Studio News - March ‘25
Hi Dancers!
It’s been another busy period, but somehow there is still so much to talk about and look forward to…
Upcoming Masterclasses!
Ex-professional dancer, Caitlin-Rae Crook, is visiting Australia and we have some exciting opportunities coming up for our Contemporary and/or Ballet dancers - whether you’re beginner or advanced. Our Nutcracker principals have already been getting to know Caitlin as she helps with some partnering techniques and choreography work - lucky ducks!
23rd March from 11:00am-12:30pm Beginner Contemporary Masterclass
23rd March from 1pm-2:30pm Beginner Ballet Masterclass
30th March from 1:30pm-3pm Advanced Ballet Masterclass
30th March from 4pm-5:30pm Advanced Contemporary Masterclass
Caitlin-Rae is an ex-professional dancer with experiences both as a dancer and now teacher expanding over Germany, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, China, USA and Australia. A Canberra local originally, Caitlin-Rae’s training started at the Kim Harvey School of Dance. In 2005 she competed as a semifinalist in the Genee International Ballet Competition (now Margot Fonteyn Ballet Competition) held in London. After graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts from WAAPA, she headed overseas to start her international career joining Mystic Ballet Company, USA and then Tanzcompagnie Giessen/Stadttheater Giessen, Germany from 2012 until 2020.
Currently she is teaching for dance schools in Germany and as a ballet trainer for Tanzcompagnie Gießen. She holds a certification as a fitness trainer and is currently working on a Woman’s Specific Training course too. As a teacher she loves to watch students accessing their full potential of their bodies through imagination, understanding, connections and discovery.
“Often in dance we look at the surface, but dance comes from the inside out. A passion for playing with dynamic, quality and musicality and a philosophy of ‘it’s not what you have, it’s how you use it’, drives my approach to look at the class full of individuals all with unique pathways.”
Dance Photography & Videography
We are happy to announce that 6th Position now offers dance photography and videography as a service. Many of you already know my wonderful husband, Billy, well he’s offering his services to 6th Position dancers and dancers across Canberra!
Whether you’re wanting an in-studio session in one of your favourite costumes or you’ve always had a desire to try a dance video project, Billy can help you! Billy is equipped with stage lighting and a backdrop available but can also capture dance around Canberra in many of the beautiful gardens our city has. Find out more information here.
Choreography Mentor Program
Speaking of dance projects… I am excited to announce that with the expansion to video and photography services our Choreography Mentor Program can now be offered year round! Of course this will still be available during the concert for stage works, but any photography and video dance works completed throughout the year will also be shown during the concert!
If you’ve got an idea that just cannot wait till concert time or you’ve always wanted to try something “off-stage”, then read more information here. Please keep in mind these projects are always subject to teacher availability too.
Concert Announcement
As many of our 2024 Concert cast have already done - it’s time to return your concert costumes! With a storage cupboard available at Mitchell, it’s imperative to get the costumes back for future productions. Please drop your costumes with a 6P teacher ASAP and send an email to confirm you have done so.
Speaking of concert… Save the Date!!! Due to theatre availability, this year’s matinee and evening concert shows will be held on Saturday 22nd November 2025! The ten week concert enrolment period will start 15th September 2025. More information to come in later Studio News and social media announcements.
City Studio
I have made the difficult decision to permanently keep the Northbourne Studio over the Petrie Studio. There were several factors that weighed into my decision including future costs and ongoing upkeep but the major factor for me was how Northbourne often feels safer at night and during the day. I’m grateful to the building owner for installing the door code too as this plays a big role in keeping our customers and particularly, our teachers feeling safe when locking up at night.
We hope to make some improvements to the Northbourne Studio soon including full-length mirrors and better use of the balcony! In time, we would like to extend next door increasing the dancing space.
The next important factor is a promising one that I hope will appease those of you who are disappointed by my decision… Petrie Studio is remaining a dance hub for adult dancers! 6th Position has worked closely with a regular private hirer to hand over the space… Please welcome The Movement Hub! From 26th March 2025, The Movement Hub aims to provide a vibrant community hub for dance, movement, and connection.
Our Thursday night Intermediate and Advanced Tap classes will be held back in the Petrie Studio (from next week Thursday 20th March) providing a little better sound quality for the tappers and protection to our Northbourne floors!
The Movement Hub would like to add: “As part of this transition, you’ll see some amazing enhancements to the studio’s ambiance, along with the introduction of a fresh booking system. Rest assured that all current bookings will be honoured during this transition as well.”
We are so excited for Petrie to remain a community space for adult dance and for 6th Position to keep building local relationships with other studios. If anyone has any questions about this, feel free to email me. In the meantime, the Petrie Studio is still available for hire through 6th Position until and including 25th March 2025.
Mitchell Open Day
In case you missed our Open Day for the Mitchell Studios, you can view a video of the spaces below. These studios are available for hire to students too! If you’re a regular student of 6P, you can hire any of our studios at a discounted rate of $35 per hour. Just send us an email with the time and day you want.
A MASSIVE thank you to Linda Hunt and her husband, Dave, for their hard work on the BBQ all Open Day. My own sunburn reminds me it was a scorcher. Another big thank you to our delightful teachers who baked the most scrumptious treats: Jess E, Jess, C, Veronica and Georgie. We had some repeat customers coming back for more brownies, cookies and Veronica’s famous vegan apricot turnovers! The Nutcracker cast were also very happy to buy all the leftover treats after a long day of rehearsals.
Speaking of, our BBQ and Bake Sale was a success with just over $500 raised to go towards some outdoor benches and pot plants. We will purchase these soon to enable students to enjoy our outdoor courtyard and side alley as another waiting space.
1st Position Program Returns!
Got a little one in your life that you would like to share your love of dance with? Look no further because 1P is returning! Now held at the Mitchell Studios with the ground floor accessibility (ahem, pram parking) and a multitude of free car parks, we’re happy to bring this popular program back for parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents or anyone connected to a little person in need of some fun.
The wonderful Abby is taking over from me and bringing her own special talents to this holistic introduction of movement and music. Abby has her Certificate III in Early Childhood and Education, and is currently gaining her certification in Auslan! She has already been making 1P proud with her regular incursions at daycare centres around Canberra AND neuro-affirming private dance lessons! I know our studio families will adore her.
Abby is starting with a short introduction term to finish off the current Term 1: Four Mondays at 12:30pm from tomorrow onwards. You can sign up for the term or just drop-in with different membership options to suit all families. Affordable dance and music is a huge passion of mine and we hope to keep this program going to support new families out there regardless if you have one or seven kids!
6P Staff & Schedule Feedback
Lastly, I sincerely appreciate those of you who have provided feedback lately on our amazing teachers. Both glowing and constructive feedback has been passed on and was very much appreciated in both respects. I’m always grateful to our hardworking and passionate team for being so open to feedback and ultimately working to provide the best dance experience for all 6P students.
A few students have alerted me to some schedule clashes for them that prevents them from attending certain classes. Please feel free to send me an email if you have noticed the same. I can’t promise an immediate fix but class numbers that don’t keep the minimum required (3 students) may eventually disappear from the schedule so it’s important for us to know! Thursday nights at Northbourne will be free from next week once Tap moves back to the Petrie Studio so there may be some wiggle room where certain classes aren’t currently working.
Keep the feedback coming - it’s always appreciated!
Anouska.