. It was at this school she was exposed to many of her first stage performances, as part of groups and as a soloist.
She was accepted into The McDonald College mid-Year 7, and this is where her love of Classical Ballet really took hold. Whilst at the College, Rae was accepted into the Premier State Youth Ballet Company as one of its youngest members at the time.
Rae auditioned and was accepted into The Australian Ballet School in 1993. Whilst at the ABS, she completed her RAD Advanced Examination (known as Advanced 2 now), making her an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD). During her time at the Australian Ballet School, she performed with The Dancers Company and was used as an extra in the Australian Ballet Company productions in Melbourne.
After completing her training at the Australian Ballet School, Rae took a two year break from dance, then successfully gained a place into the Bachelor of Dance course at the University of Western Sydney. Here she studied various subjects, and it was here that her passion for Contemporary Dance and choreography started. She graduated in April 2001.
Whilst completing her BA degree, Rae also undertook the RAD Teaching Diploma, receiving a High Distinction. She also took a teaching course held by Hilary Kaplan to further her teaching. This resulted in being asked occasionally to tutor on the course in the following years.
Rae has worked for many prestigious schools in Sydney over the past 20 years, gaining valuable teaching experience in all genres of dance. Her main focus now is in Classical Ballet, Contemporary and Lyrical Dance. She has worked at The McDonald College for over ten years, both in the Day School and After Hours programs. She took a break from working in the day school program to have her two children, but has continued to teach in the College After Hours program the entire time. She currently takes the RAD Syllabus classes, Grade 4 through to Intermediate, as well as many performance classes like Eisteddfod Groups, Recital and Solos at the College.