REGIONAL HEROES: Alarna’s Dance Academy

Alarna Jane originally called her school Dance Dance Dance when she opened  in 2013 after moving to the town from Emerald. The school was rebranded as Alarna’s Dance Academy, or ADA, as she says the students refer to it, in 2014. For the first few years, “we operated out of the local scout hall”, which meant co-ordinating classes around the scout activities. The hall “had old wooden floors and the dirt would come up through the floor boards during class and by the end of class everyone would be covered in it,” she says.

One month before Covid-19 hit, Jane moved her 120 students to new, two-level premises on the Dawson Highway. It was a blessing and a curse. The arrangement almost took her to the brink, as she was locked into paying rent while at the same time not being able to teach any face-to-face classes during the lockdown.

The solution was to offer outdoor exercise and Zoom classes – an arrangement that she says was a bit of an imposition for families. “I was in their lounge room five days per week!” But the social connection was important and she says that giving her students something to focus and work on helped everyone to get through the period. “We managed to stay open, which was a huge success as there are many schools in the wider central Queensland area that had to close and haven’t re-opened.” She adds: “We came back even stronger as a dance family once the doors were opened again.”.

The family and community focus is very important to Jane. She completed all her Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams up to Advanced 1, as well as Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dance (CSTD) jazz and tap exams. She also has her teaching certificate in theatrical jazz and tap and has completed the two-year RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies in addition to obtaining Progressing Ballet Technique and Acrobatic Arts Teaching Certification and a Zumba teaching qualification. She explains: “I believe that the gift of dance should be available to everyone who wants to share in the magic”, an ethos that means all are welcome to share in her school’s judgement-free, warm and encouraging atmosphere.

Once a week, Jane drives south east for an hour to teach classes at the neighbouring rural town of Monto (population 1200). She has three age groups: “our ADA minis (3–5 years), juniors (6–8 years) and intermediates (9-11 years)”. For Monto mum Tara Harm, this arrangement gives her two girls “the opportunity to follow their dreams and be influenced by Alarna’s passion and energy”.

With eisteddfods and an annual concert each year, Jane’s schedule is pretty jam-packed. She says the best thing about her job is her kids. “I have a special bond with them all and I feel honoured that their parents trust me to be one of their role models,” she says.   

The final months of 2022 and the beginning of 2023 are shaping to be very busy. “We will celebrate our 10th anniversary in May and are planning a “Dancing Through the Decades” concert to showcase and revisit some of the dances of the last 10 years.” However, for the next couple of months the dance community of Biloela and Monto are on baby watch. Jane’s baby (her second daughter) is due in early October. Jane plans to have one week off and then return to teaching. She says one of the benefits of being in such a supportive community is “there’s already a roster for baby holding and feeding!”

— MICHELLE DURSUN

The Regional Heroes series is proudly sponsored by ONEMUSIC AUSTRALIA, the national music licencing body.