Director – Georgie Pirie BA Dance (VCA); RAD RTS

After growing up on a farming property south of Narromine in central NSW, attending local dance lessons and spending school holidays training intensively at exclusive Ballet schools in Sydney, Georgie auditioned for the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne and much to her delight was accepted into the prestigious college. Seventeen year old Georgie was about to embark on the biggest learning curve of her life thus far.

During her three years at college, she underwent intensive training in all aspects of dance – both physical and theoretical. The course was extremely demanding and strenuous with many pupils not progressing to graduation, however, due to her sheer determination to succeed and complete what she had set out to do, Georgie graduated with high-grade honours at the end of 1999. She is in fact, the only teacher in her area who gained entry to the VCA, and the only teacher with a BA in Dance.

After graduating, Georgie had time to reflect on her achievements and enter the next stage of her life. She became a member of a post graduate dance company, secured positions as a Pilates instructor at several different schools throughout Melbourne, and entered the world of retail to gain a new experience and to make ends meet – proudly making her way to store manager.

At the age of 21, and twelve months after graduating, Georgie was offered to take over the reins at what was then called Penny Furner’s Dance Connection. Even though owning her own studio was more of a long-term goal for Georgie, she could not pass up the opportunity to move back home and invest her newfound knowledge and experience into the students, and provide them with expert training & guidance - unlike any other studio in Dubbo, Narromine or Wellington.

Over this relatively short period of time, the studio has evolved dramatically. Georgie and her staff have tripled student numbers, moved into wonderful new premises at 116 Erksine St. Dubbo, opened branches in Narromine and Wellington, and introduced Drama & Hip-Hop to the already extensive curriculum.

The performance team continues to grow and strengthen, receiving more and more accolades and invitations to perform each year. Georgie has developed a delightful tiny tots programme for students as young as 20 months old, and has new and exciting ventures in the pipeline!

Georgie continues to further her studies, last year completing a second degree in Classical Ballet teaching, and attends regular seminars and training workshops with her staff to stay up-to-date with global trends and ideas, and to keep challenging their artistic minds.

The depth and breadth of Georgie’s training and teaching experience to date, has proven to be an invaluable grounding for her career, as she enters her seventh year at the helm - already exceeding her own goals and expectations. It is, therefore, no wonder that the Performing Arts Studio is rapidly emerging as the driving force in regional dance and Performance training.