09/11/2025
🌟 Celebrating 50 Years of Barbara Jayne Dance Centre 🌟
Last night we had the joy of celebrating 50 years of the Barbara Jayne Dance Centre — a milestone made possible by the dedication, generosity, and spirit of our incredible community.
A heartfelt thank you to Jacqui Harrington, Karen Walpole, Jess Wirtz, and Claire Jones for organising such a beautiful evening that perfectly honoured our past and celebrated our future. The night was made even more special by Ann Vanlint, whose exquisite piano playing set the perfect tone for the evening, alongside Julianna and Rebecca Lanzilli, whose stunning performances on violin, viola, and saxophone filled the room with warmth and elegance, and Andrew Vanlint, who brought rhythm and energy to the night on the cajón and drums. Our deepest thanks also to Nadia Hawkins, who brought everything together seamlessly on the night and created the most beautiful cake, and to Anna McAuliffe, who dedicated countless hours editing fifty years of BJDC footage and photos into an incredible video tribute that captured the true heart and history of our studio.
We also extend our sincere thanks to Cameron Mitchell, who kept the night flowing with laughter, emotion, and a whole lot of fun — your warmth and charisma made the celebration truly unforgettable.
A very special mention must go to Miss Jenny, who has been with BJDC from the very beginning — teaching our youngest dancers and creating the most beautiful costumes, many of which are still cherished and worn on stage today. Her creativity, care, and unwavering dedication have been a cornerstone of our studio for decades.
To all of the teachers, past and present, thank you for giving your hearts, minds, and souls to shaping generations of dancers. Your passion, patience, and love for your craft have built the legacy we celebrated last night.
To Mr John, thank you for keeping us in line (quite literally!), tightening our tap screws when they loosen, and filling the studio with your kindness, humour, and warmth. You are truly the dad of BJDC.
And finally, to Miss Barbie — your lifelong dedication to your students and to the Barbara Jayne Dance Centre is the heart of everything we do. You care so deeply for each and every dancer, teaching us lessons that go far beyond the studio walls. We would never dare miss a ballet class or choose a birthday party over troupe! We are all better people because of you, and we will forever be Barbie girls and Barbie boys. 💛
Here’s to fifty wonderful years — and to many more still to come. 🥂✨
