THIS year has been big for local dance school principal Janine Gill.
Not only has her Step Right Studios expanded to a second Beenleigh location this year, she’s also about to stage her milestone 10th anniversary concert, aptly titled ‘Confetti’.
“Our York Street studio has had a custom fit-out to make it a wonderfully comfortable additional location for even more local dancers as well as student musicians and other aspiring performers,” Ms Gill said.
Step Right Studios has come from humble beginnings back in 2013 when there were just nine classes offered per week, on Saturdays only. Nowadays, Step Right offers 119 classes across a five-day week with a student population that’s quadrupled in size. And it’s an all-encompassing student population of boys and girls, and all abilities, ranging from some very cute three-year-old ‘tinies’ right up to some very eager grandparents – most of whom will take to the stage for Confetti.
“There’s a handful of students who have been with Step Right, right from the start and they’ll be dancing their hearts out in the massive celebration that will be Confetti,” Ms Gill said.
“When I think of those students and all the hundreds of others who have passed through our doors over the last decade, I couldn’t be prouder of the growth and personal development we’ve seen in these local kids.”
Confetti will feature every genre of dance on offer at the studios, as well as performances from acrobatics and musical theatre students.
Ms Gill said it would be a showcase of her students.
While the studio has won many awards and eisteddfod accolades over the years, Ms Gill will tell you her proudest achievement is the supportive, all-inclusive, family-friendly Beenleigh studios that have bloomed under her leadership.
“… it is exactly the type of school I wanted to create, right from the beginning, more than a decade ago – I wanted to give Beenleigh kids a purpose, a sense of belonging to their community, and help them grow into confident young people,” she said.
“Dance really has a way of helping every child gain an increased level of confidence. When I see change and growth in a student, and realise I’ve been a part of that growth, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Janine has a long affiliation with the greater Beenleigh area. At the age of three, Janine started dance lessons at the Beenleigh PCYC.
She then danced at Beverly Nevan’s studio, also in Beenleigh, before moving across to the Fay Cairns Dance Studio at Eagleby when she was nine (staying on with Fay for 20 years).
A graduate of Beenleigh State School and Beenleigh State High School, Janine has also been a Beenleigh Cane Queen entrant and long-time Beenleigh Cane Festival supporter given her family ties to local historical farming identity, (the late) Ernie Willmann.
‘Confetti’ will take to Redland Performing Arts Centre’s Concert Hall stage on November 19 offering two shows – a 10.30am matinee and 6pm evening show. Tickets are available from the RPAC website at www.rpac.com.au/confetti
