New staff at dance studio

New teaching staff have joined Peninsula Dance, according to its principal Ms Wendy Ellis

"Rowena Fitzgibbon joins us after her time in the United Kingdom completing her BA (Honours) in Performing Arts.

"Rowena is an ex student of the studio who is excited to be teaching dance and drama back where it all began.

"Katie Ellis will again be teaching dance and drama this year.

"Katie has had experience dancing overseas as well as acting in film and more recently appeared on Home and Away.

"Katie is a fully qualified dance teacher and has studied acting at the Actors College in Sydney.

"We will also be adding a male teacher, Nat Backhouse, to the studio.

"Nat is one of the studios outstanding talents in dance, acting and singing and will be taking boys only jazz-hip hop classes.

"This is great for all those boys who want to take dance class but feel intimidated in a normal class environment."

Wendy Ellis said the group's students continued to compete in local eisteddfods and undertook dance examinations in ballet, tap and modern every year "gaining excellent results".

"We are about to launch our new website which will help keep parents informed on what is going on at the studio via the internet on www.jumpstreet.com.au," Ms Ellis said.

"This will be available early February and will feature the many exciting projects the studio is involved with."

Last year saw a "bigger than ever year" for Peninsula Dance, which merged its talents with the students of Jump Street to form one of the "strongest growing schools on the coast in dance, acting and singing", according to Ms Ellis.

The studio operates from the Peninsula Community Centre where it has its own fully equipped air-conditioned studio.

"Our showgroup once again performed at Dreamworld and Seaworld as well as other local venues, which included some very exciting professional work for our more advanced students," Ms Ellis said.

Press release, 24 Jan 2007 Wendy Ellis, Peninsula Dance