About Us
What We Offer
Established in 2006, Dance Northside teaches community-focused, age-appropriate, recreational dance to students aged 18 months to adult in an educational and fun environment that embodies kindness, respect, and community.
We offer classes for students of all ages in a variety of dance styles. Our focus is on sharing a passion for dance, and we have a strong commitment to our students' holistic development as well-rounded, happy individuals and competent dancers.
Our values of kindness, respect and community surround everything we do at Dance Northside.
The health and wellbeing of our community is important. All classes are delivered in line with our COVID-19 Policy & Safety Plan.
Concerts
In 2022, our students will have two performance opportunities. The first is a mid-year Showcase at Canberra Theatre, on Saturday the 2nd of July. The second is an in-house Community Concert at the end of the year, in Term 4. Both are stress-free but one is more informal, giving students of all confidence levels a chance to shine.
We make performing a positive experience for students and parents alike. The music we use, the choreography we create, and the costumes we provide are always appropriate to the student's age. The hairstyles are simple and makeup is optional! No sewing of costumes is required, just a small costume fee. All rehearsals are held within regular class times, and the performance season itself is very short.
We make performing a positive experience for students and parents alike. The music we use, the choreography we create, and the costumes we provide are always appropriate to the student's age. The hairstyles are simple and makeup is optional! No sewing of costumes is required, just a small costume fee. All rehearsals are held within regular class times, and the performance season itself is very short.
Performance Team
The Dance Northside Performance Team works with a number of choreographers to create high-quality pieces in a variety of styles. It does not compete in eisteddfods, but instead performs at local community events, such as Raiders Games, Floriade, the Multicultural Festival and school fetes. The aim is to challenge our advanced dancers while maintaining a focus on personal growth and the Dance Northside values.
Auditions for the 2023 Performance Team will be held on 4th November 2022. Students aged 11 years and over are invited to audition. Please get in touch if you would like more information.
Auditions for the 2023 Performance Team will be held on 4th November 2022. Students aged 11 years and over are invited to audition. Please get in touch if you would like more information.
DanceStep
Dance Northside partners with DanceStep, a formalised and progressive student teacher education program. DanceStep empowers young people to serve as leaders and role models in their community. It combines practical dance teacher training with theory-based learning about anatomy, safe dance practice, lesson structure, behaviour management, and much more!
DanceSteppers assist in our Minis and Kids classes. We accept regular intakes of student leaders aged 11+, but there are a limited number of places available each term. Please contact us for further information or to find out when the next round of DanceStep applications opens.
DanceSteppers assist in our Minis and Kids classes. We accept regular intakes of student leaders aged 11+, but there are a limited number of places available each term. Please contact us for further information or to find out when the next round of DanceStep applications opens.
World-class and industry-leading
PARTNER STUDIO
CERTIFIED STUDIO
PROVIDER STUDIO
LICENSED STUDIO
The Team
Holly Diggle - Studio Owner and Director
Holly holds a BA in Dance Performance (Theory and Practice), a Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management, an RYT 200hr Yoga Teacher Certificate and a 50hr Kids Yoga Teacher Certificate, both accredited with Yoga Alliance, and is Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD) certified.
Holly is currently completing a coaching qualification focused on Neuro Linguistic Programing (NLP) Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Clinical Hypnosis.
She has extensive professional performance experience, having performed throughout Australia and toured internationally. Over the years she has worked with choreographers such as Elizabeth Cameron Dalmon (OAM), Graeme Watson, Michael Whaites, Cadi McCarthy, Bernadette Walong, Darren Green, Robyn Prichard, Meg Millband, Adelina Larsson and many more. Holly was nominated for an Australian Dance Award ‘Most Outstanding Female Performer’ for her work in Mirramu Dance Company’s ‘River’ and was awarded ‘Most Outstanding Choreography Award’ and the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for Contact Improvisation Performances in collaboration with Keira Mason-Hill for Short and Sweet Dance Festival. Holly was honoured to become one of the ‘faces’ of the ACT Public School Alumni and to be publicly acknowledged as a ‘Person of Note’ in 2014. The alumni list was initiated to acknowledge people educated through the ACT public school system who have gone on to become leaders in their chosen field. In 2018 Holly was a finalist in the Canberra Women in Business Awards. Holly has over two decades of teaching experience, ranging from dance studios, primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities. She has also worked with refugee groups, women in recovery and youth at risk.
Holly’s specialty is Contemporary Dance, and she gives a strong, physical and technical class. Her teaching methodology is inspired and informed by the desire to provide a positive, confidence-building experience for her students. Holly is committed to her students' holistic development, both as dancers and as well-rounded and happy individuals.
She has extensive professional performance experience, having performed throughout Australia and toured internationally. Over the years she has worked with choreographers such as Elizabeth Cameron Dalmon (OAM), Graeme Watson, Michael Whaites, Cadi McCarthy, Bernadette Walong, Darren Green, Robyn Prichard, Meg Millband, Adelina Larsson and many more. Holly was nominated for an Australian Dance Award ‘Most Outstanding Female Performer’ for her work in Mirramu Dance Company’s ‘River’ and was awarded ‘Most Outstanding Choreography Award’ and the ‘People’s Choice Award’ for Contact Improvisation Performances in collaboration with Keira Mason-Hill for Short and Sweet Dance Festival. Holly was honoured to become one of the ‘faces’ of the ACT Public School Alumni and to be publicly acknowledged as a ‘Person of Note’ in 2014. The alumni list was initiated to acknowledge people educated through the ACT public school system who have gone on to become leaders in their chosen field. In 2018 Holly was a finalist in the Canberra Women in Business Awards. Holly has over two decades of teaching experience, ranging from dance studios, primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities. She has also worked with refugee groups, women in recovery and youth at risk.
Holly’s specialty is Contemporary Dance, and she gives a strong, physical and technical class. Her teaching methodology is inspired and informed by the desire to provide a positive, confidence-building experience for her students. Holly is committed to her students' holistic development, both as dancers and as well-rounded and happy individuals.
Cara Martin - Customer Relations Manager
Cara began dance at age 5 with Dance Northside. She has trained in Hip Hop, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet and Lyrical. Cara was a member of Dance Northside’s performance group for six years, and as a result has performed extensively throughout Canberra. She has also attended Capital Dance Studios and Play the Dance Agency to extend her hip-hop and jazz training.
Cara has undergone teacher training with Dance Northside’s former Assistant Artistic Director, Rebecca Allan and Dance Teacher, Taylor Burge. She has taught a variety of Minis, Kids and Junior classes, and is now starting a new role as the studio’s Customer Relations Manager. Cara has extensive knowledge if the inner working of Dance Northside having being apart of the studio family for so long, and is excited to be starting her new role within the studio.
In addidton to her work at Dance Northside, she is currently undertaking a degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra.
Caitlin Johnstone - Studio Administrator
Caitlin has loved to dance since she was very young. She was first introduced to dancing at the age of three, starting out in ballet. At age four she took up Irish Dance, and trained competitively in the style for nine years, representing the Liz Gregory Academy at state, national and international level. Caitlin was ACT State Champion for four years running, from 2009 to 2012. She consistently placed in the top twenty nationally, with her best result being 9th place in 2011. In 2013, Caitlin travelled to California to compete in the North American National Championships, open to dancers from across the globe, where she placed 38th.
Caitlin met Holly in 2012, through the primary school dance competition known as Wakkakirri. Since then, Caitlin has taken contemporary, jazz, and ballet classes at Dance Northside. She has also been part of the Dance Northside Performance Team, allowing her to gain experience in other styles of dance and perform extensively across Canberra. Caitlin now works as Studio Administrator and teaches Kids Contemporary and Junior Contemporary, while undertaking a degree in International Relations at the Australian National University. She gains so much happiness from dance, and aims to inspire that same joy in her students.
Caitlin met Holly in 2012, through the primary school dance competition known as Wakkakirri. Since then, Caitlin has taken contemporary, jazz, and ballet classes at Dance Northside. She has also been part of the Dance Northside Performance Team, allowing her to gain experience in other styles of dance and perform extensively across Canberra. Caitlin now works as Studio Administrator and teaches Kids Contemporary and Junior Contemporary, while undertaking a degree in International Relations at the Australian National University. She gains so much happiness from dance, and aims to inspire that same joy in her students.
Kasha Solomon - Studio Receptionist
Kasha started dancing in 2015 at the age of 9 with Dance Northside and has experience in multiple styles, including contemporary, ballet, jazz and hip hop. Kasha has performed all throughout Canberra, as she spent three years as a member of the Intermediate Performance Team and is now in her second year as a member of the Advanced Performance Team.
Kasha also took tap dancing classes at Kim Harvey school of dance in 2016 to learn something new for a year whilst still at Dance Northside.
Kasha started as an assistant teacher in 2020, undergoing training with a number of Dance Northside staff. Kasha loves to share her passion with young dancers and is excited to see their smiling faces and watch them improve and have fun!
Kasha also took tap dancing classes at Kim Harvey school of dance in 2016 to learn something new for a year whilst still at Dance Northside.
Kasha started as an assistant teacher in 2020, undergoing training with a number of Dance Northside staff. Kasha loves to share her passion with young dancers and is excited to see their smiling faces and watch them improve and have fun!
