A Celebration of Youth, Skill and Community at McDonald College
Coppélia
Published in Print September 2025 order now!
By Danielle Brown
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From 23 to 27 July the tranquil charm of a European village came alive at Fraser Auditorium as McDonald College’s Classical Ballet students from Years 7 to 12 presented a full-length performance of Coppélia. Infused with whimsy, charm and youthful energy, the ballet tells a story of mistaken identity and clever resolution. Swanhilda, her fiancé Franz, and a lifelike doll crafted by the eccentric Dr Coppélius lead us through a playful exploration of love, illusion, and mischief. In the end, Swanhilda’s ingenuity restores harmony, delighting audiences across five performances.
This production exemplified the College’s unique blend of professional-level training and academic diligence, a hallmark of its ballet program. Students are immersed daily in their craft, guided by industry-informed instruction and opportunities to perform in major productions.
For Year 9 student Allegra Ariola, ballet at McDonald College has been both a personal passion and a legacy passed down through family connection. She shares:
“I began my journey at the McDonald College when I was four years old, starting out in the After Hours program and then joining the day school in Year 3, 2019. My mother was a student of the McDonald College during her high school years and has wonderful memories! She believes that nurturing a love of dance and creative arts sparks imagination and builds confidence, happiness, and a sense of purpose – all of which support success in academic study – so I went in confidently, excited to be doing ballet every day and follow my passion in a caring environment, surrounded by others who love the art of ballet as much as I do.”
Participating in Coppélia was among her most memorable experiences:
“Being a part of Coppélia within the ballet stream was one of the best experiences I have had during my time at the McDonald College. Since Year 7 I have also danced in Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, under the direction of Ms Jane Kesby. With Ms Kesby we learn all aspects of the ballets, including repertoire and music to lighting and stage craft.”
Her journey from ensemble to soloist illustrates her growth and dedication:
“My most rewarding role this year was as a soloist, ‘Prayer’ in Act 3 of Coppélia; The Prayer gives the blessing to the married couple Swanhilda and Franz and is part of the rising crescendo of happiness before the finale. I was lucky to share this role with some of my friends as we had three different casts, enabling us to learn and perform various roles within the ballet – this is similar to how things are run in a real ballet company.”
Her enjoyment extended beyond her solo role:
“I was also cast as one of Swanhilda’s girlfriends which was really fun because it involved a lot of acting and comic mime during Act 2. I also enjoyed the performances where I was part of the corps de ballet in ‘Hours’, ‘Mazurka’, and ‘Czardas’, these roles have an important contribution to the story and I loved being part of the bigger storyline and also experiencing the interpretation of the main roles performed by the different casts.”
Balancing academic demands during rehearsals added pressure – but deepened the sense of accomplishment:
“Rehearsing intensely for this performance each year is challenging, I manage my time between rehearsal and performances to fit in studying for tests and assessments, which are usually due around this time! Despite being a very busy couple of weeks, it was a rewarding experience and I felt a sense of achievement and accomplishment, and a little sad that it was all over at the end!”
At the heart of her college experience lies the community she has helped nurture:
“The McDonald College has a relatively small student body, I feel this impacts my studies positively – both dance and academic, as I have made many meaningful friendships across all the year groups, we all have a love of dance in common and are supportive of each other’s achievements. We learn to work as a team, spending a lot of time together during the ballet production, and this brings us closer together. Smaller academic classes mean we are able to get to know all ours peers well, our common ground of creativity and love for the performing arts is a good foundation for friendship and mutual respect, all of these things make my time at the college a wonderful and unique experience and I know I have made lifelong memories here!”
Allegra’s story and the successful staging of Coppélia highlight what makes McDonald College stand out: a tight-knit, passionate student body, expert educators, and a seamless fusion of artistry with academic achievement. Students don’t just learn ballet – they learn music, acting, production, time management, teamwork, and resilience.
As the curtain closed on Coppélia, it marked not an end but a crescendo in the educational and artistic journey that is the McDonald College experience – one where students like Allegra flourish through dance, friendship, and self-discovery.