Jan always knew she wanted to ‘dance and teach’ right from the early age of 5. Her experiences in dance training and teaching now reach over 40 years. Jan holds many University Degrees in Dance Studies along with various other dance accredited certificates and qualifications. Workshops and training courses attended over the many years are just too numerous to mention. Jan had a short dancing career with Tasman Talent Agency in the late 70’s (which is still operating today) – even having performed with Paul Hammond dancers at the Exhibition Building in Melbourne at a festival with pop singer of the time – Issi Dye.
After moving from Melbourne to Bairnsdale in 1980 with husband and then young son, her initiatives as an early dance pioneer in Bairnsdale was to expose local children to quality and excellence in dance tuition, artistry, performance as well to offer many other opportunities, and of course all these goals have certainly been achieved – exceeding greatly above and beyound. We are proud to announce that we are teaching 3rd generation from one family.
Jan’s love of dance and movement filtrated into the Department of Education of Training for local schools where Janis initiated Bairnsdale Secondary College and Paynesville Primary School students to participate in the Education Department’s major bi-annual performing arts event ‘Joining the Chorus’ held at Ron Laver Arena in Melbourne.
Jan trained in ‘Ice-Figure Skating’ in the early 1970’s, at the Ringwood Ice Skating Centre with Australian Olympian Companion Sharon Burley being an examiner for Jan when an Ice Skating exam was taken.
Weekly Calisthenics classes in the 60’s were also a part of Janis’ early training experiences.
Since inception, Jan Pianta School of Dance or JPSD as it is known, has had its studios in Paynesville RSL Hall, Former C.W.A Building (now Bairnsdale Bridge Hall), Nagle College Drama Room, Rupert Street Rooms – former Bairnsdale Technical School, Eagle Point Hall and since 2003, JPSD has operated out of the former Prince Albert Theatre – Cremin Hall.
As a matter of interest, during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s , Jan’s grandmother, Olive Hueton (a street in Lucknow is named after the family, as the family has been acknowledged as early settlers into Bairnsdale), performed on the stage at Cremin Hall, as a member of the original Bairnsdale Theatre Company, the stage now being one of JPSD studios.
Tertiary Qualifications
- Grad. Dip of Creative Industries (Dance Teaching) – Queensland University of Technology
- Grad. Dip of Education (Secondary Teaching) – Monash University Victoria
- Grad. Certificate in Theology – Harvest College Melbourne
- Bachelor General Studies (Law) – Griffiths University, Queensland
- Diploma of Dance Teaching and Management – CUS50311 – ATOD
- Cert. IV in Training and Assessment – TAE40110 – Livingston College W.A. (compulsory update in 2019 to TAE40116).
Further Dance Teaching Qualifications
- SATD Junior & Associate Certificate – Theatrical Jazz
- SFD – Teachers Certificate – Theatrical Jazz
- GWT – Glenn Wood Tap Teachers Certificate – Tap
- Step by Step – Classical Ballet Theory Certificate Course
Other Teaching Qualifications / Memberships / Registrations
- Cecchetti Ballet Australia – since 2003
- Australian Teachers of Dance – ATOD – since 2003
- SFD – Foundation Member since 1987
- Glenn Wood Tap – since 2003
- ISTD – Since 2007
- PBT – Progressive Ballet Technique & PCT – Progressive Contemporary Technique
- ‘Senior Swans’ Certified tutor for classical ballet program for over 50’s
- IADMS
- Acrobatic Arts Level 1 Certified Tutor
Awards / Recognition
- 2024 – Choreographer of winning solo – Iris Miller Bolger Family Outstanding Performane Award EGPAE
- 2023 Cecchetti Ballet Vic in conjunction with Energetiks Australia – Isolated Teachers Scholarship
- 2022 Cecchetti Ballet Vic in conjunction with Energetiks Australia – Isolated Teachers Scholarship
- 2022 City of Sale Eisteddfod Adjudicator’s Choreographic Award for Lyrical solo performed beautifully by Chloe Moulton
- 2013 Finalist in East Gippsland Business Awards
- 2011 Cecchetti Ballet Isolated Teachers Scholarship
- 2009 City of Sale Eisteddfod Adjudicator’s Choreographic Award for Contemporary solo performed beautifully by Semi Ruthford
- 2009 Two page article about Jan Pianta’s teaching achievements in ‘Dance Australia’ Magazine
- 1992 Foundation Secretary and Member of East Gippsland / Bairnsdale First Dance Eisteddfod
- 1990’s – Best Recreational Entry in Bairnsdale Street Parades & Runner Up.
- 1980’s Runner Up in Bairnsdale Talent Show held by former Marban Music – 1980’s.
- 1960’s Miss Blackburn Midget Competition
Training
- Classical Ballet – First studied Borovansky & SATD methods with Eve Reddish School of Dance. Examinations taken in Borovansky and SATD until Eve Reddish school closed. Moved to Cecchetti Ballet Method in 2003, qualified to tutor from Pre-Primary to Advanced 2 with numerous annual teacher workshops attended with highly respected Cecchetti Ballet tutors such Anne Bulter and many others.
- Latin, Jazz and Contemporary dance with International dancer Antonio Rodriquez, Company dancer with the Katherine Dunham Dance Company USA, who after touring with company resided in Melbourne.
- Jazz and Tap – Fayette Corlass-Brown Studios – in Dance Court Camberwell and Hawthorn. Fayette was a former Channel Nine dancer and Choreographer. Trained in Jazz and Tap with Eve Reddish School of Dance, taking Jazz and Tap examinations. All examinations taken from beginner level to Advanced.
- Contemporary Dance – Workshops: Adam Wheeler choreographer for ATOD contemporary syllabus also Director of TasDance. Australian Ballet contemporary workshop with Graeme Murphy OBE & Janet Vernon OBE
Professional Dancer / Choreographer
- 2024 – Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company Choreographer – Buddy Beware in ‘Anything Goes’
- 2006 – Bairnsdale Production Line Theatre Company Choreographyer – ‘Oklahoma’ 2006
- Department of Education and Training – Joining the Chorus
- 1980 – ongoing – Numerous solos/duos/troupes in all facets of dance styles for students entering competition and Eisteddfods
- 1978 – Tasman Talent – Mr. Whytes Disco Fantasy Touring Group
Dance Assessor / Tutor
- 2024 – Licenced Senior Swans tutor – classical ballet program for over 50’s
- 2021 – Completed Adjudicator Training – Transit Dance & Australian Institute of Education and Training.
- 2021 – ongoing – Certified Teacher with Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT)
- 2016 – Australian College of Dance (ADC) in NSW.
- 2003-2006 – Initiator of ‘Certificate 11 in Dance (VET) in VCE at East Gippsland TAFE (now Federation University) for students in Sale and Bairnsdale campuses.