There are plenty of schools and other providers if you’d like to have a go at dance classes and see what talent you’ve got. A quick search on the internet or asking around at school will provide you with lots of leads you can follow up on.
Lots of schools and academies hold regular workshops and run school holiday programs, they’re a great way to get a big tuition and experience under your belt if you’re unable to commit to fill or part time study right now.
If you’ve already taken dance classes and all you’d like to do from now on is dance, dance, dance here’s a few of the academies offering VET qualifications and programs.
Passing an audition is often the main eligibility criteria.
Western Australia
Principal Academy of Dance first auditions for 2020 intake are being held on Tuesday 26th November 2019.
West Australian Ballet auditions for the 2020 Masterclass programme are now closed but there are workshops happening over the summer holidays.
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAPPA) offer Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificates and Advanced Diplomas funded by the WA Department of Education and Training – through to Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral degrees.
Victoria
At AusDance Victoria you can study a pre-vocational VCE VET Dance, get a tast of the industry and score yourself a Certificate II.
The Australian Ballet School have a variety of programmes, including their full time training programme for students aged 13 and up, applications for auditions into their 2020 course are now closed.
Auditions for their Interstate Training Program (ITP) for the 2020 course are coming up in Melbourne on 10, 11, & 12 December 2019, but you’ll need to enrol before 1 December.
They also have summer school classes available.
Academy of Dance Victoria offer VCE VET Dance, a pre-vocational course for students in Year 10 or 11, with no pre-requisites to enrol, although previous dance experience is an advantage. You’ll have to complete an expression of interest form if you’re interested in attending in 2020.
ACT
Kulturebreak – Dance Nation is a 16 week school arts program linked to the Australian Curriculum Arts (Dance) school registrations are open now.
Erindale College run the Talented Dance Program, an elite program of excellence designed to extend and develop the talents of dance students in the performing arts. Prospective students must submit an expression of interest form and complete an audition.
Tasmania
Kallista Dance Academy are offering VCE VET Dance units in 2020 and 2021 designed to prepare you to audition for further (tertiary) training as a dancer, dance teacher or choreographer.
South Australia
The Australian Company of Performing Arts (ACPA) offer SACE courses for Years 10-12 and vocational courses. Complete an audition application to start the enrolment process.
New South Wales
Mosman Dance Academy offer a variety of programs and their auditions are held throughout the year. They also have holiday school programs and regular workshops, check out their events page if you’re interested in applying.
Australian Dance Institute (ADI) can help you get a vocational certificate while you’re still at school, credit points may count towards your HSC.
At the Australian College of Dance (also found in Victoria) you can study for a Certificate III or IV and even get your dance teacher qualifications.
Queensland
Queensland World Dance Academy (QWDA) have a full and part time programs you can apply for, on successful completion you’ll receive a VET qualification.
Queensland Ballet offer full-time programs as well as classes, auditions for 2020 are open now. You can also apply for their elite summer program and their summer school program.
Brisbane Academy of Dance run classes and programs in line with the dance society syllabus and technical examination results count towards VET technical competencies as part of the CUA Certificates in Dance qualifications provided directly by Australian Dance institute RTO 91600.
Northern Territory
Tracks offer studio residencies, applications for the 2019/2020 studios are open now. They also have a variety of artistic programs and events happening that you can get involved with, to get experience and learn more.
Something to aspire to
Passionate about dancing? Then you’ve probably heard about some of the top dance schools around the world, why not check them out and see how far your talent could take you.
Royal Ballet School in the UK
The Juilliard School in the USA
Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Russia
Paris Opera Ballet School in France
Sunhwa Arts High School in South Korea
Career options
You can also research options that could lead you into a career doing what you love sooner rather than later – apply for auditions, find an agent, or sign up to dance on a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean Cruises are advertising for dancers right now, you’ll have to ace the audition to be successful.
Carnival Cruises audition all year round for positions in their entertainment section.
If you’re looking for casting calls and roles to audition for, check on Backstage and other similar sites, if you’re serious paying a subscription could be worth your while.
There are also universities that offer degrees in Dance, we’ll have more details in our job spotlight coming out next week.
1 thought on “Pursuing a career in dance”
It saddens me that due to family circumstances I had to quit dance classes at age 14. I wanted to study dance and become a choreographer. I did theatre at school and was really good. In my later years I put myself through uni and got a good job, but my passion is dance. I am now financially in a position to study dance, however I am 59 years old and no one will enrol me. This makes me sad every day as I will never achieve my goal of teaching dance.