Celebrating 25 Years of Dance, Passion & Inclusion!

For 25 years, Diakosmos Dance Academy has celebrated the joy of dance, creativity and the performing arts, building an inclusive community where every dancer feels welcome, valued and inspired.

We are proud to highlight the importance of representation, accessibility, belonging and creating opportunities for everyone.

We understand that stepping into a dance studio can feel daunting, especially for children who may feel nervous about being watched, judged or keeping up. Through intentionally small class sizes and personalised teaching, we nurture confidence, develop strong age-appropriate technique and celebrate every achievement.

At Diakosmos, every dancer, regardless of ability or experience, is encouraged to learn, develop skills and reach their individual potential. Friendship, belonging and feeling accepted are at the heart of our community. The happiness, confidence and enthusiasm of our students shine through and are often what others notice most about our dancers.

Testimonials

“We love coming to Diakosmos Dance Academy. It’s a very friendly place and has an intimate feel – there’s no sense of being a number that is churned through en masse. The classes cater to each person’s needs and abilities so if some need the extra challenge, there is scope for that, and if others need some extra coaxing along to catch up, that is provided too. Since my daughter began classes, three of her school friends have also joined and really enjoy it.”

“My daughter and I couldn’t be happier with Diakosmos! All of the teachers and staff are so friendly and nurturing. The Diakosmos team have allowed my daughter to expand her level of understanding of dance. She has improved so much since being with Diakosmos I can’t thank the team enough! During lockdown, Diakosmos has been great with making classes go ahead. It is something my daughter looks forward to. The team gives a lot of one on one attention to each student which I think is great!”

“In a world in which we are rushing from one place to the next, juggling tasks left, right and centre, Diakosmos Dance Academy is that special place where we stop to linger, to feel the music and explore our inner self, the heart of dance/ it has been said “…all the world’s a stage…” (Shakespeare). Here, at Diakosmos Dance Academy, this stage opens up a world for dancers to explore, a place abounding in imagination and individual expression. With dignity and respect, each and every child is generously offered this world to simply and purely be.”

Our Mission

Our mission is to create a nurturing, and inclusive dance environment where every student feels seen and valued.

We honour the integrity of dance as an art form, placing care and intention into all aspects of our programs, including music, movement, and costuming. Our focus remains on building strong social connections, creativity, expression and skill development across all ages, always dancing from the heart.

Through a non-competitive and holistic approach to the Performing Arts, we aim to nurture not only capable dancers, but grounded, confident young people, empowering them in the studio, on stage, and in life.

OUR PRINCIPAL

Dianne De Battista

Dianne, a seasoned artist with 30+ years in performance, choreography, and education, has crafted an outstanding dance program at Diakosmos Dance.

Specialising in Contemporary Dance, she trained at the prestigious Martha Graham School in New York during the transformative ’90s. Dianne expanded her expertise through studies in London, New Zealand, and Australia.

A qualified teacher, she seamlessly blends her dual passions, focusing on individual dance journeys for mainstream and specialist school students.

Dianne’s holistic philosophy emphasises self-expression, development of strong technique over time, enhancing physical strength and mobility in a creative setting.

Dianne holds a Bachelor of Education from Deakin University (Dance & Drama) and a Graduate Diploma (Choreography) from the University of Melbourne (VCA) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110.

Dianne sees the potential in every student, and inspires them to flourish in performance, and in life.

Our Classes

Performing Arts Classes

Diakosmos offers classes for Contemporary Dance, Cecchetti Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Drama, Street (Hip Hop), Diakosmos Dancing Darlings and Adult All Abilities Musical Theatre.

Our Programs

Aspire Program

Our innovative Aspire Program empowers students who have a vision for their own Performing Arts journey to make those choices, and provides structure to follow their desired pathway.

Our holistic approach aims to train students comprehensively, guiding them to reach their full potential.

The Aspire pathway emphasises passion, potential, and growth. Starting as Kindred Spirits, students nurture their interests as recreational students. As they progress to the Aspire Program, they focus on skill development, including theory, pre-pointe, pointe work, private lessons, exams, competitions, and performances.

Personalised recommendations based on enrollment direct students to the suitable Aspire Progression, supporting their Performing Arts education in life’s journey.

Our Programs

All-Embracing First Step Program

Our First Step Program is an exclusive program suitable for students who require one-on-one attention, in order to gain skills before entering a group class setting. The program is formulated to cater to specific developmental and creative goals.

Our Programs

VCE Dance & VCE/VET Dance

We offer tuition in both Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE Dance) and Victorian Certificate Education/Vocational Education Training (VCE VET Dance). These studies are suitable for students who would like a career in dance and to develop an appreciation of dance as an art form. We offer VCE Dance and VCE VET Dance for units 1, 2, 3 and 4. Students in Years 10 to 12 may enrol in the courses.