Australian Dance Academy

Inspiring young dancers

Dance parents can be proud, giving children the gift of an arts education and an academic education is both admirable inspiring and important. Our young dancers are physically healthy and highly motivated. Their dance classes stimulate creativity and build confidence which is essential for developing children.

The Australian Dance Academy takes pride in inspiring the imagination and motivating physical fitness. Our students are inspired by our magnificent studios, performance rehearsals and having the opportunity to perform on stage. Consistent ongoing training develops life skills and builds confidence in each student who becomes proud of their achievements.

The Australian Dance Academy is supported by the NT Government. We are one of the top ten organisations in the NT Government Sports Voucher Scheme which gives each student a $100.00 discount per semester towards fees and uniform costs.

Primary Ballet

Our Primary Ballet begins at 3 years of age in Level 1.

Each year students progress to their next level; age 4 - Level 2 and age 5 - Level 3 etc.

Primary ballet is all about learning basic skills, coordination and having fun with dance!

Our Primary Ballet School has one performance each year, 'Morning Melodies'.

Morning Melodies is a family only performance for our Level 1's, Level 2's and Level 3's where students proudly show their parents what they have learnt for the year.

The performance starts with some of their class work on stage. The Auditorium is lit so the students can see their parents and become more comfortable with the stage.

Finally they go backstage and change into their costumes before presenting their dance to their audience.

Junior Ballet

Junior Ballet is Level 4 to Level 7.

Level 4 begins the year students turn 6.

Level 4 students are further introduced to the structure of ballet classes and begin to learn some of the more complicated coordination steps.

Level 4 is also the year when students are introduced to our annual 'The Magic of Dance' performances held at sunset on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Our Level 5 Ballet students are ready to begin Jazz which gives students a movement class which is taught at a faster tempo.

Jazz is taught as a seperate class to ballet, and has its own performance - 'Jazz Incorporated'.

At Level 6 Tap is also introduce as an option, which is also included in the Jazz Incorporated Performance.

Our Junior Ballet students are taught the Cecchetti (Italian) method of ballet created by the International Teachers of Dance Association. As our dancers progress they are introduced to the Vagonava (Russian) method of classical ballet which is a broader, more advance training system.

Teaching students more than one style allows dancers to experience the different styles preparing them for challenges one can experience as a dancer.

The Magic of Dance

The Magic of Dance is an annual performance of a 'Story Ballet' designed to showcase all of the students of the Australian Dance Academy with the assistance of the Duprada Dance Company. Each class has their own costume (provided by us) and choreographed dance to perform. The students are involved in the whole ballet and play an important part of telling the story to the audience.

Jazz Collectives

The annual Jazz Collectives performance is a two act performance with a presentation by DDC in Act 1 and a joint performance by ADA & DDC in Act 2.

Act 1 is primarily a Duprada Dance Company performance including Australian Dance Academy students. This includes our annual Défilé (which showcases a short excerpt of classwork from every level).

Act 2 is our Jazz Collectives and Tap Performance choreographed with a creative theme or tale.

Senior Ballet

Senior Ballet begins the year our dancers turn 10 and are introduced to our Elementary class.

Elementary is studied over two years as the workload is increased. More time is needed to gain a

better understanding of ballet steps and technique.

Theatre Studies is introduced as it is necessary to understand the workings of the theatre and learning the etiquette and rules of being backstage. It is important to learn how to 'act' on stage when you are not dancing and how to manage props.

Theatre Studies teaches the dancers what the areas of the theatre are called and other theatrical terminology, how to apply stage make up and wear specific costumes, headpieces and accessories.

In Elementary 2, when the dancers turn 11, they progress to Level 1 Pointe work.

Pointe work is an important part of Classical Ballet. We have our dancers begin Pointe at this age because they have enough strength to learn Pointe work but not enough bodyweight to hurt themselves. As students refine their ballet and grow in strength and bodyweight, their Pointé work becomes aligned and elegant.

Costume Fee

Costume Fee.

Instead of parents having to make or buy costumes we charge a fee and supply every costume, headpiece, accessory and prop needed for every student.

The costume fee covers the cost of the actual costume and the work that goes into the costumes from the original design, making, laundering, fitting and maintaining of our wardrobe.

The costume fee is not added onto the term fees because some students choose not to or are unable to Perform.

We have spent 35 years creating our wardrobe department. We have created and catalogued thousands of costumes. We have had a long association with costume designers who have costumed full ballets.

We maintain and look after our costumes so that lots of students get a chance to wear them - their favourite day is watching us unpack a costume box and give them their costume to try on. We love to see them enjoying their costume and admiring everyone else in their costume.