We teach so much more than dancing
Our invitation to enter our REGIONAL HEROES feature prompted a huge response. We received hundreds of enthusiastic and at times quite moving nominations for our feature, but unfortunately had room for only a handful of the many deserving entries.
As Michelle Dursun, Dance Australias' education writer, said:
"It is so lovely to be able to honour a few – though there are examples in all regional areas of Australia – they really are heroes!"
Here is one of those chosen as our 2024 REGIONAL HERO: you can find the rest in the Oct/Nov/Dec print issue of Dance Australia: OUT NOW.
Rosie Clark School of Ballet and Tap
Berri, South Australia,
238 kilometres north-east of Adelaide
A regional dance school is so much more than a place that teaches dancing. While a range of dance classes are certainly on offer at the Rosie Clark School of Ballet and Tap in Berri, South Australia, the school also offers a community hub and a safe space for students to build confidence and self-esteem. Initially established by Rosemary Clark (“Miss Rosie” to her students) 34 years ago, the school is now run by Rosemary’s daughter, Natalie Woolston, following Clark’s death.
The school has a diverse mix of 189 students from a range of backgrounds including those with Greek, Italian, Indigenous Australian and South Africa heritage. Natalie says that all these students become part of the Rosie Clark extended dance family. In addition to offering ballet, tap and jazz options, the school also offers classes in musical theatre, hip hop, yoga, zumba, meditation and Pilates to students aged from two to 70 years of age. Once a week, classes are also offered in Waikerie (about 45 minutes from Berri) and, as Natalie adds, “For the past year, we have also been teaching once a fortnight at a local retirement village. It is the senior ladies’ highlight of their week!”
Natalie describes the joy of running the school with her mother (Miss Rosie), with whom she shared a love of dance, for over 20 years. She says the “recent and unfortunate passing” of her mother resulted in her taking over the school that holds such a special place in the local community. Natalie is a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and has a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Dance). She is a current IADMS member as well as a member of a number of dance societies, including the RAD, CSTD, ATOD, Rambert Grades, Glenn Wood Tap and the Dance Teacher Network.
Graduates from the Rosie Clark School of Ballet and Tap have moved on to a range of performance careers, such as Disney Cruise Lines, professional dance companies and/or futher training at tertiary level. Some graduates have also pursued their love of dance by opening their own dance schools such as Hope Valley Fancy Foot Academy and TK Studios.
The school gives back to the community in many ways including providing entertainment for fetes and fairs as well as holding an annual performance which showcases the students’ talent. Natalie explains that, while the focus on dance is clear, woven through all classes are the all-important life-skills of dedication, connection, perseverance and care for others.
The school’s teachers lead by example and are very supportive and dedicated, “putting in many hours of work to make each child feel special and valued”, Natalie says. “Our beautiful dance members themselves are a big family and our stunning dance studio in Berri enhances our students’ sense of pride.” The school itself provides all the costumes for performances, “so our parents don’t have to do a thing, and we keep our prices low so that they are affordable and provide everyone the chance to dance”.
Being able to provide dance training and performance opportunities to the local regional community, Natalie explains, is a reward in itself. She adds that the best thing about her job is experiencing the joy of students when they have performed well or mastered a step.
For parent Alison Suchenko, the family atmosphere, sense of connection and care for students are some of the qualities she loves. “Miss Rosie first and now Miss Natalie are my daughter’s favourite dance teachers. It's more than just dance at Rosie Clark School of Ballet and Tap, it's about the beautiful friendships made, the laughs and the smiles. It's also about being a performer. The encouragement and grace sets the school apart, and then there are opportunities like no other, for example, the Australian Ballet visiting and giving opportunities to young dancers”. Rosie Clark School has a “big heart” and provides a safe, and enjoyable home for dancers”, adds student Samara.
– MICHELLE DURSUN
Regional Heroes is proudly sponsored by https://dancesurance.com/
