Purnell Dance Academy About Us

Purnell Dance Academy (PDA) was established in 1997 and aims to ensure that dance technique is performed safely while creating a fun and supportive environment.

The school caters for students who wish to dance purely for enjoyment as well as those who wish pursue a career in dance.

Students are accepted from 3 years of age.

WHY PDA IS DIFFERENT
Our students regularly win places at competition and achieve top results in exams without excessive hours of training due to our
efficient training methods and small class sizes.

It has long been established that students learn and perform better when class sizes are kept small.
PDA applies the same principles to dance training and hence achieves excellent results.

PDA class sizes are limited to a maximum of 8-12 students, depending on the difficulty of the grade.

THE ADVANTAGES OF SMALL CLASS SIZES;
With PDA classes, there is greater opportunity for teachers to giveindividual feedback on technique
which helps to ensure safety.

With more indivdual feedback, skills and technique are learnt in a shorter period of time. This means that classes can be shorter in duration which frees up time for students to participate in other activities or study. Short classes means that fees are less expensive. Many of our students excel in dance as well as pursue other activities such as sport or music at an elite level.

Classes can be conducted in a more relaxed atmosphere while still maintaining a high level of discipline, which provides an ideal learning environment.

Students have a more significant role in each dance performance item, with only 2-12 students on stage at once. PDA students are never just one of the crowd and student's ideas for choreography are more easily considered. This leads to a greater sense of involvement in the production of dance items.

EFFICIENT TRAINING METHODS

The Principal is a Physiotherapist and International lecturer who has an extensive knowledge of anatomy, dance technique and training methods. Dance students and teachers from all over Sydney, including The McDonald College as well as intermational acrobats, regularly consult her to assist with their training.
Classes are conducted in a way to ensure that they are safe for developing bodies.

Therefore, PDA students are taught the most effective stretches, strengthening and warm-up exercises to help them achieve their best. They also have access to the dance exercise equipment at the Southern Dance Clinic

The school focuses on teaching correct technique and efficient use of muscles, while creating a fun environment.

Students who are interested have access to the latest dance training methods used be overseas dance companies.

MORE BENEFITS OF PDA

The majority of classes are taught by the Principal.

Where possible, parents and students are consulted before organising events such as exams and concerts in order to make times more convenient! With smaller classes, PDA is also more able to accommodate changes in timetable requests.

Other staff and guest teachers are highly qualified, some of whom are professional dancers.

For enrolment contact Melinda - PH 0417 274 744