By the time Calisha was 3 years old she had moved from her country of birth New Zealand to Melbourne and did private tap dance lessons with Grant Swift. Over the next ten years Calisha and Grant developed into Australia’s real-life version of Hollywoods’ Bill Bojangles and Shirley Temple.

They progressed to be a unique part of Australian tap history, performing at festivals, jazz clubs, corporate events, on television and street parties throughout Australia and overseas. At the age of 10 she was dancing regularly with gypsy jazz band “Hot Cafe” and traveled with them internationally to the Singapore food and wine festival where she was a crowd favourite.

Calisha is currently a member of the Swift Rhythm Hoofers and teaches tap for all levels. In 2006, she was a guest teacher at the Melbourne International Tap Festival and studied under Emmy-award winning tap sensation Jason Samuels Smith and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. In 2004, she performed with the legendary American tap dancer Brenda Buffalino who commented on Calisha’s great timing - “man, that kid’s right in the pocket”.

Calisha is a unique part of the Australian tap dance story with a true understanding of its roots, an awareness of where the art form is today, and the passion to keep it alive.