Kerry’s Batavia Coast Dance Centre celebrates 35 years of success with youth concert at QPT

Geraldton’s dancing queen Kerry Smith — who has seen thousands of students come through her studio, with some going off to work with some of Australia’s best artists and choreographers — is celebrating her dance centre’s 35th anniversary this month. On Saturday, December 9, students from Kerry’s Batavia Coast Dance Centre will perform at Queens Park Theatre, which will be the studio’s 35th annual concert. Ms Smith formed a passion for teaching youth the love and joy of dancing after receiving early dance lessons from the late Doreen Dawson, who taught dance in Geraldton for 50 years. Ms Smith became one of Ms Dawson’s instructors for seven or eight years and purchased the theatrical side of her business when she retired. She sent her students to their first competition in 1991 at the South West Dance Festival, where Geraldton’s Trevor Holland won a trophy for the most outstanding theatrical dancer. Smith said Holland was one of three students who progressed to professional performers and have travelled the world performing on stage, along with Daniel Power and Luke Sherrell. But it’s not all about competing anymore like it once was, Ms Smith said, rather that she wanted to create a safe space for young and emerging performers. “We used to go to competitions all the time — four, five or six times a year, but it’s not really our sole focus. Now, it’s to have a family studio full of kindness, encouragement and friendship,” she said. “At the beginning of the year, the little ones that come in, they’re all shy and quiet. By the concert, they’re so confident and excited about their special day. They’ve got their hair done neat, a bit of makeup and their costumes on.” Ms Smith said she wouldn’t have it any other way and it gave her great joy to see students become professionals in the dance industry. “It’s great that we’ve done all this competition work and those children have become professional dancers, some of them have gone on and opened up their own schools,” she said. “When I started, I just wanted to teach children how to dance and that was my goal, so I think I’ve definitely been able to do that.” Ms Smith invites families, friends and those who have supported the studio over the years to enjoy a high energy performance from local dance students. A range of dance styles in acrobatics hip hop, jazz ballet contemporary, lyrical, tap and slow modern dance will be on show. Tickets are $45 for adults and $32 for children 2-12 years-old. The performance runs for two-and-a-half hours. Tickets are available at: qpt.cgg.wa.gov.au