A small regional dance school in Wendouree, Victoria is fostering fun, confidence and connection, and is making a significant impact on its students’ quality of life. Generate Dance was established in 2022 by Principal, Danielle Courtier initially to provide one-on-one classes to dancers in the community, but the introduction of community classes has since seen the school grow to a strong core of dancers aged 10 to 70 years of age, drawn from the wider Ballarat and Hepburn region.
Danielle is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, and has a Movitanz Senior Swans and Rambert Grades Contemporary Dance licensee, along with foundational certification with Gold Moves Australia. She also has an Advanced Diploma in Management and an Associate Diploma in the Arts (Dance), and has worked with Darc Swan, One Extra and the Expressions Queensland Dance Theatre schools touring team (now Australasian Dance Collective). She combines her responsibilities at Generate Dance with full-time work in Ballarat and part-time work as an independent dance teacher with a local dance college.
Generate Dance offers classes in classical ballet, contemporary dance, national and folkloric dance (including Flamenco), as well as dance clinics to build students endurance, physical strength, elasticity, rebound and resilience. Joining Danielle as the Flamenco teacher is Judith Leona Corazón who holds an Associate Diploma in Dance Teaching and Dance Studio Management and a Bachelor of Arts.
The broad range of ages of students at the school, makes it more than just a dance school. Danielle says Generate Dance is a “hub of connection, growth and opportunity” and she is immensely proud of all her students. For some of her Senior Swans (who are all over the age of 50 years), the outcome of participating in classes has been profound. Student, Jane Burns says that the welcoming, safe and encouraging environment has enabled her to realise her childhood dream of learning classical ballet. Another student, Jean-Ann West reflects that all the Senior Swans refer to Generate Dance as their second home and says, “My mental health and physicality have improved since joining the Senior Swans, contemporary and folkloric classes”.
The inclusive environment and warmth afforded to all students at Generate Dance is a hallmark of the school. Students describe attending classes as a “wonderful experience” and it is clear that the school fills a void in the region with student, Nerida Williams adding, “I only wish I had enough time to fit in all the classes”. In 2022, the school was the recipient of a Regional Arts Creative Inspiration Grant and Danielle says there are big plans underway with regional workshop tours and an online class program set to launch in 2026. She says she intends to undertake further study in 2026/27 to become a qualified dance therapist and adds, “An exciting collaborative choreographic experience is also in the pipeline”.
Sharing her love of dance is what drives Danielle, along with watching her dancers develop and flourish socially, physically and mentally. She says her students are the “cultural heart of the studio” and adds that their achievements are a joy to witness, stating, “They continue to give me cause to be humble, simply through their commitment and generosity”.
Reflecting on the realities of teaching in a regional area, Danielle says that access to resources, opportunities, facilities and professional development remains a challenge, but she says, “Regional schools work hard to overcome the perception that high quality arts education is only available in the city”. She emphasises that regional dance schools and teachers are resilient and resourceful, “often finding creative ways to connect communities and ensure their students can thrive”. Stating that the challenges that are encountered, offer an array of opportunities, Danielle says, “My head is full of possibilities”.
Providing dancers, families and the community a sense of belonging and a shared purpose, Generate Dance works with students to build skills, confidence and creativity. Danielle says, “By supporting both personal development and community engagement, we help strengthen social bonds, enrich local culture and contribute to the overall wellbeing and resilience of the region”.
-Michelle Dursun
This article is a Regional Spotlight feature in the 2025 Oct/Nov/Dec issue of Dance Australia
