Gabi Stanger and I have been busy running our classes with lots of joyful music. We have put together a set class for most of term 1 with a musical theatre theme. Nostalgic tunes from Grease, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Les Miserable rounded out the playlist. Photos below of our last two classes of 2025:
Photo: Last class of the year of 2025!
Photo: “goodbye” to our beautiful and funny Ben Jackson.
And a sad “goodbye” to beautiful Bob Jackson (front row seated furthest to the left). You were a lovely presence in our class, funny and engaging. May your spirit continue to dance above us all!
Lots of extra programming happening outside of the weekly classes too. Ping Pong Parkinson’s sessions continue weekly on Mondays, a very special Djirri Djirri Aboriginal Women’s Dance group workshop at the end of May. And a new ongoing program with The Australian Ballet kicks off at the end of April!
Dance for Parkinson’s and The Australian Ballet launch a new collection of classes called The Classics Series. Classes take place at the Ian Potter Ballet Centre in Southbank, Melbourne, and delve into the company’s current repertoire starting with Romeo and Juliet. Participants will attend one of two specially crafted classes, either a seated or an all-standing. Once a week for three weeks participants will learn the music, themes and choreography inspired by the iconic ballet. The classes will be taught by Dance for PD certified instructors Katrina Rank and Paris Wages with live accompaniment. Additionally, teachers from The Australian Ballet education and outreach department will engage with classes to further supplement the experience. After three years in the making we are very excited to see this program launched and to be able to offer our communities an opportunity to enrich their dancing Life.
Photo: The classics Series at the Ian Potter Ballet Centre, Southbank, Melbourne. Photo credit – Robert Wagner.
The Classics Series will continue throughout the year with a block of classes in September focusing on David McAllister’s The Sleeping Beauty and the final block of classes in November examining Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker.
Come join us at the Ballet!
April 31, 7 &14 May – Romeo and Juliet
Sept. 15, 22 & 29 – The Sleeping Beauty
Nov. 5, 12 & 19 – The Nutcracker