Mid North Coast Senior Dance Ensemble

The Mid North Coast Senior Dance Ensemble program aims to foster the development of talented dance students from public schools within the Coffs Harbour, Clarence and Grafton area.

Following the success of the program in previous years, we are thrilled to annouce that in 2024 there will be a Senior Ensemble catering for students from Year 9 to 12 and a Junior Ensemble catering for students from Year 5 to 8.

The ensembles are aimed at talented dance students who display a high level of technical skill and performance quality and wish to be involved in the choreographic process to create, learn and perform one contemporary dance work at the Mid North Coast Dance Festival.

Successful applicants will be working collaboratively with Janessa Dufty to create a contemporary dance work.

Janessa Dufty is a recognised and acclaimed contemporary dancer, choreographer and educator. From a strong classical training background with Adele Lewis, achieving Solo Seal while on scholarship at Queensland Dance School of Excellence, Janessa went on to graduate with a Diploma of Contemporary Dance from New Zealand School of Dance. Over the last two decades Janessa has toured Australasia, the Pacific, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the world with New Zealand’s Black Grace and as a senior artist with the Sydney Dance Company. She has choroegraphed and featured in roles for advertisement, television and award-winning films. Janessa lives on Yaegl Country and is a passionate artist, creator and educator who aspires to share her experience, excitement and knowledge with the next generation.

The ensembles perform at the Mid North Coast Dance Festival in June and will audition to perform at State Dance Festival in Sydney.