Australian Ballet School Information & Australian Ballet School Links at HealthHaven.com

The Australian Ballet School was founded in 1964 as the primary training facility for The Australian Ballet by Dame Margaret Scott. It is part of the Australian Ballet Centre, which is located in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, Southbank in Melbourne, Victoria. It is a member of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence.^[1]

[edit] About the School

The Australian Ballet Company draws 95% of its dancers from the School and many graduates dance as principals and soloists around the world.

Offered are:

an eight year course from age ten for gifted students
Junior School (Levels 1-4) leading to a Certificate III in Dance. Level 4 is full time, with Year 9 academic studies conducted at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School^[2]
Senior School (Levels 5-8) leading to an Advanced Diploma.

[edit] Audition Process

Once a year, The Australian Ballet School conducts preliminary auditions for both the Junior ( students aged 9-14 years) and Senior (students aged from 15 years) Programmes in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth.

The preliminary auditions involve a short physical examination and a classical ballet class. Successful applicants for the Junior School are notified in the weeks following these local auditions. For the Senior School, a National Finals week is held in Melbourne. This is an intensive audition process. The finalists spend the week being examined by the School's Dance Teachers, Doctor and Physiotherapists to determine their suitability for full-time study and a career in classical ballet. Overseas students may initially audition by video for the Senior program. If successful, they will then be asked to audition in Melbourne during the National Finals week. Successful candidates are notified in the fortnight following the National Finals.

[edit] The Dancers Company

The Dancers Company was set up in 1980 as an integrated part of The Australian Ballet under the direction of the Associate Artistic Director. Students from the Graduate Year (Level 8) that meet the required dance standard, are selected to perform with the Company throughout regional Australia.

[edit] Directors

Dame Margaret Scott DBE (1964-1990)
Gailene Stock AM (1990-1998)
Marilyn Rowe OBE (1998-present)

[edit] Graduates

[edit] Choreographers

Stephen Baynes (currently Resident Choreographer with the Australian Ballet)
Graeme Murphy
Garry Stewart
Meryl Tankard
Leigh Warren

[edit] Dancers

Miranda Coney
David McAllister
Lisa Bolte
Steven Heathcote
Emilie de Ravin
Tracy Li
Elisha Willis

[edit] References

^ Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008-09-15). "Arts training bodies" (html). http://www.arts.gov.au/arts_training_bodies. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
^ The Australian Ballet School - Organisational Structure

[edit] External links

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[0] Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008-09-15). "Arts training bodies" (html). http://www.arts.gov.au/arts_training_bodies. Retrieved 2008-10-03.

[1] The Australian Ballet School - Organisational Structure

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