Our Mission

Bluebird Dance Theatre aims to instil a love of dance through high quality technique classes, production creation and local performance opportunities.

What We Do

We are a youth dance theatre first and foremost, we offers technique classes in Ballet, Irish, Character and Contemporary Dance. We give our young dancers ample opportunities to perform for our local and surrounding community of Romsey.

2024 Uniform

For 2024 we have decided to update our class wear uniform to make uniform purchasing a more straightforward process. We have teamed up with the dancewear company 'Energetiks' to stock our new class wear uniform, tights and shoes. We have also added skirts for girls for all ballet classes as well as uniform warm tops and bottoms for cooler season.

You can find our class lists at any Energetiks shop however our closest location is 166 Buckley Street Essendon. The staff at Energetiks stores are trained and experienced in assisting you with all our uniform requirements so please ask one of their friendly staff and they will tell you everything you need to know about our dancewear uniform.

The one exception is soft and hard shoes for Irish dance (links to these purchases are just below this paragraph). However, Beginner Irish dancers are most welcome to wear black ballet shoes - available at Energetiks instead of actual soft shoes.

Soft Shoes:

Girls
https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/gazelle
https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/essential-pump
Boys
https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/boys-capezio-reel

Hard Shoes Boys and Girls (Primary Irish upwards):
(We have a collection of hard shoes in limited sizes for students to use until you are able to purchase a pair)
https://prodigydownunder.com.au/collections/irish-hard-shoes
https://www.antoniopacelli.com/irish-dance-shop/category/irish-hard-shoes-irish-jig-shoes

2024 Classes

Tiny Tots – 30 minute class Monday 9.15am - 9.45am

Tiny tots class is a gentle and playful introduction to movement and performance. Parents and carers may stay in the room and watch or take part in the class as this helps the very young to participate, and it also models the audience - performer relationship.

Fees: $110 per term

Uniform: None required. Please wear any clothing you are comfortable to move in and socks or bare feet.

Performance: Tiny Tots students do not participate in performances.

Kinder Dance – 40 minute class Thursday 3.50pm - 4.30pm

A structured class that introduces kinder aged children to dance with an emphasis on ballet and creative movement. This is a ‘drop and go’ class. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Fees: $155 per term

Performance: Kinder classes involve learning dances for two annual performances, our major production held at the end of Term Three and our end of year outdoor performance.

Pre Primary Ballet – 45 minute class Wednesday 4pm – 4.45pm

Pre-primary ballet is a formal introduction to classical ballet using the Bluebird Ballet Method, which is unique to our school and has been created using our knowledge and experience of Cecchetti, Vaganova and Royal Academy of Dance and includes Character Dance, which is an extension of European folk dance traditionally taught alongside ballet. This is a ‘drop and go’ class. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Fees: $160 per term

Performance: Pre-primary ballet involves learning dances for two annual performances, our major production held at the end of Term Three and our end of year outdoor performance.

Primary & Levels 1, 2, 3, Pre-elementary and Advanced Ballet – 60 minute class

Primary – Thursday 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Level 1 & 2 – Monday 3.50pm – 4.50pm

Level 3 & Pre-Elementary – Wednesday 4.45pm - 5.45pm

Advanced – Wednesday 5.45pm – 6.45pm

Our ballet classes sequentially extend and build upon technique and skills through the Bluebird Ballet Method, which is unique to our school and has been created using our knowledge and experience of Cecchetti, Vaganova and Royal Academy of Dance and includes Character Dance, which is an extension of European folk dance traditionally taught alongside ballet. These are ‘drop and go’ classes. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Fees: $170 per term

Performance: These ballet classes involve learning dances for two annual performances, our major production held at the end of Term Three and our end of year outdoor performance.

Open Ballet – 60 minutes – Thursday 5.30pm – 6.30pm

Open ballet is a purely technique class that promotes progress and practice of skills to benefit all students. Open ballet classes are available to any and all students already enrolled in Level 1 Ballet (and up), Primary Irish (and up) and Contemporary Dance.

Fees: $155 per term

Performance: This class does not work towards a dance for performance however it will promote improvement and progress across other classes.

Contemporary Dance – 70 minute class, Monday 6.10pm – 7.20pm

Contemporary Dance draws heavily from ballet technique combined with elements of modern, jazz and lyrical. Suitable for students aged 7 and up, this is a ‘drop and go’ class. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Fees: $180 per term

Performance: Contemporary class involves learning dances for two annual performances, our major production held at the end of Term Three and our end of year outdoor performance.

Irish Dance

Irish Dance students will learn traditional and modern step dances (solo work) as well Céilí Dancing (group work). We use both soft and hard shoes. These are a ‘drop and go’ classes. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Beginners: 45 minute class Tuesdays 4.30pm – 5.15pm …………… Fees: $155

Primary: 60 minute class Tuesdays 5.15pm – 6.15pm ………………. Fees: $170

Intermediate: 60 minute class Tuesdays 6.15pm – 7.15pm ………… Fees: $170

Uniform: TBA … We are currently revising our uniform requirements.

All Irish student require soft shoes:

Girls

https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/gazelle

https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/essential-pump

Boys

https://prodigydownunder.com.au/products/boys-capezio-reel

https://www.energetiks.com.au/jazz-shoe-split-sole

https://www.energetiks.com.au/jazz-shoe-split-sole-26

Hard Shoes Boys and Girls (Primary Irish upwards):

(We have a collection of hard shoes in limited sizes for students to use until you are able to purchase a pair)

https://prodigydownunder.com.au/collections/irish-hard-shoes

https://www.antoniopacelli.com/irish-dance-shop/category/irish-hard-shoes-irish-jig-shoes

Performance: Irish Dance classes involve learning dances for two annual performances, our major production held at the end of Term Three and our end of year outdoor performance. Additionally Irish Dance students perform publicly for Saint Patrick’s Day and other local events such as Christmas in Main Street and shows/fairs from time to time.

Production Class – 80 minute class, Monday 4.50pm – 6.10pm

Production class is available to all students aged 5 and up enrolled in any technique class (Ballet, Irish, Contemporary). During this class students will learn specific roles and characters within our storied dance performance. Production students have the opportunity to take on solo roles and be in additional group dances. This is a ‘drop and go’ class. Parents and carers are invited to watch classes at special events.

Fees: $155 per term

Uniform: TBA … We are currently revising our uniform requirements.

Performance: Production students learn roles and dances specifically for our productions and also perform publically at the Romsey Christmas Carols event. From time to time additional public performance opportunities may arise.

Enrolment and Fee Policy

A non refundable enrolment, insurance and music copyright fee of $18 per student will be added to your first invoice.
As a commitment to participating in our 2023 production a non-refundable costume fee of $20 will be added to your Term Two invoice. This helps covers the growing cost of costumes and props.
Invoices are issued within the first two - four weeks of term and are non refundable.
There are no refunds for missed classes.
All fees are due by the last week of each term. If fees are not paid by the due date, a late payment administration fee of $20 will apply.
If a student is unable to attend a class due to illness, injury or compassionate grounds, a makeup class can be taken, subject to class availability. Makeup classes are not offered to students who miss a class due to conflict with social or school engagements.

Discounts

We offer discounts for families, multiple classes and cash payments. You may receive either the class discount or family discount (not both). Discounts are offered on fees as follows:

CASH DISCOUNT

Fees paid in cash incur a 5% discount and can be sued in conjunction with either the family or class discount.

CLASS DISCOUNT

3 classes per week for individual students is a 10% discount on fees.

4+ classes per week for individual students is a 15% discount on fees.

FAMILY DISCOUNT

3 children per family enrolled is a 10% discount on fees.

4+ children per family enrolled is a 15% discount on fees.

Payment plans are welcome. Please contact us to arrange a plan that suits your situation.

ALL class fees are calculated for a full term. If a full term is not taken you can request your fees to be calculated at $25 per class

Meet Our Teachers

Claire Byrne

Claire commenced dance training at the age of two. She completed her RAD ballet and Modern ISTD examinations with Louise Dulac and later with Barbara Everson. Claire performed with the youth dance company, Ballet Theatre of Queensland during her teenage years and at the age of 15, started Irish Dancing classes, competing in state competitions and completing Irish Dancers Diploma examinations.

Claire was accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts, commencing her undergraduate study, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Student in Choreography bursary in 1999. She went on to complete a Bachelor of Education at the University of Melbourne where she majored in Drama.

Claire taught a year 4/5 class at Stonnington Primary School before becoming a founding teacher at Candlebark School. After several years of full-time teaching, she returned to the Victorian College of the Arts to compete a Postgraduate Diploma in Performance Creation in Choreography.

Claire has performed in numerous independent productions for festivals such as Next Wave and Melbourne Fringe, has performed with CARP children's theatre company, and appeared as a resident dancer at the Bijou Cabaret in Melbourne. She has taken a short course in acrobatics at Circus Oz in 2007 and has engaged in various adult classes at The Space from 2006-2013 including jazz, hip hop, breakdance, contemporary and lyrical.

Claire is currently studying a Master of Education at the University of Melbourne where she is researching teacher education and professional development in dance. She also teaches Performing Arts at Beveridge Primary School.

Amy Mullan

Amy began dancing at the age of 4 learning tap and Jazz at her local dance school.

At 5 years old she moved on to a Melbourne Ballet school and under Shirley Jones, a Cecchetti Diploma holder and life member, trained in the Cecchetti Classical Ballet method for 19 years. In this time Amy completed all the Cecchetti pre grade and grade level exams, as well as the Major examinations of, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced 1.

Amy has also completed her Modern ISTD examinations and has extensive experience in Character Dance and Support Adage, also known as Pas de Deux.

She completed her VCE Dance Styles studying units of Contemporary Dance, Ballet, and the life and works of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti.

Amy took part in many Rock Eisteddfod Challenges throughout her teenage years and was part of an award winning choreography team two years in a row. It is here that she took an active role is all aspects of production. After Secondary College Amy went to study Sports Administration and Management at Victoria University, and also completed Certificate IV in Hairdressing. She enjoyed a 10 year career in the hair and beauty industry before becoming a mum of three.

In recent years she has been teaching Ballet and Character Dance whilst continuing her own classical training and professional development.

In early 2019 Amy completed Certificate IV in Dance Teaching and Management .