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National College of Dance
About the National College of Dance
The National College of Dance opened in Newcastle, NSW in 2007. The College offers accredited training to young students wishing to pursue a career in the dance industry. This ambitious venture is the brain child of Marie Walton Mahon, a highly respected artistic director with thirty years experience in dance development.
Marie Walton Mahon, Solo Seal, Vocational Examiner with the Royal Academy of Dance, has seen the need for young students to have access to high quality, nationally recognised training in dance related studies. The courses on offer are Certificate III, Certificate IV and a Diploma in Dance Performance. These new courses include individually developed subjects such as performance in classical, contemporary and jazz, body conditioning, musicality, choreography and sustainable career planning. The college is currently developing a relationship with Newcastle University for future possibilities and further study in other dance related areas.
Throughout her professional career and
personal dance studies Marie has built an extensive network of industry
contacts both nationally and internationally which will be an invaluable
support to the College. Marie gained honours in the RAD Advanced
examination and was awarded the Solo Seal. She travelled to France
where she studied under the distinguished Rosella Hightower and
danced professionally with "Les Ballet de Marseille",
touring through Europe.
On returning to Newcastle, Marie opened the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy and has developed a very successful 32 year career as an educator. In 2006 Marie obtained Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and also her Statement of Participation in The Art of Recognition.
Under Marie's direction, The National College of Dance is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and VETAB Accredited offering assistance to students qualifying for Government benefits. The studio offers services such as a resident medical team and onsite physio, secondments with dance companies and referrals liaised for support groups, regular industry guest teachers and ongoing personal and professional development for students and staff.
In 2009 the College offers purpose built premises including new dance studios, academic room and student change rooms.
The National College of Dance also offers full Boarding Facilities.
The opening of the National College of
Dance in 2007 heralds the start of a new era in dance study for
young students in Australia. Combining over 30 years experience,
a team of talented and dynamic staff and an already successful training
package, the college offers a course that is set to motivate and
guide young students holistically into a career in dance.
Auditions, consisting of a three day workshop, will be held every
year in the first week of the October school holidays.
For further details contact 02 4952 929, email nc.dance@optusnet.net.au
photo Ben Dunlop, Certificate IV Student National College of Dance 2009
Patron for the National College of Dance - Li Cunxin
The National College of Dance is very proud of the patronage of Li Cunxin. Li’s
journey is simply remarkable. He was born into utter poverty in Mao’s communist
China, at a very young age
he was selected to train in Madame Mao's Beijing Dance
Academy. So began Li's
journey. The 7 years of harsh training regime at the Beijing Dance
Academy taught him
discipline, resilience, determination and perseverance.
In 1979, Li was invited by the Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet Ben
Stevenson to study with the Houston Ballet and went on to become a principal
dancer with both the Houston Ballet and the Australian Ballet. After a
successful 20-year international dance career, Li then made a career transition
from ballet to finance in 1999. He is a senior manager at one of the largest
stockbroking firms in Australia.
Li’s astounding drive and relentless hard work made him one of the best dancers in the world.
The
inspirational story of Li’s life is recounted in his memoir Mao's Last
Dancer, which quickly rose to No. 1 on the Australian Non-Fiction
Best-Seller List and won the Book of the Year Award in Australia, receiving the Christopher Award
for Literature in the USA.
It went on to become an international bestseller being in it’s 38th reprint. His
incredible story is being made into a featured film, featuring the dancers of the Sydney Dance Company.
In his own words "I am very
proud to be the patron of your college..."
Testimonials
Testimonial from Elke Crowe, visiting dance teacher March 2009
Dear Marie, thank you for another wonderful training day and the opportunity to visit the National College of Dance. I am so grateful for your generous sharing of knowledge. The seminar, the training day, observing at the College and contact with you, an exceptional teacher, have been inspirational. I have begun using some of the 'tools' in class and I can already see improvements. To see kids start to understand why they do something and ow they use their bodies - that has to be one of the most satisfying things about being a teacher.
I know that there are many amazing teachers in the ballet world - but I think our group has been fortunate to have someone extra special. Elke Crowe
Testimonial from 2008 student - Jasmin Dwyer
The
National College
of Dance Diploma course incorporates many different units of work and therefore
is a great training ground, not only for a career in classical ballet, but for
contemporary, jazz, choreography and many other dance and art related careers.
The units of drama, music, body conditioning and choreography have greatly
enhanced my dance training, and extended my knowledge of other areas. I’ve
especially enjoyed creating my own original work in the choreography unit and
was able to present a piece at the Australian Choreographic Competition in
Geelong , for which I was
awarded 2nd place.
We are also offered regular opportunities to participate in workshops, attend performances and take part in secondments with professional ballet companies, which are all great, eye opening experiences. In addition to this, guest teachers are often organized by Miss Marie, which allows us to experience different styles of teaching and establish important contacts.
There is a great atmosphere of support amongst the students and staff throughout the studio. The teachers are not only experienced and dedicated, but also committed to meeting the needs of each individual as we pursue our careers.
Dancing with Marie Walton Mahon I have always had access to outstanding training, however the newly accredited Diploma course has opened even more opportunities to the students of the school. During the Diploma course I particularly enjoyed being able to explore choreography and I also perfomed a self choreograped contemporary piece, along with a classical variation, at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York , 2008. I placed in the top twelve senior women, and was offered a contract with the Washington Ballet Studio Company as a result of the competition. It is opportunities such as this, offered by Marie Walton Mahon, that allowed me to further my career. The Youth America Grand Prix allowed me to be seen by numerous prominent directors, who were both on the judging panel and in the audience. I was also coached by a number of distinguished teachers and company directors in workshop classes throughout the event. I am now eager to begin the next step of my career in Washington D.C. but will always be grateful for the amazing opportunities I had available to me.
Jasmin is currently under contract with the Washington Ballet Company in 2009.
Testimonial from 2008 student - Brianna Thomas
Being a Diploma student in the first year of the
National College of Dance (2007) has been incredible.
The teachers are amazing. I couldn't ask for better mentors and choreographers. They’re easy to talk to and have become great friends. They are so experienced, professional and inspirational with all their dance history. They’ve been through everything we’re going through so they understand any difficulties.
We are given a number of special opportunities valuable for our future. We have secondments to Queensland Ballet and Expressions Dance Company, notice of any upcoming auditions, workshops by the Australian Ballet, and chances to take classes with renowned dancers and choreographers.
I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this year. In 2009 Brianna is a dance teacher with the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Adacemy while she completes her Education Degree at the University of Newcastle.