Mathis School of Dancing

Background of the School - Celebrating 50 years of dance

Lynda Mathis established the school in Australia 50 years ago and is still a driving force in embracing our passion for dance. Lynda began dancing as a small child in England trained, taught and danced professionally in England for many years before moving to Australia and beginning the Mathis School of Dancing. Her philosophy for the Mathis School of Dancing is to pass on to the students her love and passion for dance and an appreciation of the many styles of dance and theatre performance. The current directors of our school are Jen Barfoot, Lynda's daughter and Tania Robins, a former Mathis student who are continuing our love of dance.

We operate in Braeside with students coming from the surrounding areas. We have students from Mentone, Mordilloc, Aspendale Gardens, Chelsea & Dingley and further. We have many dance styles and do examinations in TAAD tap and Cecchetti Ballet.

Our school caters for all dancers whether it be funk & hip hop for fun or students who wish to pursue a career in dance. We cater for adults wanting some dance fun and exercise and are starting Cheerleading in 2010.

About Our School

Over the years our school has achieved a great deal of success. Many of our students have gone on to achieve professional teaching qualifications, have their own dancing schools or are teaching in schools around Australia . Many have danced in professional shows such as A Chorus line , Cats , Guys and Dolls , Nine , 42 nd Street, Anything Goes , The King & I , Red Hot and Rhonda, The Bert Newton Show, Sesame Street Live, Saturday Night Fever .We are very proud of our students who have performed professionally overseas and were excited to hear recently that a former student, Wendy Taylor is now performing solos at the Lido in Paris.

Our students alway achieve excellent results in their examinations and are successful winning many prizes in competitions for all forms of dancing and choreography.

We encourage our students to further their knowledge by reading books and magazines, viewing videos and visiting the theatre. We organise trips to the Australian Ballet School for special classes, involve our students in conventions and perform annually at the Examination held in Public for the T.A.A.D. We have workshops often at our school inviting professional performers like Todd Mc Kenny to give us a class in their specialty. Or favourite dance genre. Sometimes these workshops will include makeup demonstrations and other theatrical skills.

Our class sizes are kept to a level where all students can receive individual attention. Student teachers help with the younger classes to ensure all children receive one on one tuition and demonstrations during class. Students are kept in similar age and standards and move through these standards together as a class to develop unity in the group. Transferring students are assimilated into the closet age and standard where possible. Sometimes it may be necessary for students to dance with younger classers in conjunction with their age group classes to develop their standard more quickly.

Choreography

Training for choreography is a feature within our school. The confidence and ability to make up dances is essential for dancers and we train our students from an early age to choreograph their own work.

During the year we have an internal choreographic competition in which all students are encouraged to makeup their own solos, duets, trios and groups. They perform their work for an audience and a trained adjudicator judge's their choreography who gives constructive critics to help them with their work. It is a really fun day and it is a pleasure to see all the students encouraging and supporting each other in their efforts.

Many of our students have used the choreographic skills gained in our school to assist or choreograph items for their secondary colleges Rock Eisteddfods and school musicals.