When flood waters started to rise in Taree, NSW in May this year, and the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance (ARAD) started to go under water, there was nothing that Principal, Andrea Rowsell could do. Cut off by the flood waters, she was helpless to save the studio and unable to assess the impact. Aware of the impending devastation, her loyal and devoted dance family made up of staff, parents and students rallied. They rescued the costumes and the Tarkett as well as the studio itself. Andrea explains that their kindness in saving the studio was incredible. She says, during the turmoil at the time, the father of one of her students commented, “Andrea, this dance school is my daughter’s everything. It means so much to so many children. We have to save it”.
For this regional school, which was established in 2004 and has 200 students drawn from a wide geographical area around Taree, this most recent natural disaster is the 4th major event that the school has had to navigate. Andrea says, “In 2019 we had a bushfire, then the pandemic in 2020, then floods in 2021 where families lost their homes and possessions, and finally the 2025 floods”. She explains that every time a major event has impacted the community, the dance school has been there to pick up the pieces and help families get back on track. “Everyone goes into help mode, doing whatever they can to assist people with the recovery and donations fill the studio in abundance, demonstrating the amazing generosity of the community” she says.
Andrea and her teachers- Susanne Heiss, Corinne Billingham, Joanna Drake, Ayesha Haeata and Kari Smith offer a range of classes including classical ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance over 6 days a week at Taree and Old Bar. In 2020 the school introduced an inclusive movement and dance class initiated, as Andrea explains, “Because my daughter has severe disabilities and just loves music and movement”. The class commenced with just 4 participants and has since grown to have 16 students joining in each week. Andrea explains that “the improvement from these students has been remarkable and the joy they have when they are together and dancing is heart-warming”. This class performs in the school’s annual concert, Presentation Day, and Eisteddfods. She adds, “A tear or two are often shed as we marvel at their achievements”.
Not to be outdone, the school also has a “passionate group of ladies, The Silver Swans, who attend classes, perform in concerts and even sit RAD ballet exams. Andrea adds, “last year these ladies went on tour to our local nursing homes, performing for the oldies, even though they are either older or the same age as the residents”. She says they dance for the pure love of it, and have “made life-long friends and make everyone smile”.
The school also has a number of talented students who have moved on to fulltime training at finishing schools including the Australian Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Academy, Tanya Pearson Academy, and Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year. ARAD students have also made the finals of the RAD Isobel Anderson Awards and the Joan and Monica Halliday Awards regularly. Andrea says seeing students improve and progress makes her feel incredibly proud.
According to Andrea, living in a small community means, “you are living day to day with the families that you teach”. She explains, “We have students whose parents are our doctors, police officer, or are our bakery owner, nurse or builder. Crossing paths with the families outside of the studio broadens our knowledge of each other and builds closer bonds”. These bonds are evident in regard that the local community has for ARAD. Parent, Danielle Gallagher says, “They are not just dance teachers, but mentors who build confidence, creativity, and community. Their dedication and passion makes an incredible impact on every student they teach. They go above and beyond to nurture students’ confidence, skills and love of dance”.
A second home; a family; a warm and safe space where everyone feels welcome, are just some of the comments made by people in Taree to describe the Andrea Rowsell Academy of Dance. Jenny Hutchison says that in the face of adversity when floods rendered the studios unusable, dance classes went on via Zoom. She says the town is blessed to have ARAD and teachers that accept everyone for who they are, from pre-schoolers to Silver Swans and the wonderful mixed ability dancers. She adds that ARAD is “a place of smelly shoes and great big smiles”.
- Michelle Dursun
Regional Spotlight is supported by Dancsurance
