Dance into the new year

TWINKLE TOES... From left, Lekhashree Enjapoori and Azariya Khakh, both 5yrs, and Marliya Khakh 4yrs, as ducklings in GVAB's 2021 concert. The production was La Fille Mal Gardee (The badly guarded daughter), set on a farm. Photo: Sharelle Jarvis.

CHILDREN are born with boundless creativity to express and energy to move, learn and play. Dance is one wonderful form of exercise which combines these elements in a fun learning environment.

Goulburn Valley Academy of Ballet (GVAB) takes students from age three and offers jazz lessons to students from age seven. Jazz and ballet are two very popular forms of dance.

Principal Melanie Coats says, “It is a wonderful thing to see the children develop from eager youngsters to highly accomplished senior dancers.”

“Dance teaches all sorts of life skills including organisation, coordination, strength, flexibility, musicality, good posture and focus. Confidence and creativity are built up. Some students may want to go further and be involved in school productions or to become dancers or teachers themselves, but this is done in a fun and enjoyable way.”

Ballet classes follow a long-established syllabus, and all classes are taught by fully qualified teachers. Our classes and dance concert for three-and-four years are a lot of fun, we use lots of props, costumes, ribbons to make it enjoyable.”

Dance classes run Monday to Saturday each week, 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 4 to 8pm after school, out of the Sound Shell in Welsford Street, Shepparton.

Melanie said, “Operating out of the Sound Shell has been good because we can open it up and dance outside in the open while ensuring ventilation when Covid is in the community.”

During lockdowns, the academy continued lessons online and through an app where students could practice. Performing and connecting with others through movement is the greatest joy to the students and in 2021, they were overjoyed to return to the stage.

“The concert was great. Everybody was thrilled to perform live again. Eastbank were fantastic too, they were very helpful and did an excellent job filming the performances,” Melanie said.

Melanie can help you find the most suitable class for your family. To enroll your child in dance lessons for 2022, contact Melanie Coats on 0407 042 098.

TWINKLE TOES… From left, Lekhashree Enjapoori and Azariya Khakh, both 5yrs, and Marliya Khakh 4yrs, as ducklings in GVAB’s 2021 concert. The production was La Fille Mal Gardee (The badly guarded daughter), set on a farm. Photo: Sharelle Jarvis.