Welcome to Australia’s leading dance performance training centre and Newcastle’s premium dance school.

Australia’s leading, full time, dance performance training centre and Newcastle’s most premium dance school. The National College of Dance and the Junior Academy, (formally Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy), have nurtured talented and passionate dancers in Newcastle for over forty years.

Our dance school and dance academy is a vibrant and active space where focused elite dancers cross paths with our junior dancers. Our talented and experienced teachers and our students (both adult and junior) dance with us for fun, health and pleasure. The Studio provides a range of dance classes, workshops and dance experiences in ballet, contemporary and jazz from intensive vocational and full time elite performance training through to adult dance classes, tiny tots, acrobatics, Pilates and yoga.

The National College of Dance and Junior Academy continues to grow and under the leadership of Brett Morgan, our team of highly experienced professional dance educators and choreographers continue to foster, train and mentor young dancers. This commitment to excellence is highlighted by the incredible results we achieve in our Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet exams and eisteddfods through to the growing number of successful graduates who launch professional careers in dance from our Studio.

Newcastle Ballet Theatre
Founded in 2012, NBT’s studio has already had acceptances and placements in some of the most prestigious schools and companies in Australia and internationally. These Institutions include the Australian Ballet School, The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet, Queensland Ballet Pre-Professional Year, Queensland Ballet Jette Parker Program, Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year, Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Classique Ballet de Paris, Joffery Ballet, The Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet, Moulin Rouge, and more. NBT’s Full Time program is a well-rounded program with highly regarded faculty members. It is designed for the serious student wishing to pursue a career in dance. The course aims to increase, improve and refine technique, strength, knowledge and presentation. Academic studies can be continued through Distance Education or home schooling.

Non Certificate Course
Time: approx. 30hrs per week
Dancers wishing to pursue full time training without studying toward a Certificate, are welcome at NBT. As the course is ballet based, dancers who have already achieved a qualification at or above a Certificate IV, or who simply want to train in the studio, will benefit greatly from NBT’s well-regarded faculty and training methods. Whether pursuing a government accredited qualification, or simply wishing to improve technique, immersion in NBT’s training will strengthen and mature any dancer who commits to the work required.

All Nationally Accredited training courses are delivered under a Partnership Agreement with the ATOD RTO31624

CUA40113 Certificate IV in Dance – Delivery – Full Time. Entry by audition only.
Time: 1yr Full time – approx. 30hrs per week.
Aim: Designed as an introduction to the demands of the professional field for the advanced student, by deepening their knowledge, strength, and technique. Encompassing a wider range of subjects, and expanding knowledge of each, it is the ideal pathway for a Full Time student to increase the intensity of their training, with a focus on their future professional career.

CUA50113 Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) – Delivery – Full Time. Entry by audition only.
Time: 1yr Full time – approx. 30hrs per week.
Aim: Provide excellent training for advanced level dancers who aspire to perform at a professional level. This course is for students seeking to enhance their technical proficiency, strengthen foundations and broaden their repertoire. Students will learn how to showcase their individual talents with an emphasis on choreography, improvisational, solo performance and ensemble techniques.
Core Subjects: Prepare for performances in a competitive environment, develop own sustainable professional practice, refine ballet technique, refine contemporary dance technique, incorporate anatomy and nutrition principles into skill development, refine ballet performance skills, refine performance technique.
Classes: Classical Ballet (Open Ballet and BC syllabus), Pointe, Repertoire, Pas de Deux, Contemporary, Choreography, Jazz, History of Dance, Boys Classes, Stretch, Pilate4s, Dance Appreciation.
Performance Opportunities for all courses: Our Full time students have the opportunity to perform in our annual, end of year, professional full length ballets as well as our Mid Year showcase.
Both productions, provide wonderful opportunities for stage experience. NBT’s past productions include Cinderella, Paquita, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act II, and The Sleeping Beauty. In addition Full Time students have the opportunity to compete in major Eisteddfods and Competitions.