Rania Eleftheriou (Class of 2018) didn't have a master plan. What she had was a love of performing, a willingness to say yes and the foundation to make the most of every opportunity that came her way. 

That foundation started at St. Catherine's. Drama Club, school productions, IB Theatre, singing lessons and twelve years of ballet gave her something that went beyond technique - it gave her confidence, curiosity and the belief that a career in the performing arts was possible. Twelve years of ballet sat alongside a love of hip hop and commercial dance that hinted at a performer who would never be easy to put in a box. For Rania, the stage was never just a place to perform. It was a place to become. 

"Through Drama Club, productions, IB Theatre and singing lessons, I developed skills and confidence that I still draw on today. Teachers such as Ms Raikopoulos, Ms Voutsadakis and Ms Margarita shared their passion so generously and encouraged me to believe that a career in the performing arts was possible." - Rania, Class of 2018

Those who taught her remember it too. 

"The performance was Panto Pandemonium, and beautiful Rania was the dastardliest wicked witch St. Catherine's had ever seen! Green face paint, her talented acting skills and a terrifying cackle — that beautiful smile hidden behind the character for one show only. She mesmerised us all and I'm so thrilled to hear that she enjoys performance in her everyday working life. It shone through even at the young age of 11." - Mrs Katherine Jackson, Lower School Teacher and Spotlight Director 

At just twelve years old, Rania was already performing on some of Greece's most prestigious stages. Through St. Catherine's choir she performed at the Irodio alongside Mario Frangoulis, appeared in Musicals with Marianna Toli at the Megaron Music Hall in Athens, and later starred in her film Wishes. For a twelve-year-old, these were not small stages, and St. Catherine's gave her the confidence to go there. 

From St. Catherine's she went on to study at the London College of Music at the University of West London, where she earned a BA (Hons) degree in Musical Theatre. Years of training had already given her the rare combination of acting, singing and dance that the industry calls the ‘triple threat’ , and the research and analytical skills developed through the IB programme meant she arrived with more than she knew. 

London became an education in itself, live entertainment, immersive events and a significant chapter at the renowned Crystal Maze experience, where she performed, taught and worked with people from all walks of life, developing an instinct for reading a room that no traditional stage alone could teach. Over five years, it became the place where she learned to navigate an industry, build lasting friendships, and discover who she was beyond the classroom. It is a city that remains close to her heart. 

After graduation her career took her further than she expected. She performed internationally and life aboard world cruise ships became her world for a while, first as a performer, then taking on increasing responsibility until she stepped into a trainee Assistant Cruise Director role. She was no longer just the performer on stage but the person responsible for shaping the entire guest experience for hundreds of people from across the globe. 

Along the way she discovered that some of her most rewarding moments happened not under the spotlight but helping others step into it. Teaching dance and musical theatre to young performers, watching a child find confidence through movement or performance,  that became as important to her as the performing itself. She now teaches at the dance school where she first trained and has worked with students across many settings throughout her career. 

Alongside her performing and teaching work, Rania recently launched her own talent agency. Drawing on years of industry relationships and first-hand experience of what it feels like to be the performer looking for the right opportunity, she now connects talented performers with the right doors. It is a venture that only works if people trust your judgment — and in Rania's case, they do. 

Despite a career that continues to evolve, she remains closely connected to St Catherine's. Whenever she returns to Athens she is found backstage at school productions, supporting younger performers and reconnecting with the teachers who helped shape her own journey. The school that shaped her still feels like home. 

"Follow what genuinely excites you, say yes to opportunities even when they scare you, and enjoy the journey. You really never know where it might take you." - Rania

Want to be our next spotlight? Email us at alumni@stcatherines.gr or submit your Spotlight directly here. 

Curious to read about other St. Cats alumni? Check out our previous Alumni Spotlights!