SCHOOL TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH
TOWNSVILLE’S oldest dance school now has two city locations for students of all ages to tread the boards.
Along with its traditional home in at Pirani Hall in Fletcher Street, Ann Roberts School of Dance has now expanded to another location at 853 Flinders Street which has three additional dance studios.
Principal Jane Pirani said the school was established in 1957 by her mother, who used her maiden name of Roberts in the business, and thousands of Townsville students had leapt, tapped and twirled through its doors.
She said the school did have suburban classes in Wulguru, Heatley and Douglas but it had now consolidated to its two city locations.
“So we saw the opportunity and thought we have been wanting to consolidate for a while so let’s do it,” Ms Pirani said.
She said her passion was building a strong dance community.
“I am all about building dance communities that are for everyone, not just for the super talented. When you teach dance you might teach someone who goes on to become a professional but for the most part you are actually giving students confidence, good posture, and good mental and physical health.”
The school has more than 600 students catering for all ages and teaches a variety of styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, highland, song and dance, hip hop, acro and even pilates.
“You are not in this to make money you are in it to make ends meet but you also do it because you love it,” Ms Pirani said. “And you do it because you see the joy in the children’s faces when they go through that door.”