HARBOUR  PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

Coffs Harbour is located on  the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, (the red dot marks the spot). If you're from overseas, our region has beautiful beaches and a climate to match. If your  driving  through Coffs, you may recall  the Big Banana on the northern side of the city, nice beaches everywhere, whale watching  at the right time of the year and a beautiful hinterland.

How to find the school

The  HPAC studios are located  in Keona Circuit on the southern side of the city. Turn into North Boambee Road.  Then first turn left, then  right and then about 100 metres further  on, on  the right side.  It’s a  large double story building with probably lots of music   coming out of it, if its during term time.

School  Charity  work and End of Year Performances

In  past years  Dancestar  studios has used the Jetty Memorial Theatre  facilities    for  the  end of year concert performances.   For  each year the proceeds  after expenses from the  Concerts are  donated to  a chosen charity. The principal,  Francesca  Boros  hopes  the Jetty Theatre will be available in future years for the event and the  schools    donation to a local  charity will continue to be a part of the calender. Other performing opportunities include  the Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod which is usually scheduled for the June long weekend and the Port Macquarie Eisteddod held in the September/October holidays.

Harbour Performing Arts Centre as it is now known has had a long and colourful history in Coffs Harbour.  I have a former mother  to thank for this information which has now got me started. Lara thank you! Lara used to operate "Lara Garner Dancers'  until 1989.

In fact when Francesca   took over  in 2007  we thought the school  might  have been ten to twelve years old. Let me reassure you, I was wrong ! The school can be traced back to the 1980's. WOW ! and the  principal at that time was Val Jenkins.  In about 1980 Toni Jenkins took over. Her studio was in the Centrelink Offices in Duke Street where a community hall existed.  The school in the earlier days followed the Checetti ballet syllabus. Today we follow the 'Royal Academy of Dance' syllabus. (RAD) When  Kate Barber took over it changed to R.A.D.  and moved down to the  upstairs  area of the jetty plaza. When Jacqui took over from  Kate it moved out to Keona Circuit where it still is today and probably will stay for a good many years.

197?- 1980: Val Jenkins- ?

1980-1985: Toni Allen-  Toni Allen School of Dance

1985-1995: Louise Condon- Coffs Harbour Dance Studio

1996-2002: Kate Barber- Coffs Harbour Dance Studio

2002-2006: Jacque Hoole- Dancestar

from 2007: Francesca Boros-  Harbour Performing Arts Centre

It would be  a long list, but I'm  up to a challenge. If you have the time and would like to send me any photos, testimonials and or  accounts of your time at the school and what you're doing now  I'd only be so happy to publish them on the web here.  I'd like to make this area an enjoyable and work in progress area, so come on and help me!........

Cassie Lee: from the "So you think you can dance",  2008 TV show  spent some time at the school  with Kate Barber.

Meredith Wilson : Top 100 'Do you think you can dance' 2009

BALLET, DANCE, R.A.D., RAD, LGTDA TAP, JAZZ DANCE, CONTEMPORARY DANCE, MUSICAL THEATRE, COFFS HARBOUR, FRANCESCA BOROS, SCHOOL, Merryn Gould, RHYS EDWARDS, MEREDITH WILSON, JENNIE CULLEN, NAMBUCCA, BALLET SCHOOL IN COFFS HARBOUR, HARBOUR, STUDENTS, EXCELLENCE, HIGH STANDARDS, EISTEDDFOD, HAPPY, FRIENDLY

dance teachers, wanting dance work, looking for dance work, auditions, wanted, employment, jobs, choreography,