At Branches, we believe that every child—no matter where they live—deserves the chance to dance, to dream and to shine. That belief is brought to life in families like the Carrington's, whose story reminds us exactly why we do what we do.
In our latest 'Beyond the Barre' episode, we had the absolute joy of chatting with Jayna Carrington—a supermum, home educator and proud Branches dance mum. Jayna and her husband Luke live on a cattle station 100km north of Winton with their three beautiful kids: Summer, Indy and Bailey. With strong family ties to the land (their station has been in the family for over 111 years!), their life is deeply rooted in tradition—but they’ve embraced technology and creativity to give their kids every opportunity possible.
Jayna teaches her children at home through distance education, a full-time commitment that’s nothing short of incredible. Among the maths books and reading lessons, there’s another non-negotiable in the Carrington household: dance.
Their journey began with local council-run classes when Summer was just three. But when those ended, Jayna began looking for ways to keep the passion alive and that’s when she discovered Branches Performing Arts.
“We saw photos from a dance concert in Hughenden and I started investigating,” Jayna shared. “When I saw there was an option for Zoom, I thought—this is our chance.”
Summer joined first, then Indy. And eventually, even Bailey had a turn (before football claimed him this year!). Over time, their weekly schedule has filled with back-to-back dance classes and private coaching Zoom sessions. Jayna’s living room has transformed into a studio, her girls logging in independently, stretching before class and setting up their own ballet barre.
It hasn’t always been easy. In the early days, internet dropouts and the chaos of wrangling toddlers made things challenging—but the Carrington's persevered. And we’ve watched them flourish.
The girls now highly engaged in the Distance Dance program, attending regular in person workshops in Winton (supported by the Winton Shire Council RADF program), the annual Julia Creek concert and last year, met their Branches teachers in person at the Dirty Feet Outback Dance Festival. This year, Summer is preparing for her first solo performance—an exciting step that Jayna says has her “absolutely beaming.”
Jayna’s reflections remind us that dance is about so much more than steps. “It’s given them self-belief,” she told us. “They’ve made beautiful friendships. They’ve learned to be brave, to persevere and to shine on their own.”
At Branches, we see that magic every day. It’s in the kids like Summer and Indy who cartwheel across their living rooms. It’s in the parents like Jayna who build a studio in the outback. And it’s in the moments big and small that remind us we’re not just teaching dance. We’re building confidence, community and connection.
To anyone wondering if Distance Dance is possible: it is. Jayna’s advice? “Just do it. Start with one class. You won’t regret it.”
We are so proud to have the Carrington's in our Branches family. Their story is a beautiful reminder that with a little creativity, commitment and community—you can truly dance from anywhere.
