The results are in!
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your patience while we collated and collaborated on the results.
Before I begin, I wanted to take a moment to thank our incredible team for making themselves available to discuss the results and being open to individual feedback. As I’m sure you’re all aware, most of our teachers have day jobs and/or university commitments. The strength of this incredible team, that I feel so lucky to lead, is their love for dance. They do it, because like all of us, they want to make adult dance visible and special!
Now onto the results!
SYSTEMS & COMMUNICATIONS
Feedback on the systems was generally very positive! We have updated our website to reflect the weekly schedule on the sign-up page. Any specific comments regarding the functions of Momence will be fixed (if possible) over the Summer period after the concert is finished.
QUALITY OF CLASSES & TEACHERS
The vast majority of you said our classes are very affordable and of the best quality you can find in Canberra. Thank you! We will always aim to offer high quality classes at affordable rates.
The majority of you also said that you enjoy the four-week rotations of teachers, but think classes are too large with not enough space, and that there is too much talking or disruptions from latecomers. 6th Position aims to solve the issues of space with the new location. In the meantime, we would like to remind everyone that we have a fifteen minute door policy and that everyone is paying to learn; so whilst we understand dance is a social activity, please try to avoid chatting until the stretch component at the end of class.
With the quality of our teachers, the biggest feedback was that you LOVE them! Me too!
Please note where constructive feedback was provided, this has been privately passed onto the individual teacher. Where the quality of classes was identified as not being consistent between teachers of the same levels, 6th Position has organised a planning day over Summer to streamline our levels in a more consistent way.
After this, it seems everyone wants MORE feedback and corrections! Including hands on corrections. Whilst physical correction can be hard in a large class with so many students to get through, 6th Position teachers have been discussing ideas on how to convey corrections physically in group settings. Please note you are always welcome to say no to this and that you prefer to learn visually.
ADDITIONAL STYLES
Overwhelmingly at almost 30% the biggest feedback was for MORE ballet at all levels, followed by much-needed additional tap levels at 13%. After that were additional levels for contemporary and lyrical class, then surprisingly partner dance (ballroom, salsa) tied with heels. You’ve thrown us all for a loop with that one!
Additional Ballet
With the needed expansion of our studios, we would love to offer ballet classes every day of the week. Please watch this space in 2025!
RAD, Character and Repertoire
Falling under additional ballet, we received requests for more RAD, character and repertoire with a drop-in option. Whilst specific exam classes will be locked down after a certain period to allow the students to prepare for their exam, we do offer two free trials for any RAD exam class. This allows students to decide if they would like to commit to the enrolment. We are also always happy to take late enrolments if students already know the syllabus as this does not interrupt the flow of exam-preparation.
To address your feedback, our aim for 2025 will be to offer a drop-in RAD Techniques class including a mix of exercises from all higher Grades and Vocational levels, Repertoire exercises and Character syllabus! The level of this class will be aimed at Elementary+ dancers and will involve an eight/ten week class plan to keep your progression as the main goal. In 2025, we will also aim to better stagger our RAD offerings for Elementary+ dancers. This will allow us to be stricter on locking down exam-preparations.
Beginner Ballet Options
What about exams or enrolment classes for Beginner-levels? You’re in luck! If you are a Beginner-level ballet student wanting to partake in a ballet class where the exercises don’t change with teacher rotations, we can offer you Discovering Repertoire Level 2, starting in Term 4 this year!
Then in 2025, Beginner level enrolment classes (exam optional) will now be offered twice a year: once in Term 1 and once in Term 3 via the Australian Teachers Of Dance (ATOD) Syllabi. This organisation offers a greater range of beginner-level syllabi without the exercises feeling immature for adult dancers. This means they are also able to be completed within a twelve month period. By offering intake periods for Beginner enrolment classes in Terms 1 and 3, this will take the pressure off the RAD syllabus levels which usually take much longer than 12 months to complete.
Men’s Ballet
Discussions have also started with Martin to offer Men’s Virtuosity Ballet (Beginner and Intermediate) classes in 2025! The goal is to offer two levels providing a safe-space for men to discover and work on ballet training specific to them. We hope this will see a decrease in the drop-out rate of men in Beginner Ballet where the enrolments for men in Ballet Foundations are actually quite high!
Ballet Foundations
Speaking of Ballet Foundations, we heard you regarding interim pathways to drop-in classes!
Whilst anyone is welcome to take a Foundations course as often as they would like, in 2025 we will extend the length of the current Ballet Foundations class to a ten weeks course (with a possible further two-weeks add-on) to allow the course to move towards a regular ballet class environment.
Pointe
There were also few requests for drop-in Pointe classes or an even further break-down of the Pointe levels. 6th Position is happy to trial a drop-in format for Term 4 this year whilst still upholding our safety standards around pointe work. Beginners and those returning to pointe work after two years will still be required to submit an approval letter from a Physio.
We were proud to receive feedback that the current process to join Pointe classes feels fairer than it has previously. Whilst casual attendance may be trialled, we will never compromise on the safety standards for our students’ health. With regards to more levels of the Pointe classes, this is only possible with an expansion of the studio space so watch this space in 2025!
Additional Tap
We understand additional tap levels have been sorely needed for some time, so as a first priority, our wonderful tap teachers are happy to offer an Intermediate level after the concert 2024! This new level will be only offered from 8-9pm this year on a Thursday night - in 2025 a better time will ideally be found to split the tap levels across a few days. With our tap teacher availability even more limited than the ballet teachers (due to there being only two of the wonderful people!) I’d love to say a big thank you to these ladies!
Other Styles Requested
Whilst we would absolutely love to put on some brand new styles like partner dancing, our studio’s timetable is already extremely full. We never say never, but for now, the immediate priority is to increase availability for ballet and tap classes, then allow a levels-split to occur for lyrical and contemporary as these are existing styles we offer and will allow current students a better environment for progression.
The possibility of a much-needed studio expansion in the future will allow us to introduce brand new styles! To quench your thirst in the meantime, we are pleased to offer drop-in heels classes on Friday nights during concert term and show-girl workshop with a former professional dancer from the Moulin Rouge after the concert this year!
Finally, we also received a handful of requests for stretch and technique (Kicks, Turns and Leaps). With a studio-expansion we hope to offer longer classes again on weeknights that will include a stretch component at the end of each class. In the meantime, we are super excited to offer you an open level “Kicks, Turns and Leaps” (KTL) class after the concert this year! This drop-in class will incorporate drills and strengthening exercises. It will be open to anyone wanting to improve the skills in their specific style. From ballet to jazz and everything in between, this class will benefit everyone! For the end of 2024, just an open level will be offered as a trial to inform our scheduling for next year so if this is something you are interested in, it is imperative you sign up!
ADDITIONAL DAYS & TIMES
Overwhelmingly (but definitely unsurprisingly), at 33%, people want drop-in classes to continue during the concert period! Lunchtime and general day classes (particularly relating to ballet) was very high also at almost 18%! Requests for Friday nights, earlier night classes or weekend afternoons were also relatively high.
Whilst, studio space remains extremely tight, 6th Position has endeavoured to offer the following drop-in classes during the concert period:
Tuesdays
Lunchtime Ballet and Floor Barre with Gino & Emory: 12:15-1:15pm at Petrie
Wednesdays
Adv. Beginner Ballet & Conditioning with Siobhan: 4:15-5:30pm at Petrie
Pre-Pointe with Siobhan: 5:30-6:00pm at Petrie
Intermediate Ballet & Conditioning with Anouska: 4:15-5:45pm at Northbourne
Thursdays
Pointe Technique & Conditioning 6:00-7:00pm (This is an enrolment sign-up but the class is not working on concert pieces - it is technique only. It is also open to pre-pointe students.)
Fridays
Intermediate Ballet with Anouska: 9:30-11am at Northbourne
Nights alternating styles and open level drop-in classes:
Week A with Maddie at Petrie
Hip Hop & Improv 6:15-7:45pm
Jazz & Musical Theatre 7:45-9:00pm
Week B with Grace or Molly
Heels 6:15-7:45pm
Contemporary and Lyrical 7:45-9:00pm
Sundays
Advanced Ballet with Jessica: 11am-12:30pm at Petrie
We understand that open levels are not everyone’s first choice but with limited studio space and teacher’s availability, we have done our best to make drop-in classes still available. This will allow anyone who is not participating in the concert to keep progressing for the ten-week period. It is of course open to those participating in the concert too. Should any of these classes be successful they may stay on the schedule year-round!
CONCERT SIGN-UPS
Your feedback regarding not signing up for the concert was that you wanted more information and clarity on what is involved. On the whole, you all agreed that the costs were extremely reasonable and the event itself was supportive and heaps of fun. Thank you!
We will endeavour to use our Studio News more frequently for important things rather than just relying on social media and the website. We are also happy to remind everyone that concert photos and videos will be provided free of charge this year!
NUTCRACKER
Overwhelmingly the feedback was that the cost was far too high and I personally had already planned to address this for 2025. I will aim to provide different price points for levels of participation, a discount code for repeat cast members, as well as provide a draft schedule up front with consistent days and times for learning pieces.
On a positive note, for those who did not sign-up to Nutcracker this year, the feedback from the 2024 cast was that it was a really positive and community-building experience. Dancers of all levels were able to get to know other dancers in Canberra, realise long-held dreams for themselves and determine goals for their future dancing. Perhaps most positive of all, was the connection the cast made outside of their own class levels. This feedback has been incredibly valuable and meant a lot to me on a personal-level.
LOCATION
And now the part of the survey everyone was probably most keen to read… where are we going?!
As many of our Northbourne students will have noticed, the pole studio next door has already moved out! Whether we love it or hate it, the truth is that this forced move is providing an opportunity to address some current issues:
Many of you used other areas on the survey to request better flooring, a larger dance area and floor length mirrors.
It is also evident from the results of this survey that we need another studio!
The top four priorities from the multiple choice answers were:
An overwhelming 56.7% said “they want to feel safe at night or during the day”. I have been made aware of two situations where students or their partners were attacked near the studios and this is not something I take lightly. Unfortunately I also have been told numerous times (or experienced myself), verbal harassment when walking to or from the studios.
Coming in equally tied at 47.2% was free parking and a central-city location:
I am aware that with Canberra Centre increasing their parking rates and the courts carpark becoming privately owned, the cost to attend your classes has increased. With all Canberrans feeling the pinch of the cost of living, as well as our wonderful teachers needing to pay parking to teach their classes, I will aim to resolve this issue or at least make it sting a little less!
As you’ve read above, the “central-city location” is tied with “free parking”, which is a complete oxymoron! However, seeing as a city location continues to be important to a large number of students, I will endeavour to keep our Petrie location and update the existing space (further information below).
44.1% of you wanted “purpose-built facilities” which I feel adds weight to those who separately noted the limitations of our current studios. This is no easy task within a city location, feeling safe at night and encompassing free parking!
This leads to my next point… Where a location had to be chosen other than the city:
A massive 43.3% of you said the outer north (Gungahlin/Mitchell area) would suit you.
Followed by 34.6% saying the inner south (Woden area) would suit you.
Followed closely by 33.1% of you saying that “moving out of the city would prevent you from attending 6th Position”.
This feedback has allowed me to decide the following course of action. I will aim to:
Find two connected studios in the Mitchell area;
Update our Petrie studio; and
Add a Woden studio in the future.
Why a Mitchell location will help:
Provides access to free-parking with less dangerous people around.
Located on the tram line allows city residents to take a twelve minute tram ride to class.
Mitchell is located just off the GDE connecting it to the Belconnen district and south of Canberra with only a little more travel time.
Have side by side studios where classes have similar student groups - no more walking around the dangerous areas of the city to get to your other class!
Aim to have a purpose-built space with two larger studios and a storage space to house all our costumes and props. This will help us avoid having to bump into new venues for dress rehearsals and make concert costume collection/drop-off much simpler.
Why keeping our Petrie location helps:
For those of you who do not wish to travel outside or further than the city, an updated Petrie studio will continue to offer you a central location.
To help with safety, 6th Position will start a walking and carpool chat group to provide safety in numbers. Teachers will also discuss at the end of class: who is parked where and can walk with whom. This will form part of the stretch / chat time at the end of class.
Petrie Studio will receive proper, multi-use dance flooring and floor-length mirrors.
We will also install light-up signage and a remote-locking front door with a window so that you can see whether the light in the stairwell is on. Additionally, in the first class of the day or evening, teachers on opening duties will be paid an additional 15-minute set up fee to allow students to arrive early. This will allow teachers to show that the building is open and you are welcome to come upstairs and warm-up / get changed. If the light is off, you know the teacher is running late and to wait in a busier, well-lit area like Coles. Similarly, you will be able to see out the door window and if you do not feel safe to leave, you can wait upstairs with the teacher.
The 2025 timetable will aim to encompass some classes starting from 6:15pm to allow students to park at the Canberra Centre for a maximum of $3 (evening parking rate).
I hope everyone can see that we have tried our best to listen to your feedback and accommodate the majority of people.
If you wish to discuss any of the above directly with me, you are most welcome to email me director@6thposition.com.au
Here is to our community growing in 2025!
Anouska.