The Ann McDonald College of Dancing & After Hours
The McDonald College traces its origins to Ann McDonald, who founded the Ann McDonald College of Dancing in 1926. Born in Scotland and trained in Sydney, Ann established a studio that quickly became a respected centre for dance education. A passionate advocate for the arts, she also played a leading role in professional dance organisations in NSW and nationally.
In 1970, the College was passed to Ann’s daughter Margaret Markham, joined by Ann Fraser and Maxine Kohler. Sharing a vision to combine elite performing arts training with academic education, they transformed the dance school into a not-for-profit organisation in 1983, enabling the establishment of The McDonald College. The school officially opened in 1984 as a specialist performing arts secondary school.
Alongside the full-time school, the College developed a part-time program for the wider community, now known as The McDonald College After Hours. Under the leadership of Miriam Carson (1985–2015) and later her granddaughter Lisa Haack, After Hours has grown into one of Sydney’s most respected part-time performing arts programs.
Celebrating its 100-year milestone in 2026, the legacy of the Ann McDonald College of Dancing continues through both the school and After Hours—nurturing talent, discipline and creativity in generations of young performers.
