Born in Mossman Queensland in 1979, Rheannan is a descendant of the Lama Lama, Aiyapathu and Eastern Kuku Yalanji people of Cape York Peninsula.

Born in Mossman, Queensland in 1979, Rheannan is from the Lama Lama tribe on the east coast of Coen, Cape York. She is also a descendant of the Kuku Yulanji tribe of the Daintree. A graduate of the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA), she completed a six-week secondment program at Bangarra, and was then offered a full-time position with the company in 2003.

In 2002, she worked as a volunteer at Boopa Werem Preschool in Cairns. She has also taught at La Perouse Primary School, the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney and at Katherine High School in the Northern Territory. Teaching credits include CrocFest (2000) in Nhulunbuy, Port Augusta, Swan Hill and Moree, performing traditional Aboriginal dances from Yirrkala. She travelled to Cairns, Darwin and Perth to recruit future students for NAISDA Dance College.

Rheanna's performance history includes NAISDA End of Year Shows since 1997 and Awakenings, the Indigenous segment of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She has performed at the 2001 and 2002 Ausdance Awards, the Deadly Awards (2002) and at the JakArt International Arts Festival (2001 and 2002). In 2003, Rheannan toured with Bangarra as part of the Dreaming, and also performed in Bush (2003), Unaipon (2004), Boomerang (2005) and the collaborations with The Australian Ballet in 2006 including Amalgamate and Rites. During her time with Bangarra, Rheannan participated on Regional, Australian and International Tours to America, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

In 2004, Rheannan was recipient of the inaugural Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards in the category of Dance.

A mother of two, Rheannan continues to choreograph and perform at community events, schools and festivals.