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The valley dance studio

Our Story

Our mission is to cultivate a vibrant and inclusive dance community where individuals of all ages and abilities discover the joy of movement, build confidence, and foster lifelong friendships.

The Valley Dance Studio began with a humble dream to bring accessible arts to the Valley community, where opportunities in the arts were limited. Originally run by a local family for over 10 years and then Woolgoolga Performing Arts, the studio was taken over by Gabby Shanks in 2023. Gabby is a lifelong dancer and performer with a passion for various styles. Her vision for the studio is to continue the legacy of fostering a strong sense of community while creating a nurturing space where individuals of all ages and abilities can experience the transformative power of movement.

Gabby's Story

Gabby grew up in the Hunter Valley and started dancing at the age of 3. For 14 years she trained in Tap, Jazz, Ballet and Musical Theatre. Throughout these years, she completed the Les Griffith Tap Syllabus (L.G.T.D.A) as well as Ballet (R.A.D) and singing (AMEB) exams. Competing and winning Eisteddfod Championships and Scholarships in Newcastle and Sydney which led her being accepted into the Brent Street Studios for a full time performing arts course in 2011. She continued on and furthered her studies in the arts for another two years at the Australian Institute of Music, studying a Bachelor of Music Theatre.

In her 7 years in Sydney, she gained extensive experience in Hotel and event management, teaching Tap and Jazz at various studios, and worked in a number of local theatre shows, events and film, including Baz Luhrman’s The Great Gatsby at Fox Studios.

Gabby moved to the Coffs Coast in 2018 and now considers it home. She has been teaching and performing locally since 2019 including performing in and choreographing Pricilla Queen of the Desert as part of the Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company in 2022.

Client Testimonials

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“A testimonial from a client who benefited from your product or service. Testimonials can be a highly effective way of establishing credibility and increasing your company's reputation.”
Client Name
“A testimonial from a client who benefited from your product or service. Testimonials can be a highly effective way of establishing credibility and increasing your company's reputation.”
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