THE Canberra Dance Development Centre director, Jackie Hallahan, now also runs the Balmain Dance Academy in Sydney. Both there and at the Mt Rogers headquarters in Spence, she’s offering a summer workshop program beginning on January 20 with professional dancers, CDDC graduate Paul Knobloch and Cootamundra-raised Thomas Bradley. Bookings essential to 6259 1558 and j.hallahan@bigpond.com

THE High Court’s free Christmas concert, from 1.30pm on Sunday, December 21 will feature local favourites including singers Toby Cole, Louise Page, Helen Swan, pianist Phillipa Candy and trumpeter Zach Raffan with The Trumpet Club.

QUEANBEYAN glass artist Matt Curtis, who recently joined “CityNews” in honouring the 2014 Artist of the Year by presenting one of his works, has been named the inaugural creative fellow at the Canberra Glassworks. Curtis, who was also the 2013 CAPO fellow, is just back from the big SOFA Fair in the US, where he met his biggest buyers. He wins a stipend, a residence, and access to the Glassworks’ facilities.

HOTSHOT Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-Liang will present three of his films during the “Taiwan: the View from the South”, in the auditorium of the China in the World Building (188) in Fellows Lane, ANU. Cultural commentator Linda Jaivin will join him in discussions after the screenings. Registrations to bit.ly/1BLeRUq

LEGS Dance Studio graduate Fuchsia Bullot, back from 18 months at the Moulin Rouge as a dancer, has been offered a contract at the revamped Lido show, which opens in Paris in April. Bullot will become one of the famous Bluebell Girls.

THE Canberra Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society’s Young Arts Awards, each of $1000, have gone to glassmaker Laura Sandoval and ceramic artist Isabelle Mackay-Sim. ADFAS Canberra hopes the prestige attached to the award will help young artists in establishing a career.

OUR enterprising performing arts organisations have realised that they, too, can cash in on the spirit of giving. Stephen Pike in Queanbeyan suggests a gift voucher to The Q, (theq.net.au) while The Street Theatre (thestreet.org.au) promises you can “create memories with a gift voucher this Christmas”.