United by a love of dance
In the town of Parkes, in Central West NSW, a not-for-profit, community-owned dance studio is sharing the gift of dance with all. The town, better known as the home of The Dish and the Parkes Elvis Festival, is also home to the Parkes School of Dance (PSD). Teacher Natalie Williams (one of six teachers) says what makes the school special is its model of inclusivity. She says: “We simply believe everyone can dance and at PSD everyone is welcome to dance.”
The school was established by a group of parents who noticed the positive impact that dance had on their children. As there were no dance schools operating in Parkes at the time, they took matters into their own hands to ensure that students didn’t go without. Parkes School of Dance President, Catherine McQuie, says the team of parents pooled their expertise in dance, education, finance, sport and law, and “in just over a month of planning Parkes School of Dance was established and formally incorporated in January, 2013”.
With 90 dancers aged from 18 months to adults, Williams explains that, for their tiniest dancers, teachers are focused on producing highly engaging and imaginative content each week, and classes are all about movement, music and fun. The school also offers classes in Royal Academy of Dance ballet, lyrical and contemporary dance, jazz, barre and adult dance and adult ballet. Classes commence at 4.30pm every afternoon to enable dancers coming from smaller towns, schools and farms enough travel time.
In addition, the school offers a “Dance Step Program”. This year four students were selected to take part in the leadership and student teacher program to build capacity and skills. The program involves students completing online theory modules related to dance teaching and leadership, as well as accompanying the class teacher for one class each week. Williams explains, “We reached out to adult dancer and primary school teacher, Miss Tanya, to help mentor our teachers and Dance Steppers”.
Williams says it is the diversity of the teaching team (which includes Miss Viv, Miss Nat, Miss Sophie, Miss Dani, Miss Megan and Miss Lily), united by a love of dance, that makes the studio strong. “We are bespoke, with intimate, inclusive and accessible classes. Our dancers receive the attention they deserve from dedicated and passionate teachers,” she says. A focus on dancing for life is also strong at PSD: “We want all of our dancers to be dancing forever, whatever that might look like.”
The inclusive focus of the school is reflected in the approach to lesson planning. Students with additional needs are catered for and are included and encouraged. As parent Amanda Acret shares:
“Having a child with special needs often means missing out on fun things. PSD have gone out of their way to have my daughter included. She loves being on stage and thanks to them it was possible.”
The community mindset is one of the other factors that sets PSD apart from other dance schools. Parent Jessica Elliot says: “From the moment you walk through the doors you feel welcomed into an extended family”. The school also runs a costume wardrobe to keep costs down and seeks out grants to attract guests teachers for workshops. Families also help out with working bees at the studio.
The highlights of the PSD year include preparation for RAD ballet exams, performances at the Southern Cross Retirement Village, school holiday workshops, Trundle ABBA Festival, local fetes and small town celebrations (at the towns where students come from). The annual end of year performance also presents a chance to engage the community with the performance, “held at an al fresco venue, removing the elitist notion of the theatre and dance performances”. The outdoor stage, she explains, “makes the event more relaxed and family friendly and allows people to picnic or BBQ while enjoying the show.
In addition to these performances, “Dancing at the Parkes Elvis Festival this year was a hot highlight!”
“Over 40 dancers including parents, siblings and teachers dressed up in our Jailhouse Rock black and white rock n roll gear and sweated up a storm.” With the 2025 Parkes Elvis Festival just round the corner, the PSD team will be lining up again. Extending the invitation to the wider dance family to take part in the performance is just another example of PSD sharing the love of dance with their much loved community.
– MICHELLE DURSUN
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