Abuse widespread in dance classes around Australia, eisteddfod boss says, amid calls for greater oversight

BY Lucy Shannon

A leading figure in Australian dance claims abuse is happening every day in dance schools around the country.

Another case of sexual abuse within a dance school has prompted urgent calls for a national approach to regulate the industry.

Today, well-known Tasmanian dance teacher Adam Charles Jose pleaded guilty to child sex offences in the Hobart Magistrates Court.

The 39-year-old admitted having sexual intercourse with a dance student between the years 2000 and 2003.

He also pleaded guilty to sending inappropriate text messages to another student in 2013 and then later involving her in an indecent act.

The two victims were students at his dance school.

Peter Oxford, who runs Australia’s biggest dance eisteddfod, said unfortunately abuse was common in dance classes.

“Abuse is happening in a dance studio every hour of every day and that is the honest truth,” he said.

“It’s not only sexual abuse, it’s mental abuse, it’s also physical abuse.

“I’ve had enough, along with all my peers.

“We are just sick and tired of people out there who are opening dance studios who don’t have working with children checks.”

‘Federal regulatory board needed’

Two years ago, Australia’s dance community was rocked by the case of Sydney dance teacher Grant Davies, who last month pleaded guilty to 28 child pornography and sex abuse charges.

Since then the New South Wales Guardian and leading dance figures have been trying to improve self-regulation in the industry.

Mr Oxford helped establish the Dance Competition Alliance Team, which will have a strict code of conduct and compulsory membership.

However, with about 450,000 young Australians currently taking dance classes, he said the Federal Government needed to take action and fund a regulatory board.

“I think the Government needs to step in and say, ‘Enough is enough’,” he said.

“We need to stop abusing these kids and making sure that they’re in a safe environment when it comes to dance.

“You wouldn’t send your child to a child care centre unless you knew your child was in safe hands.

“We’ve got dancers out there whose parents are sending them to dance schools every day with teachers who haven’t got the right credentials to teach.”

Parents urged to choose teachers carefully

Tasmania’s Children’s Commissioner Mark Morrissey is working on a booklet for parents to help them make discerning choices about dance teachers.

“There’s a list they can go through and tick off a number of key important areas that will help to keep their children safer,” he said.

He added the most important thing was to ensure children were listened to.

“Encouraging them to speak up, and if there’s something that they’re not comfortable with they can report it easily and be listened to,” he said.

Adam Charles Jose owned and operated the Jose Dance Force school in North Hobart, attended by about 150 students.

The school closed after the charges were laid against him.

Jose had operated the school for about 15 years after taking over the business from his father, Sonny Jose, who opened its doors in the 1950s.

He has been granted bail to be sentenced in the Supreme Court next month.

This post originally appeared on ABC Online.

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