The Gungahlin Dance Academy was established in Gaungahlin in 2002 by principal Jo McKinley. The school has grown significantly since this time and now has hundreds of loyal students who are consistently achieving.

Jo McKinley

Jo has trained from the age of 6 in many styles of dance including classical ballet (RAD), jazz (BAL), tap, contemporary, highland, cabaret and funk. She has also studied drama and public speaking. Jo completed the Royal Academy of Dance examination syllabus and passed her teaching examination with high distinction. Jo has performed for more than 20 years on stages, in theatre, as an NBL dancer and at overseas dance exhibitions. She currently performs in and choreographs for Canberra musical theatre shows. Jo had taught and choreographed for several of Canberra's premier dance institutions before opening the Gungahlin Dance Academy in 2002. She has enjoyed wonderful results with GDA students during this time with her dedication to the students' technical training.

Hannah McFadden

Hannah has studied the RAD ballet syllabus from an early age. She has taught in various schools around the country gaining valuable teaching experience. Hannah is currently undertaking her RAD teaching certificate. Hannah enjoys performing in local musicals and is also a qualified fitness instructor.

Alice Nixon

Alice has studied and performed all styles of dance for more than twenty years, specialising in tap for the last ten. She has completed exams in the British CSTD (Comdance), American Gilbert and Australian EDTA syllabuses, the latter to Licentiate level. She has choreographed tap routines for musical theatre and ran private classes for children and adults in Brisbane before moving to Canberra in 2007.

Amy Dunham – Drama / Singing

Amy Dunham has been performing since the age of 10, where she played the title role in Alpha Theatre’s Annie. Since that time she has worked as an amateur and professionally as a singer, actress, MC, dancer and puppeteer in ACT, NSW, VIC- and has travelled and performed at Disneyland, California Adventure Park and Universal Studios LA, USA as the sole female vocalist for their Christmas showcases and the famous Disneyland Christmas spectacular parade. Amy worked as a professional actress at Questacon for three years with their in house theatre troop 'The Excited Particles'. She is a trained Jazz/Musical Theatre vocalist, and a local singer/songwriter (accompanying herself on guitar) having recorded 2 albums of folk/contemporary pop nature and performing regularly either solo or with her duo AMAX. She has been nominated for two Canberra Area Theatre awards- for her portrayal of Audrey in Phoenix’s Little Shop of Horrors-Best Actress in a musical, and for Holly in SUPA’S 2008 The Wedding Singer- earning her the CAT award for Best Supporting Actress in a musical. She has been involved in over 30 shows, amateur and professional and has stage managed, directed, and provided technical services for a further four shows. Amy has been involved as the leading actress in three short films including -Audience choice award winner of the FAT awards- 'Unknown Strangers', Lifeline's national gambling campaign, short film and Brother hood of the Y by Pat Gallagher- Winner of the Best Film gold award at this year’s 'Lights, Canberra, Action' film festival.
She is a professional voice over artist for Bearcage productions and an established performer with Drawcard, Tony Magee and Stephen Pike’s acting agencies.
Amy’s second biggest passion (after performing) is teaching which she has been doing for the last 2 years.