12-Year-Old Champ Runs Free Dance School in Armidale

When Beatrix Hopf's family could no longer afford her dance lessons, the 16-year-old thought her decade-long passion for tap and jazz had come to an end. Then she discovered that her new teacher would be a 12-year-old champion with a big heart.

Annabelle Arkit placed second for Australia at the Dance World Cup in Prague at age 10. Instead of focusing solely on her own competitive career, she decided to share her gift with kids in Armidale, New South Wales, who couldn't afford regular dance schools.

"Lots of people can't afford to dance. And it's sad," Annabelle said. "If my mum never enrolled me in dance lessons, I would never be where I am."

For the past two years, Annabelle has run Revelations Dance out of St Mark's UNE church with help from her mom, Danielle. The weekly classes are completely free, with families only paying $50 to $80 per term for competition costumes.

The students include girls in foster care and kids from large families where paying for everyone's activities simply isn't possible. For one foster student who moved frequently, dance became the one constant in her life.

"Wherever she was, we picked her up, and we brought her to dance, and she became family," Annabelle said of the girl, who now lives in Sydney and still keeps in touch.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story truly special isn't just a talented kid teaching others. It's how Annabelle created a real community where confidence blooms alongside pirouettes.

Each class starts with a prayer circle where students share what they're grateful for. Beatrix said the environment transformed her. "It definitely boosts confidence, we all build each other up, and I really love that."

The program has grown from three students to more than 20, ranging in age from nine to 19. Many of Annabelle's students are older than their teacher, but age doesn't matter when passion leads the way.

In January, Annabelle's dedication paid off in an unexpected way. One of her students, Sofie, joined her at the 2026 Showcase Australian National Dance Championships. Annabelle won first place for her Broadway routine, and the duo she choreographed with Sofie took second.

"I never thought I'd see the day when someone from the dance team was going to nationals," Annabelle said. "That's pretty cool."

For families struggling with rising costs, Annabelle's free classes prove that talent and dreams don't have to come with a price tag.