About Us
Ellenbrook Community Youth Performance Group (ECYPG) is a community run not for profit talent school. ECYPG was established in 2002 to provide all children irrespective of affluence the chance to enrol and participate in all types of dance classes and singing.
ECYPG is totally run and managed by volunteers. We pay all but one of our teachers. Our teachers are highly skilled and experienced dancers and performers. We provide all costumes for each performance and do not require any child to purchase special dance footwear. Our mission is to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to showcase their skills gained during the classes.
Our fees are kept to a minimum - children from families experiencing financial hardship are not excluded from any of the classes. We have a system whereas we can give the child a responsible task (job) to do at the talent school in return we will fund that child’s attendance. We have found that by doing this and not just funding the child, the child respects the values of the school and can maintain face and self-worth. For many of these children who don’t have a stable home life, the dance classes allow the child an opportunity to experience normality and pursue their own dreams without having a fee attached.
ECYPG has been involved in performances to the public that have generated much interest from their audience. We have had requests on where we run our school, who can attend, and expressed their wish to join us. Also requests from one outback community that led to one of their aboriginal boys who loved to dance, being given the opportunity to come to Perth and enjoy a full day workshop of all the dances he loved to do and learn from our students and teachers. An opportunity he didn’t have in his community. This is an integral part of our talent school, the way the children and teachers love to show what they know to others and the ability to teach what they can do. Our links with the Pines retirement village has also been successful in the past and the senior residents have enjoyed it immensely.
ECYPG anticipates that by providing the children with another outlet to showcase their achievements and to experience the excitement of performing, a keen interest will be developed by the children to pursue all areas of the performing arts.
Our classes are held every Monday during school terms between 5.30pm and 9pm at the Woodlake Community Centre in Ellenbrook, we welcome a visit from your organisation.