Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) announces a new Pre-Professional Program offering vocational training for dancers from 2025. Students will gain invaluable experience training with a professional company and graduate with an Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance).
The Pre-Professional Program aims to cultivate creative, versatile and employable dance artists, with strong and diverse artistic voices and excellence in technical and performance capabilities.
The collective has the incredible opportunity to deliver a robust full-time course with the support of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Strategic Partnerships Fund (2024 to 2026). This critical funding, alongside-investment from The L&R Foundation, allows ADC to continue its efforts in nurturing future generations of Queensland dance artists.
ADC Artistic Director Amy Hollingsworth said that the Pre-Professional Program will strive to have a meaningful impact on the dance sector and young dancers.
“A training program guided by a professional dance company provides unparalleled industry experience as participants are immersed in the environment and connect regularly with professional choreographers, dancers and industry specialists,” said Hollingsworth. “ADC is extremely fortunate to have this consistent funding over the next three years, which allows us to create stronger pathways and enhance the opportunities for the next generation of dancers. We are excited to contribute to the further development of strong artistic voices and technical capabilities of dancers as they build their careers locally, nationally and internationally.”
ADC’s Pre-Professional Program will offer young talent the opportunity to pursue their professional development right here in Queensland.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said forging robust development pathways for local talent was fundamental to growing the creative workforce in Queensland.
“Support through the Strategic Development Fund has enabled ADC to leverage a new partnership with The L&R Foundation to grow dance sector sustainability and create new training and employment opportunities for Queensland artists and artsworkers,” said Minister Enoch. “The Queensland Government’s Investment in ADC through the Strategic Partnerships Fund as well as through the Organisations Fund 2022-2025, delivers on the Creative Together 2020-2030 roadmap priority to build a strong and sustainable sector. Developing emerging artists through ADC’s Pre-Professional Program will help ready the arts and cultural sector to showcase our talent and share our stories on the global stage of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
ADC will partner with a Registered Training Organisation, the Australian Teachers of Dance (ATOD), to provide accreditation for the Pre-Professional Program.
Ausdance Queensland CEO, Julie Englefield, said that the importance of full-time training for dancers to prepare them for full-time careers cannot be overstated.
“There is distinct rigour, discipline and technical focus in the pre-professional course planned by Australasian Dance Collective which teaches dancers to be ‘company ready’,” said Englefield. “It’s critical we provide world-class, Queensland-based training to expand opportunities and scope for our dancers to have long and successful careers.”
The funding will also be used to boost ADC’s School Workshop Program and Youth Ensemble where a pipeline of emerging dancers are offered opportunities to expand their professional growth. The three streams of the youth program will allow young artists to gain insight into the professional industry while also developing personal and social skills including communication, creative capacity and critical thinking.
Applications for ADC’s 2025 Pre-Professional Program will open this June, with auditions to be held in September.
For more information, visit australasiandancecollective.com/training.
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