AND A FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, APAC

Since the Athletics and Performing Arts Centre (APAC) opened in late 2021, Mulgrave students have had a state-of-the-art, purpose-built dance studio at their disposal. Overseen by Lauren O’Neill White, the space features sprung flooring, floor-to-ceiling mirrors, colour-changing LED lighting, and a modern speaker system. “Having this space enables students unfamiliar with dance to become accustomed to the feel and etiquette of a professional class,” says Lauren. “It is also the proper environment for those with an existing dance focus to expand their growth and development.”

The studio provides precisely that to the likes of Grade 12 student, Leona Li, who credits the studio for helping her recover from an injury that kept her sidelined for the better part of a year. “Between Covid and my injury, I missed being in a dance studio; with this space, I gradually reintegrated dance into my life in a semi-structured way,” she explains.

Dance is now offered to students from preschool to Grade 12. “Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic senses are all targeted,” says Lauren. “Students are engaged through listening to the music, hearing the counts, moving, and watching the teacher demonstrate. This mind-body connection is a specific skill that nurtures an intense focus.”

Lauren says that dance intertwines with the existing Performing Arts and PHE curriculum, adding “dancers are athletes and artists. The core elements of dance focus on the body, space, time, energy, and relationships - its breadth allows for many interdisciplinary connections to music, theatre, film, athletics, and science.”

The impact of dance reaches far beyond the studio walls. For Leona, it was a pathway to explore her cultural heritage and improve many of the skills related to an IB education. “Beyond exploring who I am, dancing has helped me develop interpersonal skills, stress management strategies, resiliency, and selfconfidence. Through dance, I’ve learned to recognise that the process is as important as the results.”