About Our Studio
Lucy Heller – GAD Parent. GAD has provided my shy, anxious daughter Matilda a safe place to develop her creativity in dance and an amazing out of school social activity to help her confidence grow. I can’t thank Karen and her team enough she has flourished at GAD!
Note: pictured below is Matilda 3yrs later. She certainly has developed into an incredible young dancer and student, we are so very proud of her.
GAD teachers pride themselves in loving every aspect of their job…….. working with young and inspiring dancers, watching them grow and being a part of their dance education. Taking the time to be well informed and keeping their class structure fun and enjoyable whilst still gaining wonderful results in and out of the classroom…….. but one of the GAD staff`s greatest achievement is meeting the shyest of children, and helping them find their inner dancer, and then to watch with pride as they become more confident with each class they attend. Each child will chose to become a part of GAD for all different reasons, but all will become a part of the GAD family…. from the tinniest to the teens, our river side studio will soon becomes a second home to all that dance here at GAD.
And due to Karen and her staff`s love, commitment and dedication to their job, GAD has an impressive list of “Competitive Dance” accomplishments – Winners of the SO YOU CAN THINK YOU CAN DANCE dance troupe challenge, performing at the Australian Dance Festival, and many students and troupes being awarded the most outstanding dancer or chosen for countless “Choreography” and “Troupe” awards at competitions and championships through out the nation. And countless solos placings, awards and accolades throughout QLD.
Students have been accepted into the Australian Ballet School Vocational Programme, with graduating students going onto The Queensland Ballet, NICA, Tanya Person, IKON, Ev and Bow, NAISDA, VCA. Then performing in overseas productions like The Michael Jackson History Tour, and Casus Circus to name just a few……. While others are traveling the global, becoming company members with Circa, Ballet Cymru National Ballet of Wales and Bangarra Dance Theatre, getting Cruise Ship Contracts & Cassus Circus…… we are so very proud of each and every graduating Gad dancer who has followed their dream and continued their LOVE affair with DANCE…. but our “Studio” door is always open to them as GAD will always be their “Dance Home”.
2022 saw GAD enter back into the competition world, taking troupes to “Bend the Air” in Brisbane. It was a great introduction to comps for the students as most had never done a comp before so the whole experience was a huge commitment for the dancers and their parents. The troupes did well bringing home 2 first places and a tie for 2nd. Primarily an acro competition, which also showcases Silk, Lyra and lots of circus based acts “Bend the Air” is definitely a competition GAD will return to.
We joined GAD in October 2014 when Amira was nearly 4 years old, she is now 12. It was our first experience at a dance school and we weren’t really sure what to expect. We started with just one style of dance which was Ballet. Due to Amira’s love of dance which grew ever so quickly, before I knew it Amira was doing every style of dance that Karen offers at her studio. To say she loves dancing would be an understatement. I’m certain a huge part of that is due to the teachers and students at GAD and the friendships formed. It’s like a second home to her.
The teachers are professional, knowledgeable, dedicated and are always willing to go out of their way. They truly care about each and every one of their students. We feel very lucky to be part of a great dance school and I know Amira would not be the dancer she is today without the incredible teachers of at GAD.
