Our Story
Jackie Hallahan opened DDC in 1985 driven by her vision to create a unique dance centre that provides a diverse range of dance classes and allied dance subjects. From its humble beginnings the centre has grown into a flourishing creative arts environment providing a springboard to a professional career for our students progressing to the pre-professional courses.
Today DDC is Canberra's preeminent dance school boasting a stunning 40 year history. Our studios are located in the leafy suburb of Spence, ACT.
We've seen generations of dance students pass through our doors. We have a supportive and nurturing atmosphere with dance classes for everyone from babies to adults, fitness to performance specific, and beginner classes right through to our vocational dance courses for those students reaching for the great heights of a career in dance.
Past students have gone on to dance in companies such as:
The Australian Ballet,
Bangarra
West Australian Ballet
Chunky Move
Buzz Dance Theatre
Tasdance
Royal New Zealand Ballet
English National Ballet
Diversions Dance Company of Wales
Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Bejart Ballet Lausanne
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
... and many more have gone on to excel in choreography, film work, musical theatre,
commercial dance and teaching.
Meet The Team
Director Jackie Hallahan leads a team of highly trained dance teachers and educators at DDC. Our teachers promote a healthy, positive, nurturing and safe environment for our students. We aim to foster creativity and the
development of skills that will enrich our students lives.
Jackie Hallahan: Director
In her 40 plus years of dance teaching, Jackie Hallahan I has nurtured and developed the careers of many young dancers, contributing a wealth of talent to both Australian and international dance industries. Her passion for dance along with her extensive knowledge and experience as a dance teacher, choreographer, director and producer defines Jackie as an important contributor to Australian dance.
In 2013 Jackie was awarded the Services to Dance Education award at the Australian Dance Awards for decades of leadership and excellence in dance education, and for her holistic and inclusive approach to producing dancers who are versatile, mature artists and independent thinkers.
Jackie was awarded the Stuart and Norma Lesley Churchill Fellowship in 2003. This gave her an extraordinary chance to travel and study in the centre of the dance world, USA, UK and Europe, her experiences were very inspiring and life changing.
Other highlights have been seeing her students successfully achieve their performance goals, choreographing, producing and directing major dance events in the ACT and being awarded the Canberra Critics Circle Award (2010), for services to dance.
Recipient: 2013 Services to Dance Education (Australian Dance Awards}, 2003 Stuart and Norma Lesley Churchill Fellowship, 2010 Canberra Critics Circle Award.
DDC Teachers
