DANCE EDUCATOR • ADJUDICATOR • COUNSELLOR
Every child deserves to be seen, heard and cherished.
I'm Renee Mandanici-Baldwin: dance educator, adjudicator, counsellor, advocate and mum. I've spent more than 25 years in dance, and I'm working toward an industry where children are protected, educators are respected and families can trust the people they leave their kids with.
THE EARLY JOURNEY & ROOTS
Where It Started
My dance journey began at the Williamstown Academy of Dance in Melbourne, training in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, musical theatre and voice. That studio gave me more than technique. It showed me how much the adults in a young dancer's life shape who that dancer becomes.
I went on to study dance and drama at Deakin University, then moved to the UK. There I qualified as a secondary teacher and spent five years as Head of Performing Arts at an all-boys school in Southeast London. We built an award-winning faculty, and I learned that high standards and genuine care aren't opposites. Students thrive when they have both.
When I came home to Australia, I brought that belief with me into studio ownership, and then into the work of building something bigger than one studio.
“Technical refinement only flourishes when built upon absolute psychological safety.”
Why I Do This
I'm a mum of two, and that shapes everything I do.
During COVID, I watched my own children, and the young people I taught, struggle in ways that dance alone couldn't fix. Anxiety, isolation and the pressure to keep performing when the world had stopped. I realised that caring about young dancers had to include caring about their minds, not just their technique.
So I went back to study and completed a Graduate Diploma of Counselling. It changed how I teach, how I lead and how I see this industry.
What I Believe
Principles that anchor every critique, studio consultation, and mentorship program I lead.
Systems protect children, not good intentions.
Most people in dance care deeply. Care isn't a safeguard, though. Qualified teachers, clear policies and accountability are.
High standards and genuine care belong together.
Children do their best work when they feel both challenged and supported.
Families deserve specifics, not reassurance.
Ask any studio what qualifications its teachers hold. You deserve a clear answer.
Educators Deserve Support
Teachers and studio owners carry a lot. Looking after them is part of looking after children.
My Work Today
IGNITE
Accredited training for the next generation of dance teachers and studio leaders, delivered with Australian Teachers of Dance.
CONNECT
Workshops, parent education and conversations about safeguarding and professional standards in dance. I also serve on the board of the Dance Arts Alliance, contributing to national conversations on child safety and industry regulation.
EVOLVE
Counselling, coaching and mentoring for dancers, parents, teachers and studio owners.
ADJUDICATOR
I adjudicate nationally and internationally, from local eisteddfods to national finals. I see adjudication as a privilege: a chance to give every dancer feedback that is honest, specific and encouraging, and to support organisers in running events where young performers feel safe and valued.
VERIFIED CREDENTIALS
Training &
Qualifications
A rigorous formal background bridging psychological practice, professional dance education, and national safeguarding standards. Every recommendation and adjudication is grounded in accredited methodology.
Graduate Diploma of Counselling
Institute of Applied Psychology (2025)
Bachelor of Secondary Education (QTS)
University of Gloucestershire, UK
Certificate IV in Training & Assessment (Dance)
Inspire Education
Bachelor of Contemporary Arts (Dance/Drama)
Deakin University, Melbourne
Senior First Aid & CPR, KKSID Certified, and WWVP registration (ACT)
Dance Arts Alliance
Board member since 2023
INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION & PRESTIGE
On the Panel
Invited by national boards and prestigious competitions across Australia and New Zealand to deliver constructive, empowering, and developmentally sound adjudication.
FYD Nationals (Adelaide) · FYD Auckland, NZ · Sydney Eisteddfod · Industry Dance Connect, Perth · Front and Centre · South Gippsland Eisteddfod · EBSDN
START A CONVERSATION
Let's Connect
Whether you're a parent looking for answers, an educator building your career, or an organisation that wants to do better by the young people in its care, I'd love to hear from you.
Warmly responding to inquiries within 1–2 business days • Based in Australia
© 2026 Renee Mandanici-Baldwin. All rights reserved.