Ballet Conservatoire: Setting the Standard for Ballet Training

By Danielle Brown

Published in Print March 2025 order now!

The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet’s Training and Examination Program with Christine Walsh AM
Director | Classical Ballet Lecturer | Author | Examiner

Christine Walsh AM, former Principal Dancer with The Australian Ballet and internationally acclaimed artist, has dedicated over 50 years to ballet as a performer, teacher, and director. Trained in Sydney and a graduate of The Australian Ballet School, she performed principal roles in iconic ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as with Roland Petit’s Ballet de Marseille.

Her international career included guest performances with the Kirov Ballet, UNESCO’s 40th Anniversary in Moscow, and the Royal Bicentennial Gala for Queen Elizabeth II in London. Since retiring in 1989, Christine has focused on teaching, choreographing, and directing, founding The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet and authoring a Vaganova-based training and examination program taught throughout Australia and internationally.

A recipient of the Member of the Order of Australia (AM), Christine continues to shape the next generation of dancers through productions, coaching, examinations, and international collaborations.

Christine, the visionary behind Ballet Conservatoire, elucidates on the genesis of this esteemed training program, emphasising its unique approach amidst the global ballet landscape. She articulates, “The inspiration for creating the Ballet Conservatoire training program was to better prepare students for the main expectations of ballet companies worldwide. This required a strong commitment to instilling in students the foundational principles of the Russian classical ballet method, which is renowned for blending technical strength, fluid movement, and artistic style and expression. Consequently, the Ballet Conservatoire is pertinent to all professional ballet companies in Australia and internationally.”

Highlighting the program’s ongoing relevance and competitive edge, Christine affirms, “We maintain our competitive edge by delivering realistic results and ensuring that students training in the Ballet Conservatoire strive to uphold the program’s high standards through comprehensive feedback from examiners for both students and teachers.” Moreover, she underscores the program’s adaptability, noting, “Ballet Conservatoire regularly provides curriculum updates to our member teachers. This proactive strategy keeps our syllabus up-to-date and relevant and ensures graduates are ready for the global dance industry.”

Innovation is at the core of Ballet Conservatoire’s ethos, as evidenced by Walsh’s remarks on the introduction of live online exams and seminars, a pioneering move within the ballet education sphere. Walsh states, “Additionally, Ballet Conservatoire was one of the first syllabuses to introduce live online exams and seminars in early 2020. This has continued as an option for teachers and students to facilitate ongoing service and is particularly helpful for remote areas.”

Maintaining a delicate balance between tradition and modernity, Walsh elaborates, “Ballet Conservatoire ensures that the classical tradition and evolving demands of the current ballet industry are met by regularly improving and updating the syllabus.” Emphasising holistic dancer development, she adds, “During seminars, teachers are trained to focus on dancers’ overall well-being and are encouraged to incorporate dedicated sessions on strength training, flexibility, and injury prevention into their class schedules.”

Ballet Conservatoire stands as an inclusive platform nurturing dancers of all aspirations and abilities. Walsh emphasises, “Students examined in the Ballet Conservatoire receive detailed and practical feedback from examiners relevant to all age groups and student types. Both encouragement and technical corrections are given and appreciated by recreational students and those preparing for a professional career.” She underscores the personalised approach, stating, “This structure ensures that each student can progress at a pace suited to their individual goals and abilities.”

For those aspiring to professional careers in ballet, Walsh outlines the rigorous preparation provided by Ballet Conservatoire, asserting, “Our professional pathway is built around real-world readiness, preparing students for the global dance industry. Ballet Conservatoire develops technical competence and security, performing ability, and confidence. In addition, scholarships are awarded to students with professional potential.” She highlights the program’s success stories, noting, “A clear indication of this is the numerous dancers trained through the Ballet Conservatoire program, now contracted by esteemed international companies, alongside the many dance teachers currently guiding and directing at various schools and companies worldwide.”

The journey towards becoming a certified Ballet Conservatoire teacher is a structured progression, detailed by the prerequisites and ongoing professional development opportunities outlined by Walsh. She affirms, “To obtain provisional teacher membership in the Ballet Conservatoire (BC) training program, educators must first attend Seminar 1 (Pre-Primary to Level 4). After successfully presenting students for examinations in at least three levels within this range, teachers gain accreditation and become eligible for Seminar 2 (Level 5 and Senior Level). Following submitting students for exams at these upper levels, the teachers are eligible to attend Seminar 3 (Excellence) having by then developed more comprehensive and advanced teaching skills.

Professional growth and support for Ballet Conservatoire teachers are cornerstones of the program’s commitment to excellence. Walsh elaborates, “We are committed to the continuous growth of our educators. To that end, we provide refresher seminars to all fully registered BC teacher members covering all levels already studied.” She underscores the importance of ongoing development, stating, “Ongoing support and professional development are provided during regular teacher training seminars, forums, and workshops, ensuring that accredited teachers stay updated with the latest teaching techniques and syllabus developments.”

Ballet Conservatoire exemplifies a commitment to excellence, innovation, and holistic development, preparing dancers worldwide for the demands of the contemporary ballet industry while honouring classical traditions. Through its rigorous curriculum, ongoing evolution, and dedicated faculty, Ballet Conservatoire continues to set the standard in ballet education globally.