FROM acrobatics to ballet, MJ Dance has transformed into a nationally recognised academy over the past three decades.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend, MJ Dance studio director Maria Slape is proud of the studio’s journey.
“Dance itself has changed so much and MJ started as a hobby with just 25 students,” Ms Slape said.
“It is now a full-time occupation and has been a very big lifestyle change.
“I now have my daughter working alongside me with many other young students and have established additional branches in Adelaide, Naracoorte and Casterton.”
MJ continues to succeed on a national level at major competitions.
“When we first started we were just a local dance school and then we discovered Showcase and nationals,” Ms Slape said.
“That opened up our doors and minds as to what was actually out there in Australia.
“Our kids now see everything and are exposed to lots of different styles and techniques of dancing.”
Ms Slape believes the studio has opened up many opportunities for people in our regional community.
“Our aim is to create a family atmosphere for our dancers and to offer opportunities for country dancers,” she said.
“We want to give these kids the same opportunities as the city schools.
“It is hard as we are so isolated here and have to travel for everything.”
The academy welcomes people of all ages and abilities.
“We are open to whatever aim or goal each student has,” Ms Slape said.
“No two students dance the same and that is why they are going all different places.”
Ms Slape is proud of all her students’ achievements throughout the past 30 years.
“You never get tired of seeing one of your students up on the big stage and fulfilling their careers,” she said.
“It is pretty incredible to have dancers being announced the best in Australia and I have enjoyed watching all of their journeys.”
She said it had been rewarding to see students go on to forge a career in dance, either appearing in major productions, securing other performance and teaching jobs or progressing to tertiary study in the entertainment field.
Ms Slape said she felt blessed with the opportunities and friendships created through her involvement in dance.
“Looking back on the 30 years, the most important thing to me is the friendships I have made,” she said.
“The people I have met and the experiences I have had through dance have been insane.
“I have been really lucky that my parents have embraced what I have tried to do.”
Ms Slape hopes previous students will return to the studio and continue to share the academy’s values.
“There is so much more to it than just learning how to dance,” she said.
“We try and instil values of responsibility, time management, group work and friendship and my seniors are great at giving back to my juniors.”
Ms Slape hopes to continue as director throughout the upcoming years.
“If you had of asked me where I would be today, I would never have imagined this,” she said.
“I will still stay on as director and hopefully my younger teachers will slowly take over.”
Over the weekend, current and past MJ students will perform two shows on Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre.
The Saturday performance is sold out, but tickets are still available for Friday by purchasing through the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre box office.
A cocktail party will be hosted at the Main Corner on Saturday from 7pm celebrating past and present MJ Dance students, tickets are available for purchase from Birdie Blue and Mangoes Fashion Boutique.
A family fun day will be hosted at the Mount Gambier Rail Lands on Sunday from 1pm till 3pm with tickets available from Birdie Blue until Saturday.
The Mount Gambier studio will be officially moving to the Keegan Street Swimskool building on January 28 and hosting free workshops and other displays on the day.
