Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance

When Is the Best Time to Start Dance Lessons?

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:22:00 +0000

One of the most common questions we receive at JOKSOD is: “When should my child start dance?”

The simple answer? There is no single ‘perfect’ age—but starting early can make a lasting difference.

Classical Ballet: The Foundation for Every Dancer

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:58:00 +0000

Technique is the foundation of everything a dancer does. It’s how movements are executed safely, correctly and with control, allowing dancers to grow with confidence and longevity. And at the heart of that foundation is Classical Ballet.

Why Conditioning Matters for Dancers

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Dance is an athletic art form. Every leap, turn and extension demands strength, control, flexibility and stability. Without proper conditioning, dancers are more susceptible to fatigue, poor technique and injury.

How to Choose the Right Dance School for Your Child: 7 Things Every Family Should Look For

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:36:00 +0000

Choosing the right dance studio is one of the most important decisions a family can make, whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your training to new heights. A great studio doesn’t just teach steps: it nurtures confidence, builds

JOKSOD Summer School 2026 | Bookings open!

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:44:00 +0000

JOKSOD Summer School for 2025 is here!

Why Dance Matters: The powerful benefits of dance for young children

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000

At Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance (JOKSOD), we see every day how dance shapes children in ways that reach far beyond the steps they learn. While dance is joyful, expressive and fun, it is also one of the most powerful activities a young child can

2026 Enrolments OPEN!

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:44:00 +0000

ENROLMENTS are NOW OPEN FOR 2026!

JOKSOD Concert 2025 -SOLARA Together we Shine

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:20:00 +0000

TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Join us for ‘SOLARA’ Together We Shine: a radiant celebration of dance, community, and creativity. Experience incredible performances from the most talented local dancers.

A Dream Realised: Our Studio Extension is Complete

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Some dreams take time — a long time. For us, this one has been more than five years in the making. Five years of planning, hoping, designing, revising, and at times, starting again. There have been hurdles, setbacks, delays, and plenty of moments where we truly wondered if it would ever be possible. But through every challenge, we held onto the vision: a space where dancers could continue to grow, create, and shine. And today, we are incredibly proud, and deeply grateful, to say...

Taking Care of Your Body Over the School Holidays

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000

At JOKSOD we know how hard our dancers work during the term and how tempting it can be to switch off completely once the holidays arrive! But keeping your body healthy over the break is just as important as your classes and rehearsals.

The Joy of Dance Competitions: 6 Reasons Why We Love Them at JOKSOD

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:46:00 +0000

The world of competition dance sometimes gets an unfair reputation, often fuelled by the high-drama portrayals on reality TV. But at Joanne O’Kelly School of Dance (JOKSOD), we see a very different side—one that’s deeply positive, emp

Meet the Teachers: Miss Alyssa Brooke

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:05:00 +0000

The newest addition to our JOKSOD teacher family is Miss Alyssa Brooke

Find out more about the delightful Alyssa in our Teacher Spotlight series.

7 things to look for in a dance studio!

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Choosing the right dance studio is an important decision that can shape a dancer’s experience and progress. Whether your child is just starting out or looking to take their training to the next level, finding a studio that provides a strong foundati

JOKSOD Cecchetti Scholars 2025

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:04:00 +0000

Each year Cecchetti Ballet Victoria provides a Scholars program for students that are excelling at their craft and provides a monthly subsidised extension class at Cecchetti headquarters with world-re

Adult Classes at JOKSOD!

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:00:00 +0000

At Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance (JOKSOD), we believe that dance is a lifelong journey, open to all ages and experience levels. Our Adult Dance Classes are thoughtfully designed to offer a welcoming environment where individuals can explore movement, enh

JOKSOD Summer School 2025 | Bookings open!

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 05:49:00 +0000

JOKSOD Summer School for 2025 is here!

2025 Enrolments OPEN!

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:09:00 +0000

ENROLMENTS are NOW OPEN FOR 2025!

JOKSOD Concert 2024 - La Perle 30th Anniversary

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:22:00 +0000

TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Join us in celebrating 30 years of excellence with Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance as we present our anniversary concert, La Perle.

The pearl, a symbol of purity, wisdom, and integrity, beautifully represents our journey and

OUR HIDDEN TREASURE: ZAN O’KELLY

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 03:00:00 +0000

We’d love to introduce everyone to the true heart and hero at JOKSOD, my mum Zan. Without her we could not possibly operate as a successful studio.

Born to Perform - ComDance Wrap up Blog Post

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 01:06:00 +0000

Our first time competing in Born to Perform -ComDance and what an incredible experience we had!

JOKSOD Dancers featured as rising star dancers in Herald Sun

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

We were thrilled to see some of our dancers chosen by the Herald Sun newspaper this week as Rising Stars of the future! What a proud moment for JOKSOD and a huge congratulations to these dancers and we can't wait to see what happens in their future career

How to support your dancer when practising at home

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

We understand that students will want to practice their dances at home, particularly solos and troupes which we really encourage. However, we often get asked what is the best way to support dancers as we want to ensure they are practising safely a

JOKSOD students in The Australian Ballet ITP 2024

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 06:14:00 +0000

At JOKSOD we are so fortunate to have had numerous students through the years that have successfully auditioned to be part of the prestigious Australian Ballet School Intr

JOKSOD Disney themed Disco! Friday 19th April

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 04:21:00 +0000

It's time for a FUN night at our Disney themed DISCO!

Meet our 2024 JOKSOD Student Teachers

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:52:00 +0000

Every year we provide opportunities for some students to further their development by assisting our qualified teachers in our junior school.

Meet the Teachers: Miss Ava McSweeney

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:13:00 +0000

The newest addition to our JOKSOD teacher family is Miss Ava McSweeney!

Find out more about the delightful Ava in our Teacher Spotlight series.

Dance Competitions: The positives and why we participate

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The competition dance scene has a controversial reputation, particularly with the rise in popularity of reality TV shows. However, we want to talk about the positive side to dance competitions and how rewarding they can be for students.

JOKSOD Pathway Programs 2024!

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 11:00:00 +0000

We've been running our successful Classical extension program for years and now we've expanded to offer a range of NEW and exciting Pathway Programs for local dancers in 2024!

JOKSOD Summer School 2024 | Bookings open!

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:29:00 +0000

JOKSOD Summer School for 2024 is here!

2024 Enrolments OPEN!

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

ENROLMENTS are NOW OPEN FOR 2024!

Congratulations to our Yr12 graduates 2023

Mon, 13 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

We are so unbelievably proud of each of our incredible Year 12 Graduates this year, they are all delightful, hard working, dedicated and talented dancers who completely embody our JOKSOD values and spirit.

JOKSOD Concert 2023 - ETHEREAL

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:00:00 +0000

TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance presents its dance concert for 2023 "Ethereal".

Enter to an ethereal world created through poetic imagination and join us on a discovery of magic through dance and movement.

West Gippsland Dance Festival Wrap Up 2023!

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 11:33:00 +0000

JOKSOD recently had the most wonderful time at The year continues to fly by and before we know it we are at the end of Term 3!

Once again we had a jam packed term 2 and 3 for our dancers with lots of wonderful and special events happen

Phoenix Festival of Dance 2023 wrap up

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:04:00 +0000

Wow! We’ve loved our week at Phoenix Festival this year and we are so proud of all our students growth and their outstanding performances.

Classical Ballet is the foundation of all dance

Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 +0000

The word ‘technique’ is thrown around a lot in the dance world, from scholarship auditions to dance competitions and the weekly dance class, dancers are encouraged to work on their ‘technique’ as a marker of how they can improve

JOKSOD Highlights Term 1 2023

Wed, 10 May 2023 02:00:00 +0000

We are so proud of all our students and how hard they are working this year. It has been a wonderful atmosphere in the studio as our dancers are expressing so much joy in doing what they love and also improving on their technique and strength all the time

Meet the Teachers: Miss Tess Hanna

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to meet our next teacher in our Meet the Teacher series for 2023?

This week we're introducing the delightful Miss Tess Hanna.

Introducing our 2023 JOKSOD Student Teachers

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Every year we provide opportunities for our senior students to further their development by assisting our qualified teachers in our junior school.

JOKSOD Disco! Friday 31st March

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000

It has been quite a few years since we've been able to run the popular JOKSOD Disco night!

Easter Super Saturday 2023

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

We're so excited to run our Easter Super Saturday event again! It's always such a fun day for all our students.

Meet the Teachers: Miss Ella McMillan

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 06:00:00 +0000

This week it is the fabulous Miss Ella McMillan. Majority of our beautiful JOKSOD community would recognise Miss Ella as a previous JOKSOD student from just two years ago, who has gone on to study dance full time at Patricks School of the Arts!

Adult Ballet Class - starts Mon 27th Feb!

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

We are so excited to bring back Adult Ballet classes this term at Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance in Langwarrin.

Introducing our JOKSOD Cecchetti Scholars 2023

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 04:00:00 +0000

Meet the Teachers: Miss Jess Mortlock

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 02:00:00 +0000

Kicking off 2023 is our fabulous, Miss Jess, who is not a new face to the team but part of the family for over 11 years as our intermediate and senior contemporary teacher. Jess has such a special eye for choreography and incredible expertise in technique

Ben Cure Lyrical Masterclass

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 08:00:00 +0000

We are beyond excited to welcome back Ben Cure to our studios to run a Lyrical Extension Masterclass!

Amy Harris Masterclass at JOKSOD!

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:00:00 +0000

Amy is a Principal Artist at the The Australian Ballet company and it is such an honour and privilege to have her visit our studio and share her expertise.

She will be holding a masterclass for students in Grade 3 ballet and above at JOKSOD on<

JOKSOD Cecchetti Ballet Exam Results 2022

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In July and September this year some of our students presented for their Cecchetti Ballet Australia exams. Each year we are always so impressed with the level of commitment, determination and hard work that all our students put into their exam work and it

JOKSOD Summer School | Bookings open!

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

JOKSOD Summer School is here!

Enrolments for 2023 are open - Come to our Enrolment Day!

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 23:00:00 +0000

Our Enrolments for 2023 are open and we look forward to welcoming you to our Enrolment Day on Saturday 28th January!

TICKETS ON SALE GRATUS CONCERT 2022

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 01:00:00 +0000

The main lesson we’ve learned over the last three years is gratitude. ‘Gratus’ means gratitude, grace and welcoming - a fitting title for our 2022 concert.

JOKSOD students in The Australian Ballet ITP 2023

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:00:00 +0000

At JOKSOD we are so fortunate to have eight students that are part of the prestigious Australian Ballet School Intra/Interstate & International Training Program (ITP). All of these students have successfully auditioned to be part of the program alongside dancers across the whole country in the school's National Audition Tour. ITP, as explained by The Australian Ballet School, is a great benefit to enhance a student's dance training as they participate in Classical Balle...

Meet the Teachers: Miss Amy Browne

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 01:00:00 +0000

The next teacher we want to introduce you to in the 'Meet the teachers' series of blog posts is the sensational Miss Amy Browne!

West Gippsland Dance Festival Wrap Up

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:00:00 +0000

What a fabulous time we all had at West Gippsland Dance Festival. This dance comp was special as we've not been able to participate for 3 years due to lock downs.

Meet the Teachers: Miss Lucy McDermott

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:00:00 +0000

We can't wait to introduce you to our next teacher in the 'Meet the teachers' series of blog posts, the wonderful Miss Lucy.

Lucy has been part of the JOKSOD family since she was 4 years old and is an incredibly important member of the tea

New pointe shoes for 2022!

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 12:00:00 +0000

It's that time of year when another cohort of JOKSOD dancers get to fulfil their dreams and purchase their very first pair of pointe shoes! It is such a special experience for a young dancer and we could not be more thrilled for our students.

Enrico Cecchetti Medal Test Awards 2022

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Earlier this year some of our dancers presented for the Enrico Cecchetti Victorian Medal Test auditions, on 3rd April. At this audition the students perform an open class based on the medal level they can present for.

Meet the teachers: Miss Kristina Hardner

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Welcome to our 'Meet the teachers' series of blog posts where we want to introduce you to our fabulous team at JOKSOD!

PHOENIX FESTIVAL OF DANCE 2022 WRAP UP

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 03:00:00 +0000

We had such a fantastic week at Phoenix Festival, our first competition for 2022. All the students have been so wonderful and worked so hard in preparation for this event. Planning for this started in January and there were countless of hours of behi

JOKSOD Spotlight Stars: Term 1 2022

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Huge congratulations to our wonderful students who have been awarded the JOKSOD Spotlight Star Encouragement Award for term 1 2022!

The Beauty of Dance Friendships

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 11:00:00 +0000

Every day in the JOKSOD studio we are lucky to witness beautiful friendships blossoming amongst the students. These are relationships that transcend age, school and ability, they are formed and cemented with a combined love of dance.

Introducing JOKSOD student teachers 2022

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

At JOKSOD we provide opportunities for our senior students to further their development by assisting our qualified teachers in our junior school. The seniors get so much out of helping with the younger students and they form beautiful relationships ove

Congratulations to our Cecchetti Scholars 2022

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

Cecchetti Ballet Victoria provides a Scholars program for students that are excelling at their craft which involves monthly subsidised tuition at Cecchetti headquarters for those who are lucky enough to be chosen.

Congratulations to our Cecchetti Exam students!

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Just one week after our concert in December last year a cohort of JOKSOD students sat their Cecchetti examinations for the year. We are so proud of every single one of these students after such a huge week of concert prep to then step back into the stu

JOKSOD Summer School Recap!

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0000

Wow! What a start to the dancing year we had with our JOKSOD Summer School! It was a complete collection of fun, learning, new experiences and new friendships for everyone involved and we were so thrilled to see all the beautiful smiling faces turn up at

JOKSOD Summer School is back | Meet the guest teachers!

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 06:00:00 +0000

After being unable to run our programs at full capacity due to the restrictions over the last two years, we’re thrilled to be able to announce our Summer School program for 2022 on Thursday 27^th and Friday 28^th January!

What to look for in a dance school

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:00:00 +0000

So, you’ve decided you want to enrol your little one in dance or ballet classes. What a great decision! Dancing is a beautiful introduction to extra-curricular activity where your child gains so much joy from movement and self-expression.

SOLLEMNE 2021 | The concert that defied the odds!

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

We did it! We accomplished what we dreamt about, we managed to deliver a magnificent concert with just four weeks in the studio to prepare!

SOLLEMNE | Joanne O'Kelly School of Dance 2021 concert

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 20:00:00 +0000

We're delighted to present Joanne O'Kelly's School of Dance 2021 concert, Sollemne

JOKSOD presents ‘Dancing Apart Together’ | 2020 concert movie

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 02:00:00 +0000

After such a crazy year and so many challenges we are delighted to finally be able to screen the JOKSOD movie of our 2020 concert! We were determined that the COVID-19 pandemic was not going to stop us from a performance experience last year. So, we ca

Springing into Term 4 with our holiday masterclasses

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

We’re so lucky at JOKSOD to be able to call on a range of phenomenal guest teachers to work with our students during school holidays. And these Spring holidays were no exception as we didn’t let COVID get in our way!

Dancing Apart But Staying Connected

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 03:00:00 +0000

There’s no doubt that 2021 is not the year we expected, we thought we were over the worst of COVID shutdowns impacting our dancing life! However, despite the struggles we’ve experienced in Victoria with the latest long lockdown, we continue

Our new website is launched

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 05:00:00 +0000

We are really excited with our new website, let us know what you think. We will be updating our 2017 timetable on Tuesday the 20th 2016.