book for 2022

celebrating 60 years of dance

Explore our history

About Our School

At Peninsula School of Dance we provide an environment that nurtures, challenges and inspires kids to be the best they can be.

Dance is a visual, physical, creative and emotional art form from which students derive many benefits including:

  • Confidence, persistence and resilience
  • Improved emotional and physical health
  • Improved posture and deportment
  • Body awareness and coordination
  • Confidence to be creative and innovative

Many studies have demonstrated the positive impact an activity like dance can have on a young person’s academic performance and personal feelings of self-concept and life satisfaction. At Peninsula School of Dance we pride ourselves on providing an environment that helps kids to stay busy, and boosts their emotional engagement, social connections and sense of self-worth.

Meet our teaching faculty

Melanie Gard

Message from our Director

Welcome to our dance community. As the Director of Peninsula School of Dance I’m not interested in just churning out “the best” dancers, but I’m very passionate in helping kids reach their full potential. I believe that dance is a powerful tool that can be used to help build the capacity of our young people to be resilient, creative and empathetic adults.

As a Director, I am most proud of the kids that have struggled with confidence, faced learning challenges, suffered with anxiety, felt shy or even been bullied at school. I am proud of those kids more than anything, for getting in and having a go and being the best versions of themselves. Time and time again I have conversations with parents who tell me “dance is his/her happy place”. I am so proud of the nurturing culture at PSD and it is this in which I will continue to invest the most energy in.

You can read more about our Director here

Peninsula School of Dance

A Proud History

The Rosebud Ballet School was founded in 1961 by Miss Sandra Allan and stands today as one of the longest established Cecchetti schools in Victoria. The school commenced with 23 students and a Pianist at the Rosebud Memorial Hall and is still thriving in the same venue today.

Miss Allan’s tireless commitment to dance has inspired many students to progress onto careers in all aspects of the arts. Former students have progressed onto the Australian Ballet School and Company, Victorian College of the Arts, Queensland Ballet Company and Tasdance, and become Artistic Directors of regional companies, performed professionally in stage shows in both Australia and overseas and have become recognised professional teachers and noted choreographers.

The school’s students have performed in the Australian Ballet’s “Nutcracker” and the Queensland Ballet Company’s “Sleeping Beauty” and “Coppelia”, and have been Associates of the Australian Ballet School, as well as Junior and Senior Cecchetti Scholars, Victorian Scholarship and Choreographic Competition winners.

One of the long standing traditions of the school is the annual choreographic competition. This event provides students with the wonderful opportunity to create their own work as an individual or for a group of their class mates. Anything from classical solos, demi character pieces, duos and groups performing hip hop, the Annual Choreographic Competition is truly delightful for students and parents alike.

The Peninsula School of Dance is privileged to still have it’s founder Miss Sandra Allan as part of the teaching staff and students will continue to benefit from her passion and commitment teaching the art of dance.

FUN & ENGAGING

Our classes and activities are underpinned by this value. For students to derive the most benefit and learn they must enjoy what they are doing! Our classes are positive and affirming, they are carefully designed to assist students to develop a love of learning. Our pre-school and junior program is underpinned by the notion that children learn best through play.

INCLUSIVE

We genuinely believe that dance is for everyone. We will work in partnership with parents and students to ensure that class placement is appropriate and we deliver content in a way that meets the needs of learners. We work to create a cohesive and supportive culture within all our classes and events. All students are celebrated and encouraged regardless of ability.

COMMUNITY

Peninsula School of Dance is a community; we foster supportive and nurturing connections amongst our staff team, business partners, families and students. We will always look for ways to engage our students and families in local activities that promote dance and our students. We believe that PSD can contribute to the vibrancy and social fabric of the Peninsula, particularly for young people.

EXCELLENCE

Staff are committed to ongoing training and development. Our professional associations with Cecchetti Ballet, Australian Teachers of Dance and Acrobatic Arts ensure that we remain up to date with best practice. Our assistant teacher and teacher training program is comprehensive and constantly updated. Students are encouraged through exams and performance opportunities to develop strong technique and a commitment to learning and constant improvement. Staff and students together are lifelong learners.

LEADERSHIP

Peninsula School of Dance is a platform for young people to step up and take the lead and we strongly believe young people have a powerful capacity to develop leadership skills in a variety of ways. Our classes and teacher training programs are designed to inspire confidence and leadership in our young people. We are deeply committed to unlocking and nurturing these young leaders within our dance family.

Child Safety

Peninsula School of Dance has a sound set of policies and procedures relating to child safety in place, in line with the Victorian Government’s Child Safety Standards and our unique position as a YPAD accredited studio.

We are deeply committed to making sure that our students are safe, happy and empowered. Our Child Safety policies and procedures can be easily accessed here on our website.

Professional Associations

Peninsula School of Dance is an active and registered member of a number of peak bodies including but not limited to: Cecchetti Ballet Australia (CBA), Australian Teachers of Dance (ATOD), Ausdance and the Dance Arts Alliance.

Qualified Staff

All staff have Working with Children Checks, Level 2 First Aid, relevant teaching qualifications, receive mentoring, supervision and participate in regular professional development and training.

Meet our teaching faculty

Testimonials

Here’s a selection of the lovely feedback that we continually receive from Peninsula School of Dance families:

{A little girls dreams of floating like a beautiful ballerina really can come true
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A. Rowe (Pre Primary)
{PSD is where kids get to shine through dance and develop wonderful lasting friendships. There’s no place like it and for my daughter, it has definately made her more confident.
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F.Tuchtan (4YO Danceplay)
{Thank you so much for a truly memorable night, how proud am I to be part of such an amazing team. Congratulations on putting on a fantastic show, my cheeks are sore from smiling so much. Credit to all involved in making the lead up and concert as stress free for us parents I know Karis is in great hands. The older girls are a great example and I am so grateful for the extra hours that go into making this all happen. I do not underestimate the effort that you put into the dance school. Congratulations once again on a great show – Brilliant!
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Lynsey (a proud parent)
{Congratulations on putting on a fantastic show, my cheeks are sore from smiling so much. Credit to all involved in making the lead up and concert as stress free for us parents………..The older girls are a great example and I am so grateful for the extra hours that go into making this all happen. I do not underestimate the effort that you put into the dance school. Congratulations once again on a great show – Brilliant!
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{My daughter doesn’t just dance at PSD – she is nurtured, celebrated and inspired. As a parent I can ask for no other greater extracurricular activity for my child, and as a mum who is new to the dance scene I have come to truly value the creativity and connection of the PSD teachers and other students. We get great value for money, my child is encouraged to express herself and kept busy, and our family is a part of a very community-minded business who wears its heart on its sleeve. PSD is the peninsula’s most glittering gem for kids who want to dance!
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Andrea Rowe
{Each concert that I watched was so impressive in choreography, staging, costumes, and mostly that gorgeous spirit that was in each dancer’s eyes………… we walked away knowing that Peninsula School of Dance is indeed a beautiful environment for our daughters to growing up in. Thank you for keeping your standards high so that so many children can benefit.
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{Offers our kids more than just dance, they also get self confidence, health, fitness, community, a sense of belonging, camaraderie, mentoring, positive role modelling, team work skills, resilience and so much more.
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Brendan Croft
{For 40 years, across two generations and six students PSD has been our family’s dance school of choice.
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A. Gould (Ex-student & Mum)
{Dancing, friendship, nurturing, experiences, role modelling, opportunity…..couldn’t ask for more for my money! Perfect for helping to raise beautiful little people! Thanks PSD 🙂
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Meaghan Church
{Firstly I want to say that the concerts you created this year were amazing. Amazing. Each concert that I watched was so impressive in choreography, staging, costumes, and mostly that gorgeous spirit that was in each dancer’s eyes. We enjoyed last year’s concert too but I must say that you guys really stepped it up to another level this year and we walked away knowing that Peninsula School of Dance is indeed a beautiful environment for our daughters to growing up in. Thank you for keeping your standards high so that so many children can benefit.
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Jacqui (mum to 2 of our lovely students)

YPAD Certification status

In 2019 Peninsula School of Dance earned YPAD Certification status. 

Organizations in the dance industry who willfully become YPAD Certified subscribe to a higher standard of integrity and accountability through education using evidence based research over opinion regarding best practices with youth in dance.

To achieve the YPAD Certification status, the faculty/staff at Peninsula School Of Dance completed the following requirements:

Online Certification

that covers modules on emotional and physical healthy and sexual safety of youth in performing arts

 

Emergency Plan implementation

Background checks

or every employee

 

CPR certification

for all core staff who could be supervising children

All staff signed and agreed

to standards ensuring safety for children in social media, abuse observation and reporting, bullying, physical health and injury, age appropriate artistic choices and more

Youth Protection Advocates in Dance is dedicated to building empowered dance communities and keeping youth happy, healthy and safe in all dance environments. To find out more please visit www.ypad4change.org.