Step in Time Dance Studio

Christy Hartgill, owner of Step in Time Dance Studio and, instructor Shaye Caldicott are highly qualified teachers whom have trained for years and continue to dance professionally. Step In Time Dance Studio offers ballet, tap, modern, and acrobatics dance classes at FITPOD at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre.

Owner and founder, Christy Hartgill, has been dancing since she was 3 years old. “I grew up in a house full of dancers and I have been singing and dancing in shows my whole life,” she says.

Originally from Durban North, Christy trained in ballet, tap, modern and Spanish dancing. At 14 years old, she moved to Johannesburg to dance for the Ballet Theatre Africa in Johannesburg.

When she returned to KZN to study, Christy continued teaching and earned her qualification with the Association of International Dance Teachers (AIDT). In 2012, she founded and opened Step In Time Dance Studio, later expanding by opening a branch at FITPOD in Ballito at the start of 2025.

Instructor, Shaye, also originally from Durban, has been dancing for as long as she can remember. Shaye is trained in ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, acro, hip-hop, and Bollywood. After 15 years of dancing, she says, she still loves learning and discovering everything that dance has to offer.

Throughout her career, Shaye has competed in various local and national competitions, earning several awards and bursaries for her performances. She completed all her exams, including Advanced AIDT tap, Intermediate RAD ballet and Elementary AIDT modern.

Additionally, she completed her Level 10 exam with the American Academy of Ballet and has been awarded multiple scholarships to attend the American Academy of Ballet Summer School in New York, which she attended in 2019. Shaye believes in creating a positive and encouraging environment for her students and looks forward to growing and teaching the young dancers who join Step In Time Dance Studio at FITPOD.

Step In Time offers a wide range of classes, including, ballet, tap, modern (contemporary, jazz and lyrical) and hip-hop. “We teach the AIDT syllabus, the Theatre Dance Association and the American Ballet Awards. Our dancers participate in exams and competitions, and we have an annual, staged prizegiving show. They also have the opportunity to dance on stages at various theatres throughout the year, including the Playhouse Drama and Opera Theatre,” says Christy.

It is their incredible team of highly qualified teachers, Christy says, that sets Step In Time Dance Studio apart from other studios. “It is essential to check your dance teacher’s qualifications because poor training can break a dancer. All our teachers are passionate about dancing and most still dance professionally.”

Launching their Ballito branch this year has been wonderful, Christy says. “The studio space at FITPOD is beautiful, always clean and safe for our dancers.” Shaye adds that, “Teaching at FITPOD has been wonderful. The studios are safe and functional, allowing our students to dance to their full ability, and there is always a helping hand if needed.”