Melbourne Academy of the Arts » Dance Directory

Melbourne Academy of the Arts
Launching the next generation of dancers onto the world stage.

Our vision is to inspire the future of classical ballet & dance by nurturing, training and educating young dancers to an exceptional level of technical and artistic skill in preparation for a professional career in dance. The Academy provides our students with comprehensive professional training programs, extra-curricular opportunities, world class facilities, professional full-scale performances and access to international/national directors, teacher, dancers & choreographers.

PROGRAMS:
Pre-School Division
Junior School Division
Middle School Division
Senior School Division
Classical Extension Program (C.E.P)
Full-Time Classical Program (30 -40 hrs p/wk)
Full-Time Transition Program (20- 30 hrs p/wk)
Full-Time Transition Program Half Day Program (15- 20 hrs p/wk)
Associate Intensive Program (For regional, interstate & international students)
Australian National Youth Ballet (For Academy & External students)

Duration: The length of our courses depends on the varied training programs offered alongside the age, level and skill set of each student.

Audition Requirements: 
Entry into all programs and levels is via audition only. We offer video and in person auditions throughout the year.

Aims: The aim of our programs is to create professional dancers who are instruments of striving for artistic and creative perfection. The program provides students with a structured, scientific and methodological approach to dance which takes the human anatomy into consideration. Our comprehensive curriculum is studied in great detail and through carefully structured lessons and progressions. Our system of training is technically difficult to master and requires a serious, hard-working, committed & patient mind who is willing to learn all the nuances of their art forms in their full complexity. The program allows students to continue to maintain regular academic studies and is designed to expose young dancers to the rigours of professional training whilst being sensitive to the students age, growing bodies and physical and emotional readiness. Our classical ballet training is studied in the eight-level system of the Russian Vaganova method. This methodology has created some of the world’s most acclaimed dancers, choreographers, and teachers. By using such a proven method, the foundation is solid and creates the necessary building block of beautiful, safe, correct technique and artistry. The Full-Time Program also offers greater insight, training & performance opportunities in Contemporary, in the styles seen at international competitions such as Prix de Lausanne & YAGP. This style forms a great part of most world renown companies repertoire, it is imperative to be versatile and study, develop and learn this style in order to have alternative options with selection into varied companies and schools.
The Academy prides itself on providing our students with the best professional ballet training available by offering a systematic and consecutive method of instruction. Class sizes are structured in a way to enable students to receive a more personalised level of coaching.

Career & Achievements: Our Programs offer future career pathways as a Professional Dancer, Choreographer, Director and Teacher in all allied fields of dance and theatre. The Academy have a high attainment of annual success and accolades. Our students have been accepted or received placement into prestigious events, schools or competitions on an annual basis (Houston Ballet Academy, Paris Opera Ballet School, Académie Princess Grace, San Francisco Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, Australian Ballet School, Queensland Ballet Academy, Alberta Ballet School, Youth American Grand Prix, Asian Grand Prix, Alana Haines and more. Please click here to view a full list our Success & Accolades.

Subjects: 
Advanced Classical Ballet & Pointe studies in the Russian Vaganova Method and Advanced Studies in 19th, 20th & 21st Century company standard (Classical, Neo-Classical and Contemporary) Variations and Repertoire. Alongside this our curriculum also concludes of; Character, National & Historical Dance. Limber, Conditioning, Floor Barre & Pilates. Jazz. Male Coaching. Pas de Deux Training & Preparation. Private Coaching. Anatomy, Theory, Dance Vocabulary, History & Music. Composition & Choreography. Mime and Improvisation. Developing Advanced Performance Skills, Artistry & Stylisation in all Genres. Preparation for National/International Auditions, Competitions and Performances. Body Awareness & Self Correction. Injury Management & Prevention. Nutrition for Dancers. Performance & Dance Psychology. Career Guidance, Advice, Planning & Goal Setting. Theatre Preparations, Stage Make-up and Hair. We offer on-site tutors and support for students studying via Distance Education or Home-Schooling. The Academy also offer an array of extracurricular activities and exclusive events such as; Workshops, Master Classes, Assessments, Examinations, Reports, Community & Social Events, Parent Viewing Days, Showcases, Cultural Exchange Program, Annual Orientation & Open Days, Industry Q&A’s, Holiday Programs, Leadership & Mentoring programs.

Faculty: The Academy take pride in offering an international array of highly experienced and qualified teachers. Our Faculty members have a wealth of knowledge they offer and share. They guide and assist our students, aiding them to reach their full potential & inspire them to conquer their goals. The passion, care and commitment of our staff is evident in our students’ achievements.  The Academy boasts multiple international and national success and accolades annually, we work together to ensure our students are kept at the forefront of all our decisions. Our Faculty are dedicated to maintaining the high level of technical & artistic standard of the Academy and it’s students.

Facilities:
Our world class 1000m2 facilities have been compared to professional school and company standards by eminent figures in the dance industry. Our venue is specifically designed for professional classical ballet settings. Our facilities are annually hired by Youth America Grand Prix, Queensland Ballet and other professional organisations. To view our facilities please click here.

Patrons & Guest Teachers/Artists:
Every year the Academy provide access to acclaimed guest teachers, dancers, choreographers and artists from all over the work which provides our students the opportunity to train, meet, work with, learn from and be supported by prominent figures in the classical ballet and dance industry. We have an extensive list of patrons and guest teachers such as Evgenia Obraztsova (Principal Dancer of the Bolshoi & Mariinsky Ballet), Vitor Luiz (Principal Dance of the San Francisco Ballet) Istvan Simon (Formerly Dresden, Dortmund, Kremlin Ballet) Dame Lucette Aldous (A.C) (Former Royal & Australian Ballet Principal Dancer) Adam Thurlow (English National & Paris Opera Ballet) and many more, to find out more about our patrons click here or to see our guest teachers click here.

Performance Opportunities:  In addition, Academy students participate in the Academy’s major annual production as part of the Australian National Youth Ballet. Our productions are based on 19th Century classic ballets, allowing students to develop a greater understanding of mime, musicality, history, variations and repertoire. Our productions provide our students with the necessary practice to apply the Vaganova method as it was designed, to flow into the Classical Repertoire performed at world class companies and in order to further develop their performance & stage skills in preparation of a career in classical ballet. The Program also offers greater insight, training & performance opportunities in Contemporary, in the styles seen at international competitions such as Prix de Lausanne & YAGP. This style makes up 50% of most world renown companies repertoire, it is imperative to be versatile and study, develop and learn this style in order to have alternative options with selection into varied companies and schools.
Guest Artists of ANYB seasons have been international starts from the Bolshoi, Mariinsky,
San Francisco, Dortmund, Queensland and Australian Ballet companies, to read more about our wonderful guest performers click here.