RDA Farewells Danielle White

In 2016, Radford Dance Academy (RDA) Director, Ms Danielle White, was tasked with establishing a co-curricular dance studio for Radford College. Starting with around 160 students and a small group of dance teachers in the first year, Ms White and her team launched with their first end-of-year Showcase on 'Beginnings' at the ANU Arts Centre. The Showcase was a sell-out success.

The academy has grown in strength, styles and numbers each year since and currently offers more than 50 inclusive dance classes per week, with close to 700 registrations and a team of 15 teachers.

In 2018, the dedication and drive of the Radford dancers was evident to Ms White, and she decided to introduce performance groups in both technical and hip-hop styles to represent Radford in a variety of competitions throughout the years. There are now seven performance dance groups representing RDA.

It's no wonder that RDA has developed an excellent reputation and is well known in both the College and broader dance community. Over the past eight years, Ms White has taught hundreds of students and says she has thoroughly enjoyed watching them grow from strength-to-strength each year.

"When I was asked to take on the dance curriculum in 2018 for the Secondary School, I jumped at the new challenge. It has been lovely to reconnect with RDA dancers in my Year 7 and 8 dance classes and explore dance in a different light. As of this year, I have officially taught all students from Year 7 through to the current Year 12. It has been a wonderful experience bringing dance to students who wouldn’t experience it otherwise," said Ms White.

Ms White will step down as RDA Director but will continue to teach the Secondary School dance curriculum. She thanked the RDA families and dancers for all their support and participation in the academy over the years. She also extended a heartfelt thanks to Mr Dylan Mordike and Mr Nick Akhurst, who have supported her vision since day one.

"Due to the ever-increasing demands of running a large dance studio and the growing dance curriculum for Years 7-9, I have had to make the difficult decision to step away from the role. I leave with many happy, funny, challenging and warm memories and experiences. I know that the studio is left in good hands with a wonderful team of dedicated dance teachers and Mia Ma who now works as the full-time administrator of RDA."

Miss Ma hails from a strong operational management background and her duties fall into assisting with the running of classes, assisting with organising the competitions and Showcase, and helping teachers and students.

Principal Fiona Godfrey expressed the College's appreciation for Ms White's commitment to developing both the RDA and a dance curriculum for the Secondary School.

"Danielle's extraordinary passion and enthusiasm for dance are truly unmatched. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to her for the time and effort she has dedicated to RDA. Dance represents a fundamental component of Radford's educational offering and Danielle should take pride in all that she has accomplished," said Mrs Godfrey.

The RDA administration team will continue to assist students and families following Ms White's departure.

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