Dana Little

Lyrical/Ballet Teacher

Dana was only 14 years old when she commenced full time ballet training on the Gold Coast. She was the very first student whom the Queensland Government gave special dispensation to, to allow a student to leave school early to pursue an alternative vocation. Whilst training, a guest teacher from the Bolshoi Ballet Company, Moscow, Madame Raisa Struchakova offered Dana a scholarship to study at The Bolshoi Academy in Moscow. She declined the offer as she had her sights set on London. Upon finishing her training on the coast and being awarded her Solo Seal from the Royal Academy of Dancing she auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Royal Ballet School, London England.

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On her way to England Dana went to America to take classes with the American Ballet Theatre, which at the time was under the directorship of Mikhail Baryshnikov. Baryshnikov offered Dana a place at the School of American Ballet but she had already decided on entering The Royal Ballet School so she turned the offer down and continued to London. In London Dana competed in the Genee Awards and was awarded the Bronze medal. Whilst at the Royal Ballet School, Dana regularly performed with the Royal Ballet Company at Covent Garden in their productions of ballets such as Swan Lake, Cinderella and La Bayadere. After graduating from the Royal, Dana was offered a contract with Northern Ballet Theatre, England. With this company she travelled the UK performing many ballets including Giselle and Romeo and Juliet.

Upon returning to Australia Dana took a different direction and took dance contracts with Jupiters Casino and various musicals throughout Australia. She also worked at MovieWorld for a number of years performing the roles of CatWoman, dancer in all shows as well as The Maverick Grand Illusion Show.

Since retiring from her professional dance career Dana has been teaching dance for 15 years at a number of schools on the Gold Coast as well as guest teaching at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and freelance teaching at the various full time studios on the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Dana has a special interest and love for teaching and choreographing Lyrical Dance.