Our Mission: Advocacy, Child Safety, and Leadership in Dance and Performing Arts

Dance Arts Alliance (DAA) was founded in 2020 in response to the urgent need for representation of the dance and performing arts education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. We fought tirelessly for the recognition of our industry’s value, connecting with government officials and media to ensure our voices were heard. This work secured vital support for dance studio owners and educators, ensuring businesses could survive in uncertain times.

Today, DAA continues this advocacy, working towards becoming the peak body for the dance and performing arts education industry in Australia. We strive to create a regulated and safe environment for students, while advocating for the growth and sustainability of our members’ businesses.

Our Work

Advocacy: DAA is your voice at all levels of government. We fight for the needs of our industry, ensuring fair policies, access to grants, and public recognition of the essential role dance plays in our communities.

Child Safety: We are committed to maintaining child-safe standards across all member studios, ensuring that every child can thrive in a safe and supportive environment. We aim to empower studios to implement best practices in child safety.

Professional Standards: DAA sets industry benchmarks for wages, qualifications, safe dance practices and studio operations, helping our members run their businesses efficiently and ethically.

Building Connections: We foster collaboration between dance studios, educators, government bodies, and communities, creating opportunities for growth and support across the sector.

Our Core Values

Advocacy: Championing the needs of our members and ensuring dance is recognized as a vital part of our culture and education system.

Child Safety: Ensuring the highest standards of safety and care for all students.

Collaboration: Bringing together professionals from across the industry to share knowledge, resources, and support.

Excellence: Providing our members with the best tools, resources, and practices to grow successful and sustainable businesses.

Dance Arts Alliance is a formally incorporated association and is run by an elected managing committee of industry representatives.  

CURRENT SITTING COMMITTEE

Melanie Gard is Director of Peninsula School of Dance, a dance studio located on the Mornington Peninsula, Australia. She is a passionate dance educator and has grown her school in partnership with her husband, Robbie, from a small ballet school running in a community hall, which they purchased in 2006, to a vibrant dance and performing arts studio that caters for over 400 students each week. Melanie is a Licentiate with Cecchetti Ballet Australia, holder of a Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management, Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and has a Bach of Arts in Disability Studies (Deakin University) and is an affiliate member of Australian Teachers of Dance (ATOD). Melanie is a YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance) accredited teacher and her studio is one of only a handful in Australia to currently hold this international accreditation.

Prior to taking the directorship of Peninsula School of Dance, Melanie worked in the area of Disability and Community Development. She was involved in a number of groundbreaking projects and policy developments that involved the devolution of institutional settings. Many of these projects involved working in partnership with local government and community organisations to develop and deliver programs that were inclusive of people of all abilities.  It is this experience that Melanie has been able to bring to her Dance Studio and develop an inclusive school environment.

As a well-respected member of the dance community, Melanie been invited to speak at various conferences including Exchange, the Victorian Dance Festival, Cecchetti Ballet and in various online webinars. Melanie sits on the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council’s Arts and Culture Advisory Panel as a representative of dance and the performing arts.

Melanie is a passionate advocate for ensuring that the performing arts are inclusive and accessible for all. It brings her the greatest joy to see kids of all abilities deriving the benefits of dance that were afforded to her by her dance teachers.

Mike Harrison-Lamond is the Director of the Australian Academy of Dance, alongside partner Nathaniel Harrison-Lamond – together, they have built the school over the past 15 years.

Mike has a background in design and communication, having worked for firms in Australia, the UK and Canada. He also has done extensive work for all levels of government and the non-profit and NGO sector. Mike has always had a passion for the arts, and has been connected with the industry from a young age – having performed in a number of shows when he was younger, then becoming a designer, to more recently producing and staging shows.

In July 2019, Mike and Nathaniel took a 15 year lease on two buildings and went through a 6 month process to create new dance studios to train in. In the adjacent building, the pair are setting up a black-box theatre, a training ground for their students, as well as the local performing arts community (including other dance schools!). It is Mike’s dream to have a performing arts venue that is run by artists, for artists – and for it to become an ongoing part of the local arts landscape.

While Mike comes to the Dance Arts Alliance from a different path than the other members, his experience working within the arts industry, and his advocacy work inside and outside government has helped him provide support to the group.

Mike is extremely grateful for the honour of being the Chair of the Dance Arts Alliance, to work alongside dedicated, driven and professional Committee members, as well as talented Dance Studio Owners within the Alliance membership group.

It is Mike’s hope while in the position, he can help build the reputation and achievements of the Dance Arts Alliance while supporting an industry to unite and have a clear voice.

Lisa is a Licentiate with Cecchetti Ballet Australia, holder of a Cert IV in Dance Teaching & Management, an affiliate member of Australian Teachers of Dance (ATOD), and has a Bach of App. Science (Food Technology).  She is also a member on the Victorian Cecchetti Committee.

Lisa has a science background with a 20-year career in the area of Food Safety, Quality Management & Agricultural Sustainability. She was involved in a number of key global and industry projects and policy developments, within the dairy industry. It is this experience that Lisa has been able to bring to her Dance Studio to continue to develop support systems and standards in an inclusive school environment and hopes will be of benefit in her contribution to DAA Board and its’ members.

Lisa is truly passionate and believes there are so many paths and directions in dance and life that if we as an Industry can continue to advocate, support, ignite and inspire the amazing people in it become the best version of themselves to thrive in life,  then she can take great pride and celebrate in this success and the future Dance Industry we want to see. 

Lisa looks forward in being able to contribute to something that will continue to advocate, support and bring all the best parts of our dance Industry together and be everything we believe Dance Arts and the Dance Industry can be.

Renee’s passion for dance began at the Williamstown Academy of Dance in Melbourne. Under the tutelage of Suzanne and Caroline McCombe, she mastered an array of dance styles, including jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, musical theatre, and voice. This extensive training, combined with her active role in community theatre, laid a strong foundation for her future in dance and education.

Her academic achievements are noteworthy, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Contemporary Arts (Dance/Drama) from Deakin University, Melbourne. Renee’s quest for further training and knowledge led her to London, where she not only engaged in numerous professional performances and training opportunities, but also collaborated with some of Europe’s most esteemed dance practitioners and choreographers. Concurrently, she completed her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and headed a team of 13 teachers in establishing an award-winning performing arts faculty at a boys’ secondary school in a socially challenged area of South East London.

Upon her return to Australia 7 years later, Renee’s passion for dance and education steered her to take the reins of the Dance Edge School of Performing Arts in Canberra. This is also when she founded Canberra Dance Collective. As the Director/Founder of Canberra Dance Collective, Renee has created a pivotal network for dance studio owners and teachers in the region, providing programs like CONNECT, IGNITE-Specialist Dance Training and the Unity Dance Challenge- all a testament to her unwavering dedication to dance in Australia.

In 2023, she took over as Director of the Canberra Festival Ballet School, which has seen Renee create a specialised part-time dance program that offers not only specialized training, but most importantly, a nationally accredited dance qualification.
Renee embodies the philosophy of being a lifelong learner. She is in the final year of her Graduate Diploma in Counselling, aiming to incorporate counselling services and coaching for performers and studio owners under the CDC umbrella. Her election onto the committee of the Dance Arts Alliance (DAA) highlights her commitment to the progression of dance in Australia, focusing on advocating for regulatory reforms in the industry.

Kristen discovered her love for performing at a young age, immersing herself in the world of song and dance at the Johnny Young Talent School. With over 38 years of dancing experience, Kristen has delved into a diverse range of styles including Jazz, Classical Ballet, Tap, Hip Hop, Contemporary, and Latin, although Jazz holds a special place in her heart.

From an early age, Kristen exhibited a knack for choreography. By 17 years old, she was teaching at a local dance studio, swiftly advancing to manage the studio’s multiple locations by the age of 20.

In pursuit of her dual passions of dance and business management, Kristen undertook a Bachelor of Business while simultaneously managing her roles as a dance teacher and studio manager. After finishing her degree and whilst still teaching dance, Kristen had a five-year event management career. During this time, she managed events for companies such as David Jones, IAG, Freehills, VicHealth, MOOMBA, and The Mathematical Association of Victoria, notably spearheading the organisation of the largest teaching conference in the southern hemisphere.

However, it was her dedication to dance teaching and studio management that eventually inspired her to establish Kreationz Cheer and Dance in 2008. Completing her Certificate 4 in Dance Teaching and Management, Kristen found her true calling. Over 25 years teaching dance, Kristen has contributed to shaping hundreds of the next generation of dancers with her expertise and passion.

Whilst striving for inclusivity within the dance industry, Kristen has dedicated herself to making Kreationz an all-inclusive studio. This commitment is evident in the provision of specialised classes for children and adults with disabilities, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy of dance.

Kristen’s vision extends beyond teaching dance. Within her studio she has adopted a renowned Assistant Teacher Education Program, nurturing numerous students who have gone on to become teachers in the industry. Kristen takes pride in cultivating the next generation of dance educators, ensuring that her legacy extends beyond the studio walls.

As a huge advocate for child safety and for bringing regulation to the dance studio industry, Kristen’s commitment to this cause has led to her Board membership of Dance Arts Alliance. She is excited to be involved and to contribute her knowledge and vision for the advancement of the industry.

Teacher and Choreographer Poppy Donaldson is currently based in Melbourne but was born in a small town in NZ.
Poppy has been Teaching for 16 years starting at just 14 years old, Poppy started her teaching career choreographing community theater and running dance classes in her hometown in NZ, this opened the door to more choreography and teaching
opportunities while Poppy Finished her High Schooling.

After graduating high school Poppy completed her certificate in dance focusing on
Contemporary and Ballet at “Hagley School of Dance” in NZ before she was offered a scholarship to train full time at “The Edge Performers School” in Melbourne in 2012.

Whilst in Full time Poppy performed at many events all over Melbourne and was part of Urban Beat Hip Hop crew. Whilst Performing and training Poppy realized her true passion laid in Teaching and Choreography this has always been her dream since a young child. Poppy’s teaching credits range from “Skip Regional dance company “, “ Masters of choreography” & “Rise the Performance Experience” as a featured choreographer to taking a team of dancers to compete at KAR Dance National Finals in Las Vegas Nevada where they made it to showcase finals night and made top 5.

Poppy has worked all over Australia and NZ choreographing many styles and in recent years sharing her knowledge of turns and dance technique with dancers, teachers and studio owners alike.
Poppy is the Studio manager and Artistic director at Next Generation Dance studio in Melbourne.