For the first time, The Australian Ballet School will be offering students from around Australia and internationally the opportunity to take part in The Australian Ballet School Scholarship Awards.
The inaugural Scholarship Awards will provide a pathway for students to display their artistic and technical abilities, through masterclasses and performance. In addition to the support provided by the prizes, this initiative is about coming together, participating with other like-minded students to advance skills, increase understanding and enthuse passion for ballet.
David McAllister AM, artistic director of The Australian Ballet, said, “The Australian Ballet School is one of the great vocational ballet schools of world. It is very exciting that dancers from across the country will be able to come together to compete for opportunities to train at this prestigious school. For more than 50 years, the majority of The Australian Ballet’s dancers have trained through The Australian Ballet School and this scholarship could be the beginning for the next generation of young dancers to also become members of our national company.”
Prizes will include three supreme awards of 12-month tuition scholarships, six runner-up prizes of a two-week training opportunity, plus further training sponsored opportunities at the school in 2017. These scholarships will provide access to The Australian Ballet School’s training pathway that have led to the successful careers of dancers such as Amber Scott, Ty King-Wall, Dimity Azoury, Brett Chynoweth and Benedicte Bemet of The Australian Ballet, to name just a few.
“Informed by meaningful history and motivated by the exciting possibilities of the future of dance in Australia and abroad, The Australian Ballet School is committed to achieving exceptional student outcomes in a unique, nurturing culture that embraces creativity, artistic expression and passion,” said Lisa Pavane, director of The Australian Ballet School.
“The Australian Ballet School’s philosophy is one that embraces maximising ability and producing thinking artists who are healthy in body and mind,” continued Pavane. “Upon graduation, students emerge fully prepared to fulfil their potential as members of The Australian Ballet and other dance companies around the world; as individuals capable of making valuable contributions to society. We are committed to creating an environment where students will be inspired and take that next big leap in their ballet dreams.”
The Australian Ballet School Scholarship Awards is an opportunity open to promising young dancers aged 10-17 who aspire to train in the school’s elite, vocational training programme.
There are three aims of this opportunity: first, to provide access to world-class training and facilities at the Primrose Potter Australian Ballet Centre through an opportunity to participate in masterclasses with staff of the school and perform before a panel of Australia’s highly respected dance professionals; second, to provide financial scholarships to attend various training opportunities at the school; and third, to support and encourage young dancers to pursue their training at the school of Australia’s national company, The Australian Ballet.
The closing date for all applications is May 2, 2016. However, note that class sizes will be capped and may book out prior to the advertised closing date.
The competition will commence Friday, June 10 and will conclude June 12 with the selected finalists performing their variation.
The awards are open to dancers aged 10-17 (prior to May 2), this includes existing ITP students of the school but not full time and after school students of the school.
Entrants will attend masterclasses taught by Teaching Staff of The Australian Ballet School and present a classical variation with adjudication by staff of The Australian Ballet School.
In a special performance, principal artists of The Australian Ballet will perform a pas de deux from Stephen Baynes’ Swan Lake. There will also be a performance of Raymonda’s Grand Pas Classique by seniors of The Australian Ballet School.
To download the application form for the 2016 Scholarship Awards, click here. For any further enquires, email awards@australianballetschool.com.au.
Photos courtesy of The Australian Ballet School.
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