One big day of learning, connection and inspiration in regional Victoria.
Presented by Ausdance VIC and Movement Zone Dance Studio, with the support of Mount Alexander Shire Council Events Grants Program.
The Castlemaine Dance Summit is a full-day event designed to inspire, inform and connect the regional dance community. Whether you’re a young dancer exploring your future, a teacher or studio owner looking to strengthen your practice, or a school wanting to expand creative opportunities for students—this day is built for you.
Held in Castlemaine, the Summit offers a rich program of practical workshops, professional development sessions, industry Q&As, and roundtable discussions. You’ll get the chance to train with leading teaching artists from both regional Victoria and Melbourne, experience a mock tertiary audition, explore accredited training options, and contribute to real conversations about how regional dancers and educators can be better supported.
This is more than a day of classes. It’s about opening doors, sharing knowledge, and building a stronger future for dance in regional Victoria. As a pilot program, this first summit will help shape a larger series of events we hope to run over 2026–2029 in other regional communities.
Castlemaine Dance Summit
Date & Time
8:15am-5pm, Saturday 11 October 2025
Location
The Phee Broadway Theatre, Castlemaine Town Hall, 212 Barker St, Castlemaine VIC 3450, Australia
Tickets
Youth Access Pass – $35 (+GST)
Pro Access Pass – $25 (+GST)
Concession – $20 (+GST)
Youth Roundtable Only – FREE
Educator/Professional Roundtable Only – FREE
Program highlights
- Workshops with leading regional and metro artists
- Mock Tertiary Audition with Transit Dance
- Youth Dance Company workshop led by Kyall Shanks
- Artist Q&A Panel featuring local and Melbourne-based guests
- Professional Development for teachers and studio leaders
- Accredited Training Info Session hosted by Ausdance VIC
- Sector Roundtables to have your say on regional dance support
Why you should come
Attending the Castlemaine Dance Summit is a chance to take the mystery out of what it really takes to pursue a career in dance. You’ll build the confidence and knowledge you need to take your next step, gain insights into training pathways and local opportunities, and connect with others in a growing regional dance network. Most importantly, you’ll have a voice in shaping the future of dance support in your region.
Dance Students (12–18 years)
Get a taste of the professional dance industry, take classes with leading artists, try a mock audition, and ask your questions in our Q&A.
Teachers and Studio Owners
Join in for professional development, explore accredited training options, and connect with others doing great work across the region.
Secondary Schools
Find out how vocational dance and creative industry programs can work in your school and support student pathways.
Your facilitators & teaching artists
Jayden Hicks is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and mentor, currently serving as Artistic Director of Transit Dance in Melbourne. His career spans performance, choreography, and artistic leadership, with a strong commitment to innovation and nurturing emerging artists.
Jayden has performed with companies including Opera Australia, Vertical Shadows, Melbourne Ballet Company, and Collaboration the Project. In 2013, his role in Yours Truly earned Green Room and Victorian Dance Award nominations.
He led Origins Dance Company from 2016, producing acclaimed works including a collaboration with Scotland’s National Youth Dance Company and the Australian Dance Award-nominated Transit Regional Creative Project.
Since joining Transit Dance in 2015, he has featured in key productions and shaped the company’s direction, becoming Artistic Director in 2024. Jayden has also contributed to Project Animo and The Australian Ballet, and in 2025 premieres Limen with MCollective. He is a Board Member of Ausdance Victoria, supporting the advancement of dance education and practice.
Sarah (Sas) Cook is an award winning dance professional and Dance Movement Therapist with 25 years' experience in performing arts, choreography and community development Sas has worked around Australia, choreographing and producing works for many youth organisations and Schools, impacting thousands of children. She has also choreographed various musicals, film, commercials, and music videos.
Sas is passionate about the healing and connecting power of dance and innovates regularly to add value to her work where she sees need. She created her dance school Movement Zone in 1999, XtremeInc Youth Projects in 2009.
Sas and Movement Zone are a valued and strong contributor to the Mount Alexander Shire community where she prioritises strong community partnerships, working closely with local residents, business owners, community groups, schools, and local government.
Stephanie Harrison is a dynamic performer, teacher, and creative facilitator with over 15 years of experience in the performing arts. Specialising in Dance, Singing and physical theatre, she has carved out a career that bridges professional performance with transformative education.
She is the creator of original programs such as Activate, a six-week somatic and archetypal dance journey and the beloved Kids Cabaret at the Castlemaine Fringe Festival, which empowers young people to step into their creativity with confidence. Dedicated to the education of her students, Stephanie nurtures both creative expression and individual growth, inspiring the next generation of performers and thinkers.
As her alter-ego Miss Lady Whisper, she has choreographed, composed original music, and performed acclaimed one-woman shows including The Art of Seeking Attention in Melbourne and its sold-out return at Castlemaine Fringe, with appearances at iconic venues like The Workers Club and The Espy.
Toby McKnight (he/him) is an emerging dance artist currently based in Melbourne/Naarm. Raised in Lutruwita/Tasmania, Toby was a member of Stompin Youth Dance company for over 7 years, performing in works by Alisdair Macindoe, James Batchelor, Adam Wheeler, Jack Zeising and Jenni Large for major Tasmanian arts festivals. He was a collaborator in Tasdance’s ‘Reactor’ for Mona Foma 2020, and in 2021 he danced on the Burnie foreshore at sunrise as a part of David mangenner Gough’s ‘mapali – Dawn Gathering’.
Since moving from Lutruwita, Toby has performed with QL2, been in two Yellowheel major works and performed in Tamara Cubas’ ‘Mutlitude’ as a part of RISING festival. With a passion for accessibility and availability of dance Toby is drawn to the communities dance creates and brings together. Toby is keen to further his practice professionally and explore how dance can respond to and shift the social-political landscape within which it sits.
Stephanie is a versatile performing artist, creative, and educator with a passion for exploring and experiencing art and cultures from around the world. She has trained extensively in various dance and music styles for over 20 years, and competed as a state-level gymnast.
As a choreographer and movement director, Stephanie most recently worked on the original Australian musical Double Homicide at The Manchester, Manchester and Haberdashery Factory Outlet, a comedic exploration of fast fashion. Her other musical theatre credits include, choreographing Mama’s Boys, Little Shop of Horrors and Urinetown and featured on-stage in Mamma Mia, Singin’ in the Rain and Chess. She is also a collaborating artist and Associate Producer with independent theatre company, Citizen Theatre.
Beyond the stage, Stephanie works as a corporate entertainer, voice coach and dance teacher, dedicating herself to inspiring creativity and passion in others.
Elise has had the opportunity to continue to thrive within the industry as a professional musical theatre artist, live musician, dance educator and choreographer for over 20 years. Her professional credits include Guys and Dolls, Jersey Boys, Pippin, An Officer & a Gentleman, A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to The Forum, Saturday Night Fever, Company and Menopause The Musical. She also performed as a cast singer and lead vocalist for Princess and Celebrity Cruise lines, eventually relocating to Europe to work with a local band.
For the past 3 years, Elise has given back to the Industry through dance education pathways, programs and festivals, furthering the advancement of dance as a lifelong skill and continuing the legacy that inspired her journey.
Acknowledgements
The Castlemaine Dance Summit is presented by Ausdance VIC and Movement Zone Dance Studio, with the support of Mount Alexander Shire Council Events Grants Program.
