Winter School 2026
Over the Moon Studio's annual Winter School will be held on Monday 29th, Tuesday 30th June & Wednesday 1st July 2026.
Firstly, a note to our teens: This year, Winter School as we know it will be for 3.5-12 year olds. We warmly invite you to play a key role in Winter School in your capacities as class assistants, beautiful role models and big friends. In exciting news, we are joyously planning something tailor-made to you, in recognition that you need a particular kind of challenge, artistic extension and heart — all rolled into one. Be in touch soon…
What is Winter School?
Winter School is an opportunity for 3.5 to 12 year olds to be immersed in a magical world of dance and art-making for 1, 2 or 3 days. There will be three age groups: 3.5-5.5 years, 5.5-8 years, and our senior dancers, 9-12 year olds.
Dancers will explore genres including creative dance and yoga, drama, Orff Schulwerk informed music, junior ballet, musical theatre, jazz & contemporary.
Winter School is an opportunity for dancers to expand their experience of dance and creative practices!
Dancers can come for 1, 2 or 3 days of magical immersion in a world of varied and engaging creative experiences.
Please note: a discount for multiple day bookings will automatically be applied at point of sale. To enrol, click the booking link, navigate to your preferred class, click ‘Add class’, and ‘Add more classes’ to select any additional days.
Payment plans are available - please let us know if you would like a payment plan.
PRICING
5% off both classes for a 2-day booking
10% off all classes for a 3-day booking
Early bird special — enjoy a FURTHER 10% off when you book before Monday 15th June - use discount code at checkout: WS2026
3.5-5.5 years old, 9am-10:45am (1 hour, 45 mins) - $42
5.5-8 years old, 9am-11:45am (2 hours, 45 mins) - $67
9-12 years old, 10:45am-4:15pm (5 hours 30 mins) - $107
WHAT TO BRING? Please wear comfortable clothes with layers dancers can take off as they warm up. Please bring a named water bottle. More details will be sent to you once you have booked.
This year, Winter School teachers are:
Joshinder Chaggar - Bollywood, Bhangra (Indian folk) and Indian semi-classical
Joshinder Chaggar is an award-winning dancer, theatre maker & filmmaker.
She has worked in the dance and theatre industry for the past 20 years, across Melbourne, Sydney, and Pakistan, and has participated in festivals locally and internationally. She recently completed a PhD doctorate, where her research intersects her intercultural identity with storytelling and connecting across cultures. Her solo dance work, Dancing in Infinite Worlds, won BEST IN DANCE & PHYSICAL THEATRE, at Melbourne Fringe 2024.
She has been teaching for over 20 years, across all age groups, and is known for her energetic and inclusive approach. Her dance styles include Bollywood, Bhangra (Indian folk) and Indian semi-classical.
She is passionate about spreading joy through dance, and creating community.
We are thrilled to welcome Joshinder as a special guest to this year’s Winter School!
Amber Riches - Junior Ballet, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Jazz
Amber's journey through dance began at Deakin University, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Dance before pursuing Honours in Contemporary Dance at WAAPA with Link Dance Company. Her experiences performing internationally and across Australia ignited her passion for inclusivity in the arts.
Completing her Master's in Arts Management at RMIT in 2015, she co-produced and performed in her first Melbourne Fringe Festival show, marking her entry into arts management. For over a decade, Amber has taught dance at Stage School Australia, enriching the lives of her students with her expertise and passion.
Her dedication to inclusivity led her to expand her teaching into the disability sector at YourDNA Creative Arts. In 2024, Amber co-founded YourDNA Dance Collective, a pioneering initiative fostering inclusivity for neurodiverse and Disabled dancers in Melbourne's contemporary dance scene. Through collaboration and advocacy, Amber continues to champion diversity and accessibility in the arts, shaping a more inclusive future for dancers of all backgrounds and abilities.
It’s a pleasure to welcome Amber back to Over the Moon!
Helen Sandercoe - Drama
Helen Sandercoe has been teaching drama and directing for over thirty years, including working mainly as a secondary Drama/English teacher teaching in Melbourne and in England for a year. She also has experience in teaching drama in primary school working on special projects and lecturing in Primary Drama Education and in Performance at universities for a number of years. Teaching drama and creating and directing theatre/performance pieces are her great joy. Over many years she has shared and continues to share her passion through a wide variety of workshops about the nature and history of performance and rich sources for drama teaching for state and Australian national drama conferences and for IDEA (International Drama Education Association). Recently, she has facilitated a form of tabletop newspaper puppetry which is accessible to all in Castlemaine and other places.
Helen’s drama practice is about developing artistry, collaborative creativity and the imagination and most of all having fun and enjoyment in the doing. It is important the young people find their voice and work in a safe but brave space. The workshops will enable the participants to create an original performance piece supported by appropriate skill development.
Marlena Raymond - Orff Schulwerk informed music
Marlena Raymond is a co-director of Over The Moon Yoga and Dance studios, together with Michelle Young.
Marlena grew up dancing at Mangala Studios of Creative Dance and Yoga from the age of three. She has been deeply moved by the music and movement she experienced at Mangala, and these set her on a path for life. She has assisted at Mangala, studied classical music at The Conservatorium at The University of Melbourne and at the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), and holds a Level 1 Orff Schulwerk certificate. Her teaching experience includes early childhood music, private and school flute teaching, and a band program at a K-12 school. Marlena enjoys dancing with Travel Art Dance Company, an interdisciplinary group directed by Meah Velik-Lord comprising movers trained in ballet, hip hop, Feldenkrais and creative dance (and probably more!). She enjoys practising yoga and exploring spirituality and movement in many forms.
Marlena is extremely grateful to Edna’s teacher, Mrs Dorotea Mangiamele, who emigrated from Germany to Melbourne and established the Mangala school in 1970. Marlena’s teachers are Margaret Crawford, Peter and Sue Hockey, Claudia Mangiamele, Neika Huss, Meah Velik-Lord and the late beloved Amanda Burns; she thanks them for their teachings over many, many years. It is an enormous honour to continue the lineage of Mrs Mangiemele and her student, dear Edna Reinhart.
Marlena is a lawyer and serves as co-chair on the board of a disability peak body. Marlena is passionate about dignity and respect for all people, in all areas of life, all of the time.
Marlena is delighted to be mentored by OTM Founder, Edna Reinhardt.
Paula Russell - Yoga & Creative Dance, Tap, Musical Theatre and Choreography
Paula studied Cechetti ballet with Faye Johnson in Melbourne from the age of twelve. After completing VCE and receiving top marks in the state for Dance Styles, She studied Contemporary Dance and Primary Education at Rusden, Deakin University.
Paula taught Performing Arts in primary schools in Caulfield, Elwood and Olinda for twenty years. She has written, directed, stage-managed and choreographed school shows at The Palais Theatre St Kilda for 800 children and supported students to participate in the State Schools Spectacular.
Paula has also taught creative dance, tap dance and ballet at Theatre De la Danse in Brighton, Wave Street Studio in Elwood, and at Upwey Dance.
In 2024, Paula created a local children’s radio show working with 3-8 year old children in Mount Alexander Shire called MAK Radio on Main FM, in collaboration with VicHeath.
You can find Paula’s children’s book ‘My Sister Olive’ at the library!
Paula loves performing too and has enjoyed being part of many shows at the Women’s Circus, musical theatre companies, La Mama Theatre, ballroom dance, Castlemaine Theatre Company and Castlemaine Pride Choir.
One of Paula’s joys is seeing the freedom of movement that children explore through creative dance.