A Nurturing Approach to Dance
Award-Winning Early Childhood Dance Education
Danielle Wiles leads our preschool dance programs with expertise and dedication. Her training includes full-time at Jason Coleman Ministry of Dance, Certificate IV in Dance Teaching & Management, and Advanced II Cecchetti certification.
Her teaching excellence has been recognised with the 2021 Ready Set Ballet Teacher of the Year and 2023 Ready Set Move Teacher of the Year awards.
Danielle's own dance journey began at age 2, and her experiences have shaped her teaching philosophy:
"I've always been drawn to the performance part of dancing. Having had several personally challenging experiences during my training and through my professional career, I was driven to channel my teaching expertise into a more nurturing and empathetic path."
This approach makes Danielle particularly suited to teaching our youngest dancers, bringing values of nurturing, empathy, and encouragement to every class.
“Mathis Dance Studios is unique in that we’ve figured out the formula to keep our family-run studio feel as we’ve grown over our 64-year legacy”
Building Strong Foundations
Our preschool program focuses on fundamentals first.
"We have a strong focus on developing the fundamentals first and build upon that. This strong foundation allows students to grow and learn in a safe and encouraging environment. We also take a holistic approach to the way we teach and have our focus on the 'whole person' not just on their ability to learn to dance."
The Family Feel That Makes Us Different
What makes our studio unique? Danielle shares her take…
"Mathis Dance Studios is unique in that we've figured out the formula to keep our family-run studio feel as we've grown over our 64-year legacy. As a teacher, having built lasting relationships, not just with young dancers but also with their families and our community, helps me to teach in a much more personal and individualised way."
The Full Circle of Dance Education
One of Danielle's most rewarding experiences illustrates the lasting impact of our teaching approach.
"Seeing Charlotte evolve both personally and professionally has been incredible. Charlotte started with us when she was very young and is now a member of our dance teaching team. Over the years, I have seen Charlotte grow in immeasurable ways. She has gained so much confidence and has become an extremely thoughtful and dedicated member of our teaching staff."
Creating Lasting Connections
The community aspect of dance education creates benefits far beyond technique!
"The lifelong friendships I've built and being fortunate enough to feel like part of the family. This may be cliché, but at Mathis Dance Studios, this really is the reality. I believe that this community experience creates a great deal of trust with our families and young dancers and opens doors to build safe and enduring friendships."
CONTACT US
Interested in our preschool dance programs? Contact us to learn more about Ready Set Dance and our other early childhood offerings with Danielle and our preschool team.
