• November 2008 Congratulations to Luke Marchant - full time student 2004

Luke was a student with the MWM dance school from a young age before successfully gaining a place at the Australian Ballet School. This year he graduated and has been offered a contract with the Australian Ballet Company - well done Luke.

• October 2008 Congratulations to Jessica Lee Fyfe - graduating student 2005
  

Jessica recently represented Australia, on behalf of the Australian Ballet School at the International Ballet Competition in Beijing. From over a hundred contestants world wide, Jessica made it to the finals - Well done Jessica.

Photo: Jess performed Giselle in the first round which earned her a spot in the finals

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Jess as Paquita in the finals

 

 

 

 

 

 

• October 2008 Congratulations to Sophie Trentin Congratulations to Sophie in successfully auditioning for a place in the Interstate Junior Program (IJP) at the Australian Ballet School. Hundreds of students audition from all over Australia and it is a great achievement to be selected. Sophie will travel to Melbourne and Sydney for masterclasses. Go to the schools website for more information on the program or click here australian ballet school.

•  September 2008 Congratulations to winners of the MWM Dance and NCD scholarships

At the recent RWMBF Scholarship Concert, held at the Griffith Duncan Theatre, Newcastle University, many talented and enthusiastic students went home with scholarships. On the day, all students of the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy and the National College of Dance performed their class work in all subject areas of Classical, Contemporary and Jazz.

The NCD finalists of the scholarships also performed their solo dances from Certificate III, Certificate IV and Diploma level, some pieces were self-choreographed and all were of an exceptionally high standard. A special treat was the farewell performance by Kaisey Johnston who is leaving to take up a contract with the Texas Ballet Company. The junior students of MWM Dance performed 'Defille' accompanied by Jenny Pickering on grand piano. The Rose Walton Memorial Fund then presented all junior students with trophies in acknowledgement of their hard work and achievements in the recent exams.

The finalists of the Middle and Senior Schools performed their class work with the winners taking home a scholarship which will give them 12 months free tuition in Classical Ballet. Many other awards were presented including the 'Sportmanship' award which is voted on by the students. The audience was highly entertained with some excellent jazz and contemporary choreography prepared especially for the concert. The highlight of the show was the gorgeous Tiny Tots who delighted everyone with their big smiles and obvious joy in dance, and it was announced that they would be performing at the Newcastle Carols by Candlelight in December. Congratulations to all who participated, and thank you to Katie O Brien who will be providing beautiful photos as a memento of the event.

photo: Mia Powter who won the National College of Dance Diploma Scholarship.

 

• August 2008 - Farewell to a special star in dance, Miss Monica Halliday OAM
  

It is with great saddness that we pay homage to our former MWM Junior Patron, who passed away this week (August 08), she made a wonderful contribution to the world of dance in Australia, which will be felt for generations to come.

 

• August 2008 - Staged08 announces guest artists from the Australian Ballet 

•  

 

Stephanie Williams and Jared Wright will join NCD students in a special performance of Swan Lake. Stephanie was a student with MWM from Pre-Primary - Solo Seal, completing her studies with the Australian Ballet School, and now with the Australian Ballet Company. Photos James Braund

• August 2008 - Student Success

1. Kaisey Johnston has been offered a contract with the Metropolitan Classical Ballet in the USA for September.
2. Sarah Browne and Ashley Swinbourne take up contracts with Carnival Cruise Ships, they have deferred their studies and will resume the Diploma course upon completion of their contracts. 
3. Student Groups competing in the Sydney Performing Arts Challenge all showed great team spirit, performed well and gained much enjoyment from the experience RESULTS: NCD Contemporary - 2nd, NCD Classical - HC, MWM Classical - HC, NCD Modern - HC, Open Age Jazz - Finalists to perform at the Opera House Finals Night.
4. Congratualtions to the Under 14s group who won first place in their Contemporary and third place in Classical. The contemporary group has been asked to perform at the Gala Concert at the Opera House later in the year. They will be competing in the Jazz section on 24 August at the Opera House.
   
5. Congratulations to the U12s who placed a HC in the jazz section, they are yet to compete in Classical & Contemporary.
   

• July 2008 - guest choreographer Daniel Baker in town

NCD students are thrilled to be working with Daniel Baker who is guest choreographer working in collaboration with Debbie Linnert on the upcoming '7 Deadly Sins'. Daniel is a past student from 2005 who is currently under contract with MIami City Ballet. Daniels choreography is already well known, and he has worked with Twyla Tharpe. see http://thewinger.com/words/category/daniel-baker/ for a review of some of his choreography in the states.

Photo: Miami City Ballet - http://www.miamicityballet.org/

• June 2008 - Announcing STAGED08
  

The National College of Dance will join forces with the Hunter Festival Opera and the Australian Ballet, supported by the University of Newcastle in what will be an electrifying fusion of music and dance, showcasing the emerging stars of the future.

 After the successful audition tour of New York, graduating students will perform a new interpretative piece from the ballet, Swan Lake, directed by Marie Walton Mahon, who is internationally acclaimed for her innovative work in dance training. Special Guest artists from the Australian Ballet will perform together with students to the magical music of the 27 piece Hunter Festival Opera, in a classic tale of love, lost and found.

Tickets: Adults $40 Children $30 Group Bookings (10+ people) $30 per head. Phone Ticketek for bookings Ph: 02 4929 1977

• May 2008 - Congratulations to Jasmin Dwyer

Jasmin Dwyer 17 years old from Marylands has accepted a professional contract with the Washington Ballet Company to commence in September 2008.

 A local Marylands girl, Jasmin has been training with Marie Walton-Mahon for the past 11 years and completed her Diploma of Dance at NCD. Jasmin was the dux of the inaugural year and excelled in the units of classical ballet, contemporary and choreography. 2007 Jasmin in fact came 2nd in the Australian Choreographic competition as well as was awarded many scholarships.

 Jasmin, recently went to New York  to enter the Grand Prix International competition. Out of hundreds of dancers, she made it to the final round and one of the 27 judges was the Artistic Director of Washington Ballet. She was invited to join the ballet company after seeing her perform her 2 solo’s, one a classical ballet solo from the ballet Le Corsaire and the other a self choreographed high energy contemporary solo “ Complicated Games”.

Jasmin is the loveliest person, very dedicated and warm in her passion for dance. For someone so young she epitomises the essence of a true performer, equally lovely in her classical tutu with exquisite technique while able to demonstrate a depth of soul in her contemporary work that is poetic and moving. Miss Mahon is extremely proud of her achievements and feels she has a long career in dance as well as choreography and wishes her every success in Washington.

Newcastle has a chance to see Jasmin perform in Gala concert at the Griffith Duncan Theatre Next Sunday 1st June commencing at 2pm. Other special items that will be highlighted are that of the choreography of Debbie Linnert who choreographed recently for the top 10 dancers in the hit TV shoe ‘So you think you can Dance” The afternoon is packed with entertainment in classical ballet, contemporary and Jazz Dance. Tickets at the door. call 49529294

• May 2008 - Fabulous opportunity to  see world class ballet
  

MWM and NCD have been asked to donate their pointe shoes to be part of the 2000 shoes that will be seen on stage in the ballet 'The Exquisite Hour".

After sell-out seasons in Europe, ballet icon Maina Gielgud returns to Australia to star in The Exquisite Hour, to be seen exclusively in Sydney at the Theatre Royal from 12 August.  This thrilling work, inspired by Samuel Beckett's play Happy Days, has been created and directed by world renowned choreographer Maurice Béjart.  To see the brochure click here or go to the download tab NCD & MWM promotion brochures

• May 2008 - Congratulations to Kaisey Johnston

Following her participation in the YAGP 2008 NYC Finals and her performance on stage as part of the Gala night, Kaisey has been offered an exciting opportunity made possible by the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in association with YAGP.  Kaisey has been offered a half-tuition scholarship for the Bolshoi Ballet Academy 's 2008 summer program held in Connecticut from June 30 to August 1, 2008.

The classes are structured in such a way as to make it possible for students to attend the summer program for any number of weeks (minimum 1 week, maximum 5 weeks) so Kaisey may well be able to accept the offer as well as all the other exciting opportunities coming her way.

For more info on the Bolshoi Ballet in America click here http://www.bolshoiballetacademy.com/

 

•  April 2008 - Fantastic news from New York Tour - message from Marie Walton Mahon
  

What an amazing competition – the standard was brilliant in all categories as well as the valuable workshops attached with an extremely high calibre of faculty. The teachers included:  Claire Baulieu – Paris Opera, Ethan Brown  Rinal Imaev  Kirk Peterson, Nancy Raffa Vladilen Saland John Selya & Clinton Luckett – American Ballet Theatre, Giuseppe Canale – Bejart, Carlos dod Santos – Alvin Ailey, Stephanie Saland – New York City Ballet, Yuri Vodolaga – Miami City Ballet. Students attended classes at such wonderful venues such as ABT and the Alvin Alley Dance Theatre. At the Grand Prix there were 27 countries represented and over 560 dancers and 25 judges in total, Australia was well recognized and the following scholarships awarded.

The Gala Performance was held before a packed audience at the New York city centre, the night was an inspiration to all dance students where they viewed riveting performances by world class stars such as Polina Semionova – Berlin State Ballet and Roberto Bolle – La Scala performing Carmen, Wendy Wealan and Phillip Neal from American Ballet Theatre, Natalia Osipova with Ivan Valilliev from the Bolshoi Ballet that performed “Flames of Paris” that received a well deserved standing ovation.

All 9 students were offered entry into at least one of the visited schools from the tour and some were offered scholarships too

1. Jordyn Ode  accepted into Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet
2. Ashley Swinbourne accepted into Joffrey Ballet
3. Sarah Browne accepted into Joffrey Ballet
4. Khadi Wolf-Brooke accepted into Joffrey Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre
5. Chloe Bayliss accepted into Washington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet
6. Kaisey Johnston accepted into Joffrey Ballet (scholarship), Washington Ballet, Ajkun Ballet
7. Henrietta Ellice-Flint accepted into Washington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Miami Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre
8. Daniel Roberge accepted into Steps on Broadway (Scholarship), Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet,
9. Jasmin Dwyer accepted into Washington Ballet (Full Scholarship), Miami Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School (scholarship). 

NOTE  we are still waiting response from some schools who are to contact us in the next few weeks

The trip was a spectacle to be remembered by every student forever along with many treasured autographs.

to read a full account in the words of the students click here or go to Download forms - MWM & NCD promotions

•  April 2008 - Announcing the new Patron of the National College of Dance - Li Cunxin
  

Author of 'Mao's Last Dancer' it is a very inspirational story of a young boy growing up in communist China, trained as part of the cultural revolution and his eventual achievements internationally as a world renowned ballet dancer. He now lives in Melbourne and they are currently making the book into a film with the Sydney Dance Company.  For NCD to have Li as patron for the school will give the kind of international credential that is impressive and yet perfect for a Newcastle school, hard working, passionate and honest. For more information look at

http://www.licunxin.com/

• March 2008 - Great News from New York Grand Prix

  Congratulations to the following NCD students who are attending the Grand Prix in New York during the school holidays. Kaisey Johnston, Jasmin Dwyer, Henrietta Ellice-Flint and Daniel Roberge have been invited to perform Repertoire Solos, also Chloe Bayliss is invited to perform in the Pas de Deux category. All of these students and Jordyn Ode, Sarah Browne and Khadi Wolf Brooke have been invited to compete in the Ensemble category. This exciting international competition includes excellent workshops in classical & contemporary dance which will be highly stimulating. The students will then travel with me to dance centres to look at extended career plans upon graduation from the College.

for more information on the competition go to http://www.yagp.org/eng/index.asp

• February 2008 - Message from Kaisey Johnston

So everything is going well here (Melbourne Ballet Company). I am really enjoying it. Lots of hard work which is great. I have had 4 days of rehearsals so far and we have learnt a fair bit, although there is so much more to do. In one of the pieces, we are doing the 4 seasons and i have been chosen to be summer. I do a lot of pas de deux which is great, and the choreography is amazing. Its a really great company, and the dancers are really good in it. The choreography is very intricate and difficult, like the double entournon in retire and cabriolle into tendu flesh into le corsaire step, the pas de shar turning and lots more. But i am really thoroughly enjoying it. Thankyou for your help and i have been really trying to put my shoulders down! We rehearse 9 till 10:30 with an open ballet class, then 10:30 till 4 rehearsing with a 45min break. we have 5 performances from the 13th of march which is really soon, so we have 2 finish it soon.  Hope all is well. Kaisey

• Newcastle Eisteddfod Syllabus and Entry Forms available at (due 29 February 2008):

• February 2008 - congratulations to Mrs Pickering, Head of Music

Mrs Pickering was phoned by Graham Murphy to play piano for class and rehearsal for the film they are making of “Mao’s Last Dancer”. Mrs Pickering has been playing for students in class and for their exams for many years and is loved by all the students.

 

photo: Mrs Pickering sharing her love of music with Certificate IV students 2007

 

• February 2008 - Congratulations to Miss Debbie, Head of Contemporary and Jazz

Amazing and wonderful news this week as our very own Miss Debbie Linnert was phoned by the director of “So you think you can dance” to choreograph a section for the top dancers in Sydney. We are very proud of Miss Debbie and that her choreography has been given due acclaim.

 

photo: MIss Debbie's choreography is always a favourite at all concerts

•  February 2008 -  Congratulations to Jessica Fyfe at the Prix de Lausanne, in Switzerland,

 

Jess was a full time student with the Marie Walton Mahon Dance Academy in 2005 and is now a student with the Australian Ballet School. Jess travelled to Switzerland to compete against many international students of dance. Representing Australia Jess made it to the finals and you can see her perform her classical variation at

  http://www.prixdelausanne.org/e/multimedia/video08.php.

 

•  February 2008 -  Message from Vivienne Moult of Viva Dance Shoes www.vivadanceshoes.com.au

 "Dear MWM Dance,

Kaisey Johnston who graduated in 2007 has signed a contract with the Melbourne Ballet Company and Veronica Mahon has signed with the Sydney Dance Company.

Both these talented young dancers will return to the studio to guest teach and share their experiences with the current students.

 The Sydney Dance Company will be performing Meryl Tankards new ballet on March 28 and audiences will be able to see Veronica perform.

 photo:Veronica Mahon and Joshua Beverly performing at the Civic Theatre 2006

•  22 November - Congratulations to Jessica Lee Fyfe
  

Jessica has been lucky enough to be chosen to represent the Australian Ballet School at the Prix da Lausanne, in Switzerland, in Jan - Feb08.  She will leave for company classes in  Sydney mid December.  Back for the ABS summer school, then off to Geneva on the 22nd Jan.  They will be going to Paris, after the competition, and Jess is praying to get to do class at the Paris Opera

 

 photo Jess Lee Fyfe and Jack Hersee at the Australian Ballet School Open Day

 

 

•   'So you think you can dance Australia Season 2008',
  
• Well done to all NCD students who auditioned for ‘So You Think You Can Dance’! Congratulations Miss Veronica for making it straight through to the top 100!

 

 
 

 

•    16 November - News from London, Congratulations to Jess Morgan who signed a contract with Northern Ballet Theatre

 Jessica's Mum emailed this message.... Jess has joined NBT and loves it! The company have been performing ‘A Midsummers Night Dream’, Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘The Nutcracker’. Tomorrow she starts their tour of Canterbury – she is really excited she loves touring – she has seen so much of England and always enjoys finding out about the history of each place. I have been to lots of performances and can understand why the company wins the ‘Dancing Times’ audience award each year! Jess constantly speaks about the challenges and ongoing training  - apparently Yoko – the ballet mistress – is fantastic. Jess said a couple of weeks ago that Yoko had said to her ‘Your jumps are amazing’ Jess thought it was a great compliment until Yoko said ‘Now we are going to make them even more amazing!’ Anyone who knows Jess will understand that she thrives on this – so life for her is great. Photo  'the Nutcracker "  printed in the Sunday Times

 

• 10 November - Report from Debbie Ellis - Head of Jazz  
  

New York was a blast! We experienced some great classes and teachers at both Steps and the Broadway Dance Centre. I personally learnt a lot from being a student again, observing other dancers and the way teachers teach & observing our own students. This will greatly affect all students of MWM & NCD. Two main points that were highlighted to me after the New York trip were (1) we at MWM & NCD are really doing some great work, (2) the areas we need to work more on is the hamstrings, core centre work & confidence. So watch out next year!! We actually did see two shows and a contemporary performance. ‘Hairspray’ was good, but ‘Wicked’ was amazing. In all my experience I have never seen a musical like this before. And then we saw the Christopher Weldon Contemporary Company with Darcey Bussell who is still a dancer above the rest. Phenomenal!!  Our spare time was spent shopping, shopping and of course a bit of sightseeing on the couple of days off. Greenwich/Soho area is definitely my pick of highlights and Central Park a close 2^nd. This was truly an amazing experience and one which I will never forget.I would like to thank Miss Marie for her help and for giving me & the students this opportunity, the Rose Fund for all their support – it is truly appreciated, Jenny Coburn for all her organizing & liaising between all students and parents, & Great Events Travel

 

• 10 November -  Report from Elise Frawley - Assistant Artistic Director   WOW!! A four day intense conference for dancers, teachers, physios and anyone in the dance medicine profession. The conference was delivered by a range of experts in the field of dance from around the world covering an amazing range of important issues with reference to the latest research and resources internationally. In just four days I was bombarded with new information on safe dance technique, anatomy and kinesiology, common dance injuries and predisposing factors, dance psychology relating to anxiety, self esteem and teaching practices along with nutrition and holistic care to create the best and healthiest dancers we can. I was amazed, inspired and enthralled in every session as they each were delivered but most of all I was incredibly proud to know that the practices we preach in our school are of a very high standard and very much in line with the latest information and research regarding all of these topics. The saddest thing about the course was that unfortunately the rest of the staff could not attend being such a busy time of year and this was the first time the conference had made it to Australia. If it was to visit again I will strongly recommend that Marie close the studio so that all could attend. In the mean time I'll have to work on how we can all get to Ohio for the next annual conference in 2008!

Thanks to Miss Marie for the opportunity and assistance for this valuable personal development.

 

• 27 October - Report from Chloe Bayliss (NCD student) and the New York Tour

  “Twenty girls and parents along with Miss Debbie have just returned from The Big Apple. We attended a variety of classes at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance centre including Ballet, Street Jazz, Jazz funk, Lyrical, Contemporary, Theatre, and much more. Everyone has come back motivated and inspired by the amazing teachers and choreography. One class that I took was the Zena Rommett Floor Baree. There were Three different teachers that taught this technique and I was lucky enough to have “Zena Rommett, living legend and originator of the world renowned Floor-Barre and Ballet Technique®.” The street Jazz and Lyrical was a favourite among the girls and I, taught by Derek Mitchell dancer/choreographer and fashion stylist for Madonna, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Gap commercial dancers. I am sure all the girls would have a lot of exciting experiences to share and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip if the opportunity arises again. On behalf of the girls I would like to thank Miss Debbie for escorting us and also a very big thankyou goes to Mrs Coburn for all her efforts in organizing what turned out to be an absolutely phenomenal trip.”

 

• Mattara Eisteddfod Results - Congratulations to all who participated and in particular the winners of the scholarships
  

 

• 10 October - Congratulations to Jenna Roberts
  

Jenna made her debut in Paquita last saturday & danced it in London too. She was beautiful & it went off with no problems at all. She's had great reviews & it was fabulous to see Jenna & (her sister) Callie on the same stage together again.

Extract from the dancers profiles on the BRB web site

 Born in Australia, Jenna Roberts trained at the Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy in Australia and at the Royal Ballet School. As a student, she performed with The Royal Ballet in Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, Christopher Wheeldon's Souvenirs and Le Voyage, and Concerto (pas de deux) and accompanied the Company on tour to Australia. She joined BRB in 2003; First Artist, 2004; Soloist 2007. She danced the pas de deux from David Bintley's Dance House at John Neumeier's 2005 Nijinsky Gala in Hamburg.

For more information about Jenna and the Birmingham Royal Ballet http://www.brb.org.uk/masque/index.htm?act=person&urn=1681

• 9 October - Message from Sharni Spencer, graduating student 2005 - Congratualtions
  

photo with thanks to the New Zealand School of Dance

I heard back from The Australian Ballet... and they have offered me a contract for next year!
Not sure of the dates I start or any of the details until I get my contract. I am so happy I can't really believe it! I have been walking around in a daze!
It was a great birthday present because I found out the day before my 19th!

I came in a couple of weeks ago while I was home hoping to catch you.  Did a contemporary class with Debbie which was really fun!  Amazingly it happened to be when Molly was visiting so it was great to see her again! The renovations look very exicting can't wait to see them that will be great having the extra space
Hope you are well!Love always, Sharni. xoxo

Sharni is an inspiration to all young students; she was never an associate of the ABS, and just kept working extremely hard to follow her dream of being a professional dancer. All the staff are very proud of Sharni and we will follow her career with great interest - Marie

 

• 22 September - Congratulations - 2007 High School Musical

We are very proud of our twelve students involved in this professional production and the choreography
by our Miss Linnert (Ellis). The production will take place on 5th & 6th October at the Entertainment Centre.
Tickets can be purchased through Ticketek on 4921 2121.

 

• 10 September - Message from Jessica Morgan MWM student 2004

I absolutely love company life! Its so different, I just cant get use to the idea that I am being paid to do what I love!

We opened A Midsummer Nights Dream on thursday night. We are performing this for another week in leeds and then we start touring with Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. Really pleased I am getting alot of opportunitys already, I have been cast in the Arabian dance in Nutcracker, alot of extremly hard partnering, luckily my partner is a soloist and very experienced. We are so busy, so much to learn! But I am settling in...

• 8 September - Congratulations Junior Associates Australian Ballet School
  

Two more of our delightful younger students have been invited to being Junior Associates with the
Australian Ballet. We are proud to add Rosa Quinton and Betrice Walker to the list which will be in the
Christmas concert program. For more information about this program see the Australian Ballet School website http://www.australianballetschool.com.au/general.html

• 8 September - NCD workshop with Sydney Dance Company, acting Director Brett Morgan
  

 The students of the National College of Dance were thrilled by the opportunity to work with Mr Morgan who made the following comments: “I found today’s experience at the National College of Dance with Marie Walton-Mahon’s students a joy, because the students were so professional and worked at a very high standard. As a person who takes master classes all over Australia, and overseas, today was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It would be a pleasure for me to continue to work with these students, and liaise with the artistic staff of the College – to assist them by looking at possibilities of creating some kind of professional opportunities for the students.”

 

• August - Article on the National College of Dance in Dance Informa - Ezine

click here to view http://www.danceinforma.com/NCD.html

NEW NEW NEW Check out this great new Ezine full of up to date information on the latest in the dance world

• 27 August - Congratulations to Jasmin Dwyer - NCD Student 2007

Second place winner Australian Choreography Competition 2007, Melbourne

 

•  11 August - Message from Rhys Kosakowski (Billy Elliot) student at MWM 2007
  

I really enjoyed my trip to London where I had the honour of meeting Elton John and the four Billys which was fantastic. My next step now is to move to Sydney to rehease for 6 months until the show opens in December. I hope to see you all then. Id like to thank Miss Marie, Miss Jenna and all the staff for all their support over the past months and I have really loved being a part of the studio, thanks again. Rhys J

‘The Friends of Billy Elliot’ have set up a discussion board and gallery, as well as MySpace, Bebo and Facebook sites for more information on this wonderful musical. They have also sent some promotional material to us for any parents and families who are interested. http://www.friendsofbillyoz.com

• 08 August - Congratulations to Tara Soh - MWM Graduating student 2005

Tara has just signed a contract with the Australian Dance Theatre. Text extract from www.adt.org.au

Tara began her full-time dance training in her home town of Newcastle, N.S.W. in 2002, studying ballet full time at Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy. In the same year and competed in the Genée International Ballet Competition. Considered the world’s most prestigious ballet award for dancers aged 14 to 19, Tara worked with Natalie Weir and Leanne Ringlestein at the competition which was held in Sydney that year.
She undertook an Advanced Diploma in Dance at WAAPA in 2004 and was awarded the title of Student With The Most Potential in her first year. She completed the diploma in 2006.
Tara has worked with choreographers Sue Peacock, Kim McCarthy, Ong Yong Lock and Holly Croft. She appeared in the short dance film The House Of Solace and has extended her interest in design and photography working with dance photographer Jon Green.
She joined ADT in June 2007. Photograph: Chris Herzfeld

• 05 August 2007 - Message from Ellesse Stronach - NCD 2007 Diploma Student
  

Winner Open Age Contemporary Section, Sydney Performing Arts Challenge 2007

 

When I heard my number called for the finals of the contemporary section I was very surprised but happy.

To be in the top six out of eighty two felt really good, and having got this far dancing a solo I had choreographed myself made me feel very proud of myself.

Whenever I perform this solo I feel relaxed and don’t get nervous, this is because it is a piece of me made up into a dance of my favourite steps, steps that I feel really good doing and that show off my personal qualities as a dancer.

The second time I danced my solo felt even better than in the heat and to show my family and the audience what I had created was very special for me. Winning first place was unbelievable, from not expecting anything to winning made me realise that I should be proud of this achievement.

Through choreographing my solo “Smells Like Teen Spirit” I learnt things about myself as a dancer, choreographer and as a person. I was able to create my very own steps that were unique and different to others to a piece of music I really loved, Tori Amos singing “Smells Like teen Spirit” (originally sung by Nirvana). I challenged myself both physically and mentally by working around problems and changing the routine to make it even better. I also learnt not to doubt my own abilities.

I never really thought of choreography as my sort of thing but now having choreographed several pieces both solo and for a group, I have discovered a new love in dance, a new way to express myself and a new way to show others the possibilities that dance has to offer.

I really can’t wait to create many more works in the future. The piece I have just completed for my final year assessment, as a Diploma student, is titled “Stolen,” and it is for three dancers, inspired by the tragic story of Madeline McCann, the little girl taken from her hotel room in a resort in Portugal .

 

Adjudicator’s Assessment Report

 

“Nice fluid beginning- wonderful lines,Good jumps,Good pirouettes and chaines.Moves very well in harmony with the music.You know what you are doing and this comes through to the audience. Almost a professional performance.Nice lyrical personality.Used your body like an instrument.Very good work. Well done.”

 

The finals adjudicator, Ian Castanetto is a freelance choereographer and had worked with Australian Dance Theatre, and in New York , Amsterdam , Italy and is currently working with Sydney Dance Company.

• 02 August - Message from Daniel Baker - Graduating student 2003, contract with Miami City Ballet

 

I started back at work this week. I'm excited about this season.. i'm doing Rubies and Diamonds from Jewels. I'm doing Balanchine 'Tarantella' which is a really hard 12 minute ballet for a principal guy and girl. So tiring being

only 2 people!!! I'm doing a part in a ballet called La Valse.. it's another Balanchine ballet with the girls in long black dresses and white gloves. We do Nutcracker every year and we are doing Sleeping Beauty but it's not set

yet.

 

I'm doing a lead in Twyla Tharps 'Nine Sinatra Songs' and also in her new Elvis Costello ballet which is going to be fun. I think I told you about it. We are having a classical orchestra in the pit with a 9 piece live jazz band on stage with singers. Elvis Costello is coming in next week to work with us on his new music. It's going to be amazing

 

I'm most excited about taking 'In The Upper Room' on tour to New York and San Francisco. (I haven't been there in years).. I always love touring and we are also going to Detroit..

 

• Previous message 04 February

 

This is from Twyla Tharps 'In The Upper Room'.. the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.

Twyla Tharp came to Miami and coached us on Upper Room which was amazing.

She was so impressed with our company that she is choreographing a new

work on us in April to Elvis Costello songs and apparently he is collaborating

with her and doing new music for us. We only had to raise 1 million

dollars.. but it will be great exposure for our company.

I have been really busy dancing and choreographing. The hardest thing has been adapting to life in Miami Beach. It's very laid back (more like home - Newcastle) compared to how busy New York is. It's also so hard to push yourself and improve in a professional company because for the first time you have no one pushing and correcting you. Anyway.. hope everything is well there...

 

• 17 April - Message from Patrick Robinson - Graduating student 2005

I have just signed my first professional contract. I am very happy to say that from the 15th of August I will be a member of the Landestheater Eisenach. It is a small neo-classical company in Germany. I am also glad to say that it is a full contract for 12 months.

 

I want to tell you thankyou for everything that you did for me that has led me to this point, I really appreciate it. If you had not given me a scholarship to study fulltime ballet I would have never made it to Europe and I would not have been in a position to do auditions and find work here. Thankyou so much.

• 16 April - Message from Mia Powter - Graduating student 2006

....well i got back from italy not so long ago from the competition. aaaaw italy is so beautiful! it wouldhave been so nice to see rome or venice, iv always wanted to see venice!  anyway for the competition  i was so happy! really i was stoked to even have the opportunity to go, and then to get through to the finals i was even happier!　the competition was of a farly high standard, mostly italians plus some other schools from around europe. i performed two variations; tchaikovsky pas de deux and medora`s variation, le corsaire from second act. we got to do class onstage and rehearsals the day before - thank god because the stage was raked and my corsaire variation is literally all pirouettes, so i was so relieved when i found out we could practise first. in the end i was actually happy with my performances

everythings going really well here in zurich, actually better than i could have ever hoped for. Our teacher`s australian and i respond really well to her. Im missing classes so at the moment, iv been off with chicken pox for what feels like a month, but its only been just over a week. Im cant wait to go back!

I got a surprise visit from vanessa (graduating student 2006) over easter with two of her friends from munich. It was so good to see her again, we get together every holiday we have.

 

• 23 February - Message from Jessica Morgan - Graduating student 2004