Australian Ballet School

Updated on Oct 21, 2023

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School type Private Status Active Founder Margaret Scott Headquarters Melbourne, Australia		Established 1964 Specialist Classical Ballet Founded 1964 Gender Mixed-sex education

Director Lisa Pavane Dip ABS, VGCEBI General Manager Sandra Ball Ad Dip ABS TC Profiles Facebook Pinterest Instagram

The australian ballet school

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.

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.

After School Program (Levels 1–3), for students between 10 and 13 years of age. Classes take place after school hours and on Saturdays.

Interstate/International Training (levels 1–4), for students between 8 and 14 years of age who are gifted in dance but live interstate or internationally. There are only limited spots in level four for gifted students that are not yet ready to leave home.

Full-Time Program (Levels 4–8), for students between 13 and 19 years of age. Level 4 is taken in conjunction with academic year 9 at Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School-VCASS (across the road from the Australian Ballet Centre). Half the day consists of dance classes and the other half consists of academic classes, Monday to Friday. Half a day of dance classes on Saturday.

Audition process

Once a year, the Australian Ballet School conducts preliminary auditions for the After School Program (students aged 10–13 years), Interstate Training Program (students aged 8–14) and the Full-Time Program (students aged from 13 years) in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

The preliminary auditions involve a short physical examination, to evaluate if the dancer is physically suitable for a career in classical ballet, and a classical ballet class, modified so the dancer can demonstrate natural coordination and musicality. Successful applicants for the After School Program and Interstate/International Training Program are notified in the weeks following these local auditions. For the Full-Time Program, a National Finals week is held in Melbourne. This is an intensive audition process. The finalists spend three days 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. Interstate or international students may initially audition by video for the Full-Time 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.

The audition for the Full-Time Program involves a simple class where the instructions set by an Australian Ballet School Official are easy to understand and follow. If on the day they are found to be suitable, they are then invited to spend three days of examination through classes. It is then when the school decides whether they are willing to offer the auditionee a place at the school.

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) who meet the required dance standard are selected to perform with the Company throughout regional Australia.