Dance studio steps into second spotlight

A NEARLY-two-decades-old dancing school is expanding in the region with new classes taking places this term.

Karen Feldman’s Dance Studio mixed style dance classes will be held at Inverleigh for the first time.

A Bannockburn group was established in 2008, and studio owner and founder, Ms Feldman said the second location for Golden Plains Shire has been a long time coming.

“Classes in Inverleigh have always been on our radar because we have quite a number of students that come from there to our Bannockburn studio,” she said.

“Our returning student, Lucy, will be teaching at Inverleigh and she was actually one of the first students we had in Bannockburn and was there for more than 10 years.

“Her returning to teach was the perfect opportunity to start these classes. This opens up the opportunity to bring dance closer to home for the Inverleigh community and surrounds.”

With Inverleigh adding to its offering, Karen Feldman’s Dance Studio now operates groups in 15 locations.

Ms Feldman said the mixed style dance lessons lean into their philosophy of letting kids be kids.

“It’s a really inclusive environment and wholesome curriculum. We like children to dance like children,” she said.

“We’ve found kids like to mix things up throughout the year and have a bit of light and shade so each class offers three different styles.

“There’s hip-hop, contemporary and jazz so each term they’ll do a different style before an end-of-year finale performance at Kardinia International College at the Katsumata Centre.”

With capacity reached for the initial classes, the term will be split between three sessions for ages five to six, seven to eight and nine to 14.

Run by instructor Lucy Bethune, the Inverleigh classes can be enrolled at the studio website. Lessons are $12 each and run out of Inverleigh Public Hall.