BELOVED local dance teacher Maxine Lockwood will perform on stage for the final time at the annual end of year production \u2018Hats Off to 40 Years\u2019 at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre this month.<\/p>\n
Mount Gambier\u2019s dance community celebrates a major milestone as Maryke Dance Academy reaches its 40th anniversary under the leadership of founder and principal Maxine Lockwood.<\/p>\n
From humble beginnings with just 14 students, Miss Lockwood – as she\u2019s referred to by generations of students – has nurtured thousands of dancers, creating a legacy that has shaped the region\u2019s performing arts scene.<\/p>\n
Maxine\u2019s love for dance began early. Born into a dance family, her mother Fay Lockwood taught ballet and calisthenics across regional South Australia.<\/p>\n
In 1962 at just two and a half years old, Maxine was already training with dance teacher Zelda Parker and by her teenage years, she was travelling to Adelaide regularly for advanced ballet classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved going on stage. Ballet was my main genre but give me a tap solo and I couldn\u2019t wait to perform,\u201d Maxine said.<\/p>\n
In 1972, the Lockwood family moved to Adelaide so Maxine could focus on ballet studies at Eileen Hogarth School of Dance, later training under renowned dance teacher Sheila Lang.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was very repetitive, every day was the same. We\u2019d start with limbering, then two hours of ballet class and then we’d work on routines in the afternoon and exam work in the evenings.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her talent was soon recognised. In 1976, at just 16 years old, Maxine was accepted into the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London, an extraordinary achievement for a young dancer from Mount Gambier.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a dream come true,\u201d Maxine said. \u201cThe training was rigorous, but it gave me an incredible foundation and insight into the world of professional dance.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a year immersed in world-class training, learning repertoire, notation, pas de deux and character dance, Maxine faced a blunt reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey told me my height – 5\u201d2, wasn\u2019t ideal. They offered me a three-year teaching course, but my parents had to raise money just to get me to London in the first place, so staying wasn\u2019t possible,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Maxine returned to Adelaide in 1978 and turned her focus to instruction, completing her teaching qualifications under the guidance of one of Australia\u2019s most respected dance educators Gwen Mackey OAM.<\/p>\n
Not one to give up easily, Maxine continued to audition for dance roles, resorting to a creative \u2018lift\u2019 at one point.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did an audition for a cruise ship where you had to be 5\u201d4 and of course I was 5\u201d2, so I went in with character shoes on (to add to her height), but it didn\u2019t make any difference,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She soon accepted a new path and returned to the South East.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got offered a job to run Zelda Parker\u2019s dance studio in Millicent before she retired, so I did that for a year,\u201d Maxine said.<\/p>\n
In 1984, Maxine acquired a small dance studio above Arthur\u2019s Photo Studio on Commercial Street in Mount Gambier and renamed it Maryke Dance Academy, focusing on ballet, tap and jazz.<\/p>\n
With 14 students, Maxine began building what would become one of the region\u2019s most respected dance schools. The studio moved to the Commonwealth Bank building in 1988 and then to its current location on Pine Hall Avenue at Suttontown in 1993.<\/p>\n
From exams, eisteddfods and concerts, to choreographing a 30-minute ballet titled The Settlement for Mount Gambier\u2019s Bicentennial celebrations in 1988, Maxine\u2019s career is filled with memorable milestones.<\/p>\n
She was commissioned for performances addressing local social issues and dedicated herself to mentoring students – guiding many from shy beginners to accomplished professional dancers.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal was simple, to pass on what I loved and help someone reach the Australian Ballet. – We have achieved that and so much more,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Over four decades, Maxine has taught more than 4000 students, many progressing to prestigious schools and companies including the Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, National Ballet of Canada and Sydney Dance Company.<\/p>\n
Notable alumni include Luke Igham, Lisa Robinson, Madeline Harms, Anna Harms and Rachael Walsh, who have all graced stages worldwide.<\/p>\n
The most recent success story is Charlotte Fewster, who commenced full time training at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in Perth this year. Other students have pursued careers in choreography, teaching and performing arts education.<\/p>\n
Former and current students speak fondly of Maxine\u2019s influence and the studio culture she has created. Kim Pasquelin (n\u00e9e Smith) was one of Maxine\u2019s first students in 1984 and began dancing at the studio at age eight. She remembers the discipline and structure that defined her early years of dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood was very strict. We didn\u2019t dare to say a word in class. She had a stick\/cane named \u2018Martha\u2019 to keep us on the beat. Between Miss Lockwood and Martha we were literally kept on our toes. Later, she gifted me my own cane named \u2018Arthur\u2019 – the son of Martha,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n
Josie Lang (n\u00e9e Lamb) danced at Maryke from age 3 to 18 and recalls the excitement and sense of belonging that came with being part of the academy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d sit at the front door dressed and ready hours before class because I loved it so much. I wanted to be a dance teacher just like Miss Lockwood. I remember seeing her do pirouettes while heavily pregnant and even washing the studio floor with Coca-Cola during school holidays to make it \u2018grippy\u2019,\u201d Josie said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout Miss Lockwood I would never have gone on to become a professional performer, tour the country, and train at ED5International. Today, I\u2019m a specialist Primary School Dance, Drama and Music teacher – none of which would have been possible without my start at Maryke.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharrae Muzaliwa (n\u00e9e Daulby) describes the Maryke Dance Academy as a sanctuary and credits Maxine for her unwavering belief in her students.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood was the best dance teacher I ever had. She believed in my ability even when I couldn\u2019t see I,\u201d Sharrae said. \u201cShe pushed me further than I thought was possible and created a sense of camaraderie that stayed with us long after we left.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved being at the studio – it was a place of relief, a second home. I\u2019ll never forget the Circus Concert where my duo partner and I made the audience roar with laughter. Those were some of the best years of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anna Harms – now living in Germany where she continues her dance journey – credits Maxine for instilling the discipline that shaped her professional career.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood helped instil in me the work ethic and self-discipline required to become a professional dancer. Without her influence in my formative years, I believe I wouldn\u2019t have been as successful in my career,\u201d Anna said.<\/p>\n
Lateasha Bruhn, a current student of 20 years, emphasised the importance of Maxine\u2019s nurturing approach.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood creates an environment where you feel safe to learn, make mistakes, and grow. Her warmth, patience and kindness make every class uplifting, and her passion for dance inspires me to keep improving,\u201d Lateasha said.<\/p>\n
Shanna-Lee Locker, a current student of 16 years, said she treasures the moments when Maxine joins her dancers on stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood teaches a beautiful and classic style of dance that is hard to find in many modern teachers,\u201d she said. \u201cShe pushes dancers to reach their highest potential, often knowing what we\u2019re capable of before we do.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy most memorable moments are when she joins our senior tap dances on stage for concerts, those are truly special. She instilled strong values of teamwork, togetherness, and a love of our art.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophie Brown, who has danced at Maryke since the age of three and is now in her 18th year, said Maxine has had a profound impact on her life.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood has created an environment where we feel supported, challenged and able to laugh along the way. She is one of the people I value most in my life and someone who has been a constant role model growing up,\u201d Sophie said.<\/p>\n
Both of Maxine\u2019s daughters Amber and Tara Batten, have grown up dancing at Maryke, but Maxine admits it wasn\u2019t part of her original plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted them to do something different. We did swimming and I got them into tennis. I didn\u2019t even bring them to the studio. Amber was seven when she asked to start ballet. I said, \u2018well, if you really want to, don\u2019t you want to do basketball or something?\u2019 And of course, she started so Tara came along too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amber has now been dancing for 22 years and recalls one of her most exciting milestones: getting her first pair of pointe shoes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood would get the stopwatch out and time us tying our ribbons – I can proudly do mine in under a minute now, which helps with quick changes,\u201d Amber said.<\/p>\n
Amber paid tribute to her mother as a dance teacher and the inclusive spirit at the studio.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Lockwood is more than just a mother to me – she\u2019s a mother figure to everyone at the studio,\u201d she said. \u201cShe pours everything into the students and the studio, from hours spent sourcing music and making props to giving up weekends for rehearsals. Every milestone is celebrated with the same enthusiasm. That\u2019s the family dynamic we all feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maryke Dance Academy also offers tap classes for adults, a tradition dating back to 1988. The current group has been dancing together since 2017, with participants aged from their mid-40s to mid-70s.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love performing in the eisteddfod and concerts and bring incredible energy to the stage,\u201d Maxine said.<\/p>\n
When asked what makes a great dancer at any age, Maxine emphasises drive, determination and respect. She recalls her former student Rachael Walsh, who she said began with \u201ctwo left feet\u201d and became a successful Queensland Ballet soloist.<\/p>\n
\u201cRachael wanted to perform a solo at an Eisteddfod. I paired her with one of my senior dancers to help her prepare. She didn\u2019t place, but from that moment, something changed – she blossomed. Rachael developed an artistic quality you simply can\u2019t teach. Despite numerous injuries, she never let pain stop her. She just kept going,\u201d Maxine said.<\/p>\n
The annual end of year Maryke concert remains a highlight, showcasing the creativity and talent at the studio. Past themes include The Adventures of the Nutcracker, Snow White and the Giants, and Rhythm and Shoes and Maxine\u2019s personal favourite from 1992 – Dreams at Christmas.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s production, Hats Off to 40 Years, will celebrate the history of the academy and will be especially memorable, as Maxine makes her final on-stage appearance, a fitting tribute to a lifetime devoted to dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will be my last time performing on stage. I\u2019ve taught the routine, and now I\u2019ve been talked into joining in. It feels like the right way to celebrate 40 years,\u201d Maxine said.<\/p>\n
Tickets are now on sale for two performances of Hats Off to 40 Years at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre on Friday. December 12, at 7pm, and Saturday, December 13, at 2pm.<\/p>\n
Even after more than 40 years, Maxine plans to continue teaching and mentoring.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing students grow in confidence and achieve their dreams – that is what keeps me going. Dance is more than steps; it\u2019s discipline, creativity and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maryke Dance Academy enrolments are open for 2026, from age three to adult classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you dream of a professional career or simply want to experience the joy of movement, there\u2019s a place for you at Maryke. We\u2019re more than a dance school, we\u2019re a community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BELOVED local dance teacher Maxine Lockwood will perform on stage for the final time at the annual end of year production \u2018Hats Off to 40 Years\u2019 at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre this month. Mount Gambier\u2019s dance community celebrates a major milestone as Maryke Dance Academy reaches its 40th anniversary under the leadership of founder […]<\/p>\n