Redefining safety in Australian dance, for good.
To truly address the elephant in the room, we must admit that as a whole, the Australian dance industry has not done enough to protect and advocate for its young dancers.
Until we face it, the cycle continues. Harm remains hidden in plain sight, and young people are left without the safety they deserve.
We see it. And we are doing something about it.
The Mighty Elephant exists to confront the realities the dance industry has ignored for too long.
We are here to dismantle systemic abuse, to celebrate diversity, and to nurture a culture that uplifts rather than harms. At the heart of this work is empowering children and young people to know their rights and act on them.
This means working alongside government agencies, building pathways for reform, and stepping into the role of independent regulator where the industry has failed to regulate itself.
Our mission is simple:
To create a dance industry where safety is non-negotiable, and where every young person can grow without fear.
My name is Dean Webster.
I am a dancer, teacher, choreographer, and advocate. I am also a survivor of child sexual abuse by a former dance teacher.
Dance has shaped my life since I was seven years old. It has given me joy, community and a voice, but it has also shown me the dark side of an industry that took my voice, took my autonomy, and failed to protect me.
I believe dance should be a space built on a foundation of expression and safety, not silence and harm. That is why I founded The Mighty Elephant: to lead with initiative, to encourage accountability and to create the change our industry desperately needs right now.
One voice starts the conversation but many voices invoke real and lasting change.
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