OUR TEAM
Holly Diggle – Studio Founder, Owner, and Director
I’m Holly Diggle, the founder, owner, and director of Dance Northside.
In 2006, I purchased what was then a small ballet academy, and I’ve grown it into a vibrant community of around 400 dancers. I’m proud to continue the 38-year tradition of running dance classes at Kaleen Community Hall—especially as I celebrate my 20th year in business in 2026.
My love for dance began as a child in Edinburgh, where I trained at a community-focused studio that welcomed people of all ages and levels. That early experience sparked my passion for inclusive, community-focused dance and set me on the path to formal training. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance (Theory & Practice) and a Diploma in Dance Teaching & Management. I’m also a qualified Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance accredited RYT 200hr), Kids Yoga Teacher (Yoga Alliance accredited RYT 50hr), and Acrobatic Arts instructor. I’m currently studying for a Diploma of Counselling, which I expect to finish in 2026.
Read more about Holly
Earlier in my career, I performed as a professional contemporary dancer across Australia and overseas. Highlights include performing a season with Mirramu Dance Company in Taiwan and collaborating with countless local companies and independent artists in Canberra. I was honoured to be nominated for Most Outstanding Female Performer in the Australian Dance Awards for Mirramu Dance Company’s River. I’ve also been recognised for my choreography, winning Most Outstanding Choreography and the People’s Choice Award at the Short and Sweet Dance Festival. But performing was never the “why” behind my dancing—I danced because I loved it, and performing was a fun (sometimes anxiety-inducing) bonus.
I have been recognised as a leader in my field, including as a notable ACT public school alumnus and as a finalist in several national and local business awards. In 2022, I received a Women With Altitude Brave Award, and in 2024, I was honoured with the Australasian Dance Education Silver Award for Inclusion & Diversity.
My personal relationship with dance inspired me to create a space where children and adults can discover the joy and transformational power of dance—without objectification, unrealistic perfectionism, or competitive pressure. At Dance Northside, my focus is always on recreational dance and real-life community connection. As a certified Youth Protection Advocate in Dance, I’m passionate about prioritising children’s physical and emotional wellbeing and building an environment where everyone can thrive.
As a proud AuDHD and dyslexic woman, I have lived experience of both the challenges and the strengths that neurodiversity brings, as well as the positive, transformational impact dance has had on my own life. That perspective drives my commitment to creating dance experiences that are supportive, adaptive, and empowering for all students. With more than twenty-five years of teaching experience across studios, schools, universities, refugee groups, women in recovery, and youth at risk, I’ve seen again and again how dance can change lives.
These days, I balance raising my two young children with teaching, mentoring my staff, handling all the business essentials, studying to become a counsellor, and dreaming up new creative ideas to nurture and support Dance Northside (that’s definitely the most fun bit!). It’s vital to me that the growth and direction of the studio always align with my values and its purpose.
For me, Dance Northside will always be more than dance—and I’m grateful for it every day.
Cara – Studio Manager
Cara’s dance journey began at Dance Northside at age five. Over the years she has trained in hip hop, jazz, contemporary, ballet, and lyrical. She was a valued member of the Dance Northside Performance Team for 6 years, enjoying performing with her team mates across numerous performances throughout Canberra.
Cara is a highly skilled and experienced Dance Teacher, having undertaken extensive in house training, and has taught the Dance Northside community for 6 years across many styles and age ranges.
In 2023 Cara was promoted to Customer Relations Manager, and in 2024 she stepped up again to take on the role of Studio Manager. A position she has earned through her profound understanding of the studio’s values gained through lived experience over her 14 years at Dance Northside.
In addition to her work at Dance Northside, Cara is currently undertaking a degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Canberra.
Cara strives to make everyone who comes into contact with Dance Northside feel included, welcomed, supported and well informed.
Neve – Dance Step Coordinator
Neve began her dance journey at the young age of 3 at One2Step in Bungendore. Over the years, she has attended various dance schools and explored a range of styles, including Tap, Contemporary, and Jazz. In 2019, Neve joined Dance Northside, initially focusing on Contemporary before transitioning to Jazz.
In 2021, Neve began the DanceStep program, working as a student teacher under the guidance of Emma Wilson and Cara Martin in various Minis and Kids classes. She also attended the 2024 DanceStep National Summit, where she was awarded second place in the National Leadership Award. After completing the final level of the DanceStep program, Neve stepped into the role of DanceStep Coordinator.
Neve has continued to grow her leadership skills through mentoring sessions at Dance Northside and in her role as College Captain at school. She is passionate about upholding Dance Northside’s values of Kindness, Respect, and Community, and she strives to bring these values into every interaction at the studio.
Neve loves working with children, building strong connections, and supporting her students as they grow and develop their skills.
Ellie
Ellie started dancing at the age of five, at National Capital Ballet School. Specialising in ballet and contemporary, she moved to Canberra Dance Development Centre in 2014 before joining Dance Northside in 2018. She has been a part of the Dance Northside Performance Team for three years and as a result has danced at numerous festivals around Canberra. Ellie is an experienced and passionate teacher, holding student wellbeing at the center of her teaching philosophy she sensitively and steadily builds confidence and progress in all her students. She is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Contemporary European Studies and Arts at the ANU.
Maddi
Maddi started dance at the very young age of 3, at first being introduced to the styles of ballet and contemporary. From 2016 onward, she began to expand her dancing palette, training in the styles of hip hop, modern dance, jazz, and Broadway at STEPZ South Coast Dance Academy.
In 2020-2021, Maddi gained teaching experience through the completion of HSC Dance, working with dancers to create solos and duets that explore unique choreographic intent. That teaching practise has continued over the past couple of years, involving choreography in school musical numbers and dance night performances.
Maddi has continued her personal training through performing in AASCF States (NSW) & Nationals (QLD) as a member of the ANU Competitive Dance Team: Premier Hip Hop Team in 2022. She has also increased her hip hop knowledge through attending various workshops by the NZ mega hip hop dance crew known as The Royal Family.
In addition to teaching hip hop in Canberra, she is currently studying a Bachelor of Visual Arts at the Australian National University.
Erin
Erin is an experienced dancer, dance teacher and primary school teacher, holding a Batchelor of Education.
She started dancing at the age of four with the Jill Glastonbury Ballet Academy. She has trained in a range of dance styles, and has taught tap, cecchetti ballet, jazz and lyrical dance. Erin enjoys choreographing and has received several awards at choreographic competitions.
Erin joined Dance Northside’s adult contemporary class a number of years ago and quickly joined the staff to teach ballet and jazz classes.
Her main goals in teaching are to build skills, confidence and creativity in her students, all within a fun and supportive environment.
Sharon
Sharon started dance at the age of 3 and trained in ballet, jazz, tap & contemporary until her first teaching employment at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Canberra. She has 2 amazing kids, and is a single mum as well as a qualified Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Caricaturist, designing the 1996 Australian Tax Pack Cover, and has taught many classes of both Zumba and ballroom at Radford College over the years.
In 2000, Sharon competed and placed 4th in the international Fred Astaire Argentine Tango Showcase Division. She later appeared and placed 3rd on the 2005 season of the ABC television program, Strictly Dancing. Sharon is the 4-time undefeated Professional On2 ACT Salsa Champion. She also created and organised her own glamourous, friendly, independent Smooth and Rhythm competition, “ASDAC – The Outback Crown,” bringing world champions to inspire us isolated Aussies. Over 10 years, ASDAC built up a world-class reputation.
Sharon is a qualified Zumba Fitness, Zumba Kids, Strong by Zumba (now called Strong Nation), and Zumba Gold, Toning and Gold Toning instructor. She holds Associate and Licentiate degrees as well as Fellowships in nine smooth and rhythm ballroom dance styles. In 2016, Sharon successfully undertook the USISTD/AIDA Examiners Assessment, achieving her goal after 10 years of study, experience and innovation. She is one of only 11 such Examiners in the world, and the first and only one outside of the USA.
Sharon was the Co-Owner and -Creative Director of Danzon Dance Studio from 2004 – 2021. In 2017, Sharon created the “Articulate” Dance Training Program – her own teaching method based on 20 years of teaching, performances, competitions, mentoring, and experiencing the joy that students feel when they are happy and successful within themselves. Because the world is only about people, and we deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, to be accepted for who we are, and to feel joy – values that align directly with Dance Northside’s, which is why Sharon is so excited to be part of the team.
Eleanor
Eleanor began dancing at the age of 7 when she joined one of Dance Northside’s Hip Hop classes. Finding a love for this dance style, she has continued taking funk/hip hop classes at Dance Northside for over 9 years. As well as hip hop, Eleanor has taken ballet classes and workshops at Dance Northside, and has been a part of the Performance Team since 2019, extending her skills in hip hop, contemporary and jazz while performing all around Canberra. With Dance Northside as a constant, Eleanor danced at QL2 Dance for two years, further extending her skills in contemporary and ballet. While dancing at QL2, Eleanor also took part in a youth choreography project.
Eleanor is a a passionate and experienced dance teacher, with a love and expertise in hip hop. And is currently in her second year of an Occupational Therapy Degree.
Eleanor regards Dance Northside and its values of kindness, respect and community as very important in her everyday life and strives to apply these values to create a warm, caring environment for young dancers to learn, have fun and to love dance as much as she does.
Talia
Talia began to dance at Dance Northside in 2009, at the age of 5. She was a member of the Performance Team for seven years, where she had various performance opportunities at local events and Dance Northside concerts. Talia is a passionate contemporary dancer trained in ballet, jazz, lyrical and hip hop.
Talia has completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. She currently works as an educator and room leader at a local childcare centre. Talia loves working with young children and helping them learn and have fun. She began working as an Assistant with Dance Teacher Rebecca Allan in 2020 and was a member of the DanceStep program at Dance Northside.
Talia has a strong child-focused approach to teaching, which aligns with the Dance Northside values of kindness, respect and community.
Talia enjoys welcoming new members to the Dance Northside community, encouraging everybody to join in and dance.
Issy
Issy began dance at the age of four at the Classical Ballet Centre Canberra, training in classical ballet and tap until she was nine.
In 2016, at age 11, Issy returned to dance at Dance Northside starting with jazz and extending her training to include ballet, contemporary, and hip hop. Issy was also a member of the Performance Team for four years and has performed extensively throughout Canberra.
Issy has undertaken teacher training since 2020 through the DanceStep program at Dance Northside and stepped into a teaching role in 2022.
Issy feels a strong connection to the Dance Northside values of kindness, respect and community and aims to create a safe, inclusive environment for her students to have fun and grow their love and connection to dance.
Aria
Aria started dancing at age 2, before joining Dance Northside 2017. Aria successfully auditioned for the Dance Northside Performance Team in 2018. She performed extensively across Canberra for five years with the Performance Team, whilst also extending her skills in jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, lyrica and acrodance through both weekly classes and workshops.
Aria undertook teacher training through the DanceStep program in 2020 and in 2022 and undertook specialised teacher training in acrodance with Dance Northside’s Director Holly Diggle in 2023 and 2024. At the beginning of 2025 Aria completed her Acrodance Teacher Training with The Acrobatic Dance Association.
Aria lives the Dance Northside values of kindness, respect, and community. Both through her interactions with her students and within her own classes as a dancer. She loves sharing her passion for acrodance with students, striving to make all students feel included, respected and capable in the studio.
Arden
Arden (they/them) has been dancing for as long as they can remember, with a passion for American Style Ballroom which they started learning quite young! In this style, they have recreationally competed around Canberra and NSW. In 2016 Arden joined Dance Northside, taking classes in Hip Hop and Contemporary, and went on to join the studio’s Performance Team in 2023.
From 2019 to 2021, Arden honed their teaching skills by leading Zumba classes under the mentorship of professional ballroom and Zumba instructor Sharon. While in college, Arden developed their versatility as they choreographed and performed numerous dance pieces for their school in styles including Ballroom, Hip-hop, Jazz, Contemporary and K-pop.
Arden has a passion for dancing for fun and strives for continuous personal improvement, often learning and practising K-pop choreographies in their spare time. Arden is deeply aligned with Dance Northside’s core values of kindness, respect, and community, which they incorporate into their everyday life. They are especially passionate about working with children, helping them grow and find joy through dance.
Jahna
Jahna has been dancing since the age of 4. She’s done many styles, including Ballet, Acro, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip hop, Commercial and First Nation Traditional Dance.
Some of Jahna’s biggest achievements; Performing with ADT (Australian Dance Theatre) in their work, Savage- 2022, QL2 x BDA (Bangkok Dance Academy) Thailand tour exchange- 2023, Choreographed a Hot to Trot piece called Hazy Misconceptions-2023, NSW Aboriginal Youth Dance Company (Bangarra)-2021 and TDP (Talented Dance Program) at Erindale College- 2022-2023.
Jahna has been focusing on Modern Contemporary dance for 3 years. Her favourite thing about Contemporary, is that it allows her mind and body to create and move, through articulation and abstract outlets and ideas. Jahna also has a deep love for improvisation and freestyle, as it releases her movements from any expectations.
This is the third year Jahna has fully taken on the role as a dance teacher, having previously taught workshops and small groups. She is excited to share her knowledge, along with supporting her students to grow in creativity, values and their love for dance.
Studio
Kaleen Community Hall
Georgina Crescent Kaleen ACT 2617
Contact
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Dance Northside acknowledges the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, traditional custodians of the land on which our studio is located. We pay respect to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Music and movement have long been performed in this place by First Nations Australians; Dance Northside recognises this and appreciates the richness it adds to our community. We are glad to be dancing here today, on what always was and always will be Ngunnawal and Ngambri land.
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