Why walk when you can dance; the heart of a dance community.

The ideal extracurricular for any age, find out how one of Kirikiriroa Hamiltons oldest dance schools came to be and what the highlights and benefits of dance have to offer.

Nestled in the heart of Kirikiriroa Hamilton is a little gem of a community; Valerie Lissette School of Dance. 

The school started life in 1976 as after school-classes and was originally housed in Hamilton East School. When a chance for a studio in Fairfield arrived in 1980 Valerie Lissette leapt at it, and the official Valerie Lissette School of Dance studio was established. From these beginnings, the school would expand to add a Beerescourt studio, more dance styles and a troupe of talented teachers. 

The school is a community that is still changing and expanding. Headed by Miss Valerie Lissette, and a team of teachers many of which are former students themselves. The school teaches a range of disciplines and has a reputation of excellence with graduates teaching and dancing all over Oceania. 

The school offers a range of dance styles for all levels from the storybook ballet at 3 years through to a 55+ ballet class, beautifully named Silver Swans. Exams are offered to all students emphasising correct preparation and knowledge. 

The teachers’ main goal is that the students are confident and sure of themselves, and have the skills and discipline required to succeed. Miss Sinead says that dance offers the benefits of “a sense of committing to something” and is “a discipline and physical awareness and movement” making it the ideal extracurricular for any age.

With a lifespan of over 40 years, it’s no surprise, that students who grew up in the dance community have come back with their own children and for some have discovered a career in dance. This continuity creates and continues the sense of family within the school.

“Within my studio, I am teaching children of children I’ve taught I feel we must be doing something right if they are still coming back. 

-V. Lissette 

When it comes to what the members of the dance school community love most, teachers agree that the highlight is the end of year show.

The shows have been running almost as long as the school itself. They are the most anticipated event of the year, bringing as it brings the students, teachers and parents together with the common goal of producing an even better show than the year before.

Kicking off as soon as exams are over, the teachers begin choreographing and the dancers set to work. As one of the first dance schools in Kirikiriroa Hamilton to put on a show, they have been running for over 30 years.

It is the teacher’s passion that continues to drive the school. When asked what the school means to them, Miss Lissette and Miss Sinead said there was “simply no way to sum it up” “It’s not one word or one line, it’s the friendships”