Arete Academy of Arts Pty Ltd

We had a great time coming here for our weddings first dance lessons. We had Mikala and she was very good at teaching us from ground 0

We went to Hollie for wedding dance lessons as we were so nervous for our first dance! We didn’t want to completely trip over each other and didn’t want something that looked awkward and choreographed. Hollie was AMAZING. She knew exactly how to teach at a basic level, made us feel completely comfortable and we had so much fun in our lessons! We loved our first dance and the way that Hollie taught us meant we were able to spontaneously whip out an improvised dance at the end of our wedding night, which ended up being a total highlight! Can’t recommend highly enough! Thank you!

My son has been learning hip hop with Mr Shane and absolutely loves it. Couldn’t recommend the studio more highly

My daughter has danced, sang and performed at Arete for the last 3 years and is starting her 4th. The team are amazing- caring, talented and kind. If you want a dance school that challenges your child, improves their performance, values their individuality and genuinely cares for them, this is the place for you. Very happy, delightful school.

My daughter had been learning jazz for 5 years at another dance school. Now being a teenager she wanted to expand upon her dance knowledge by doing RAD Intermediate Ballet Exam Classes at Arete. For those that have dancers wishing to expand upon their dance abilities and take ballet and dance exams I believe that there is no better place than Arete for them to achieve their dance dreams. Hollie and her staff are wonderful and work with students to help them improve within a constructive environment.

I love watching my daughter grow her love of dance and her skills in this friendly and supportive environment.

Awesome and intimate studio right off the gateway motorway!

Love the energy and vibe of the place!

Our girls have been dancing at Prima/Arete since they were toddlers. All the teachers are incredible and so supportive. We are beyond happy with the Arete staff and their team of talented students.

Hollie taught us a routine for our wedding dance we loved every moment of our classes and would recommend her and this school of dance to anyone who asks.
Thanks Hollie xx

I have been dancing at Arete for just under one term, My experience so far has been amazing. Whilst it was initially challenging being strung into a new state, environment and a new level, I was pleased to realise that all the teachers are so keen to help you grow as a dancer and a person. I have already noticed changes in not only my technique but also my confidence.

Arete Arts are an amazing dance studio who provide quality education for all different levels. I love how supportive the teachers are, even for students with different limitations ie.injuries.

I just started at Arete this year as a student and it has been the best decision of dance school i have ever made. I could not be more happy here, the teachers are amazing and nurturing and the environment is extremely friendly. Miss Hollie and Miss Jemma who are beautiful, dedicated people who push me everyday to make me a better dancer, performer and individual.

I've been going here for almost a year in a half and a lot of good memories have been created with the students and teachers. Miss Hollie and Miss Jemma do and will continue to inspire me everyday. They are both amazing and unforgettable teachers and I will continue to remember them for the rest of my dance career.

Been a student for 7 and a half weeks and already love it. The teachers are great, the students are great overall there’s a wonderful atmosphere that surrounds the studio.

I've been dancing at Arete for 1 year and it's the best studio. The teachers and other students are amazing and so friendly. I have learnt so much from the teachers including Miss Jemma and Miss Hollie. They both are amazing teachers. I love Arete!

Although we can not fault the technical training received at Arete to say we were disappointed with our 12 mth experience is an understatement! Constant timetable changes, staffing changes, children of mixed age groups and abilities, being placed inappropriately into one class, regardless of teacher feedback to the Director. They offer the newly introduced National Training Package (Cert I through to Adv Dip) with absolute inadequate support to students enrolled in these courses. Children as young as 10yrs of age were left to navigate their own way through research tasks, short answer questions and essays. No set due dates, no observing of work completed, no liaising with parents. Just one hour a week come in and copy some notes written from a text book or document that the Director locates from the Internet herself! Not to mention coupling this with overwhelming schedules (our 12 yr old was at the time dancing for 24 hrs a week plus undertaking 1 hr of fitness training 6 days a week before school all the while still completing a full work load at secondary school. The mentality is if you can't keep up you aren't cut out for this industry! So children learn very quickly to conform and then the breakdowns come from all directions as they struggle internally and fail to cope. All examination, assessment and performance work was facilitated in a high pressured environment where children were expected to self teach and correct with minimal professional instruction in comparison to what the norm is at other dance schools. (Eg. 2 ballet classes per week to be eligible to sit exams for two to three terms prior to exam everywhere else - at Arete they got 45 min lessons, 1 per exam genre per week in Term 3 to sit exam in early Term 4. Our child still hadn't been taught 2 of the 4 dances required of her at the time she was required to sit her Mock exam). The icing on the cake for us was when our daughter was being bullied by a student and her family and other parents. The director was the one that brought it to our attention in the onset. The director however failed to appropriately follow her own policies in place surrounding bullying and harassment & we were constantly told, "it's tall poppie syndrome, they are just jealous of your daughters ability and that our child needed to grow a thicker skin to be able to survive in the industry & should expect this over her time in the dance world. " After we cancelled her enrolment they then displayed imagery of our child without consent and still do (they have blurred her face slightly) regardless of the instruction from ASQA (a government body overseeing RTO and VET Training providers) to remove these images in their entirety immediately. Parents and students PLEASE look past the glossy website, the over zealous preaching from the Director and the brand new facilities. There are still limited students here for a reason after going into their 3rd year of operation! Staff turnover is ridiculously high except for one brilliant young man! And altogether 14 families have left dissatisfied with this business at the time of us exiting this facility. Keep looking elsewhere for a studio that actually follows through with their big promises for your child and most of all that can be consistent. We found excellent tuition for our child and in 9 months we haven't had even one disruption to her schedule or allocated teachers! She's back smiling when she leaves class and with her hard work and dedication being recognised in the most wonderful achievements and accolades this year because her environment is 100% professional and supportive! This place makes 'Dance Moms' look like Disneyland! Your child deserves better.

Please ignore the review by Jen Thomas. With the exception of the training being taught, her description is a complete fabrication and the staff member being vilified was nothing but amazing to all staff and students. If Jen's tale were true, why did so many people, staff and students alike, leave when the "bully" did? Those of us who bore witness all know who the true bully is. Good luck to you all.

I have been attending this amazing school for 3 years now. It has been the best three years of my life so far, no doubt. The staff are friendly and well trained, and the students just have the best time together. I have developed so many friendships. As well as learning technique, the children also learn important life skills! Miss Hollie is a wonderful teacher for these incredibly talented students.

There were problems at Arete in the past, but the woman who caused them has left. She caused a great deal of discomfort and anxiety to children in her care (and resigned of her own accord after many issues). This woman had a hidden agenda and when it didn't play out the way she wanted she took it out on children. She is now gone and Arete is now thriving. Arete is an awesome dance school the kids and parents love it. It is an inclusive and loving environment for kids to learn to love themselves and dance. The director Hollie, supports, encourages and teaches them the best technique, and most innovative routines. They love and respect their teachers and fellow dancers and are not all about the win, but they do win quite often. Best place in Brisbane to have your child trained, we love it.

Our children have been attending this dance school since it opened & they couldn't be happier. They have so many opportunities here & have grown so much in confidence, as well as in technical ability, thanks to the dedicated team at Arête. New families soon feel at home & there is a great team vibe amongst the kids & parents too.