Amy Tinning shares just how Branches Performing Arts literally branches out across the outback by bringing dance education to students in regional, rural and remote communities.
Along with her fellow teacher Tammy Gordon the pair cover a combined total of 2,000km every fortnight.
That is 300 students across seven towns. Hughenden, Richmond, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Winton, Longreach and Barcaldine.
Basically they teach a whopping 84 scheduled classes, and 80 private coaching sessions, to students in the Northern Territory, Outback Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
Significantly Amy first began delivering Distance Dance, Branches' online classes, well before Covid forced us all to transition to remote learning.
Subsequently Branches' Distance Dance and has been a leader in the way they have supported students and families unable to attend in-person dance classes due to pure logistics.
But distance and dance has always gone hand-in-hand for Amy.
As a rural kid who begged her parents to let her attend dance classes Amy inevitably sees no geographical barriers when it comes to learning dance.
Branches Performing Arts is deeply rooted in connecting dance with kids and their communities, and we are in absolute awe of their dedication to helping outback dancers' dreams come true.
Indeed that is part of the reason behind Amy branching out with her Co Stars Dance Company based in Mt Isa.
In this way Amy and Tammy are able to provide developing young artists with professional level performance experience and exposure to high quality dance training and artistic processes.
The team attend comps, perform at various events and are able to experience the magic of performance, Amy's first love.
Please enjoy this conversation with Branches Performing Arts Founder, Amy Tinning.
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