Casey Davidge - Principal
Casey has trained extensively in many styles of dance, including jazz, funk/hip hop, commercial, tap, ballroom and cheer. She trained at elite dance schools in Melbourne and Bendigo, before returning to the East Gippsland area to share her passion through teaching. Casey holds a Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management, Diploma of Beauty Therapy (Elly Lukas), Certificate in Special Occasions Make-Up (Napoleon Perdis Academy), holds Assistant Coach Certification for Acro Dance Australia, and has been Principal/Owner of Urban Funk Dance since 2006.
Casey is qualified in Education Support and works part -time as a Learning Support Officer
Already a thriving commercial dance school and the first of it's kind for the East Gippsland area, Casey has grown and developed the styles taught at UFD from the signature jazz funk style, to also include dance fusion, hip hop, musical theatre, acro and contemporary.
Casey and her team have enjoyed many years of local and state-wide success at eisteddfods, dance festivals and the Crown International Dance Festival with the performance teams, with students furthering their careers with entry in Ministry of Dance, film and television work, and their own subsequent dance studios opening to satisfy the area's need for dance.
Alongside her commitments to UFD, Casey teaches at various primary and secondary schools, has run the debutante program at the local high school, and is involved with the local community theatre group.
Casey has choreographed for Bairnsdale Independent Theatre Company's (BITE) "Jack The Ripper" production, Nagle College "Grease" and "Wizard Of Oz" productions, and Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company's "Chicago" (nominated for Choreographer's Award GAT 2013), "Annie" (2014) "Beauty and the Beast" (2017) , "The Wedding Singer" (2018), "Mamma Mia" (2020/2021) and "Grease" (2022) productions.
Casey, alongside UFD Senior Teacher Shawna Bartlett, co-directed and choreographed the 2026 BPLTC production of "& Juliet".
Kelli Matheson - Hip Hop Director
Beginning classes at age 5, Kelli quickly fell in love with modern dance. She trained all through her school years and found her true love for dance at Bairnsdale Jazz Funk, what UFD was formerly known as. Under the teachings of BJF founder, Renee Hallahan, and her sister, Carly Hallahan, Kelli was able to experience many more facets of commercial dance. Kelli spent many years competing in the advanced troupe before leaving the area after finishing high school.
Upon returning to Bairnsdale in 2008, Kelli came home to UFD, this time as a teacher. She formed the area's first ever Hip Hop Performance team and quickly began to dominate in local and state-wide competitions. The UFD Senior Hip Hop troupe has consistently placed in the top 2 in area competitions and her eye-catching and original routines have blazed the trail for other troupes to follow in her path.
Her career highlights include a top 3 placing at the Crown International Dance Festival in 2019, where the troupe has competed against dance schools from all over the country, and dancing with LA Danceforce and Alison Faulk (Magic Mike choreographer), as well as top 2 placings each year since the team began competing at regional dance eisteddfods in 2010.
Kelli's teams continue to dominate in the hip hop arena and she is looking forward to another competing year again in 2026, as well as being a mama to her 4 children and various work commitments!