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AWYB Holiday Programs

We had a fantastic Summer Program in January of this year, with dedicated and talented dances students from all across the Border working hard and improving their technique, musicality and artistry! Our next holiday program will run from July 6th - 10th, taught by AWYB Artistic Director Beth Docker and our special Guest Teacher Jana Castillo.

Young Ballerinas

Junior Program - ages 6-8

Date and Time: Monday 6th July, 9:30am-2:30pm

Classes available: Stretch/Strength, Ballet, Contemporary, Classical Repertoire, Lyrical

Private lessons also available with Miss Beth

Intermediate Program - ages 9-11

Date and Time: 7th and 8th July.

9am - 3pm.

Classes available: Stretch/Strength, Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Classical Repertoire, Lyrical, Contemporary Technique and Tasking

Private lessons also available with Miss Beth

Ballet Practice
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Senior Program - ages 12+

Date and Time: 9th and 10th July, 9am - 3pm.

Classes available: Stretch/Strength, Ballet, Pointe, Classical Repertoire, Contemporary Technique, Contemporary Partnering and Tasking

Private lessons also available with Miss Beth

Teachers

Jana Castillo​

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Jana Castillo is a respected Australian contemporary dancer, celebrated for her artistry, resilience, and powerful storytelling through movement — as well as her uncanny ability to make an audience cry and laugh in the same breath. A winner of the 2018 Australian Dance Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer and the 2022 Green Room Award for Best Performer, Jana’s career spans stage, film, and international collaborations.

 

She’s performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to Sadler’s Wells (London) and The Joyce Theatre (New York), working with acclaimed companies including Australian Dance Theatre, Legs on the Wall, and Okareka Dance Company. In 2025, Jana is the Associate Artist for Legs on the Wall and a member of Dance Makers Collective, creating and performing innovative works across Australia.

 

Living with a neurological disability that can affect her movement and speech, Jana approaches performance — and life — with curiosity, humour, and a good old country work ethic. Her solo work Castillo, co-created with Prue Lang, was invited to perform at Théâtre National de Chaillot, Paris in 2024.

 

Beyond the stage, Jana is a body worker and creator of Self Fascia Release, a program helping dancers stay limber, laughing, and dancing longer than their physios think possible. Guided by her lived experience, Jana’s passion is helping others find greater access and connection within their own bodies, fostering expression, resilience, and joy through movement.

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Beth Docker

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  • 24 years’ dance experience.

  • 10 years’ teaching experience.

  • RAD Certificate of Dance Teaching (Ballet), RAD Registered Teacher Status.

  • Current Working With Children Check and 1st Aid Certificate.

  • Founder and Artistic Director of Albury Wodonga Youth Ballet.

  • Danced professionally with Melbourne City Ballet, performing across Australia and New Zealand.

  • Completed full-time ballet training at the prestigious Tanya Pearson Academy in Sydney.

  • Completed RAD Examinations from Grade 2 – Advanced 2, all with Distinction.

  • Qualified for and competed in the Genee International Ballet Competition 2014, held in Belgium.

  • Nominated for Callback (an annual showcase of exemplary performances and compositions by HSC Dance students) for all 3 HSC Dance pieces – Major Study Performance, Core Performance, and Core Composition.

  • Choreographic experience includes:

    • AWYB productions ‘The Nutcracker’, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Peter Pan’.

    • MYPA productions ‘Coppelia’, ‘The Ice Queen’, ‘The Little Mermaid’, ‘Peter Pan’, and ‘Hansel and Gretel’.

    • Contemporary works ‘Fracture’ and ‘Communication’ for School of Melbourne City Ballet’s full-time students.

    • Numerous troupes, solos, duos and trios for eisteddfods, competitions and concerts.

  • Past students have achieved:

    • Performing contract at Disneyland Paris.

    • Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University.

    • Successfully auditioned for and currently studying Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance) with Victorian College of the Arts.

    • Successful auditions for the Australian Ballet School Interstate Training Program.

    • Accepted into full-time ballet program at The National Ballet School.

    • Accepted into full-time ballet program at Queensland Dance School of Excellence.

    • Accepted into full-time ballet program at Queensland National Ballet School.

    • Accepted into full-time dance program at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School.

    • Accepted into full-time dance program at Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance.

    • Successfully auditioned for and completed Brussel’s International Ballet School Summer Intensive.

    • University of Wollongong Cheer and Dance team.

    • Distinctions and High Distinctions in RAD and ATOD Ballet exams.

    • Eisteddfod/ dance competition wins and major awards including Most Outstanding Dancer, Age Champion/ Aggregate, Championship wins and more.

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I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and love of dance, and bringing high-quality dance training to regional students. I support each student to improve their technique, musicality and artistry. Dance helps to develop important characteristics including confidence, discipline, memory and the ability to work as part of a team, and I am proud to be a dance educator.

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