About The Australian Ballet School
The Australian Ballet School is the school of The Australian Ballet and as such is the national centre of excellence in classical dance training.
The Australian Ballet School was established in 1964, just fifteen months after the national company gave its first performance at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. Founding Director Dame Margaret Scott DBE was to shape the School’s destiny for the next 27 years. Since Dame Margaret’s retirement, the School has seen only two other Directors, Gailene Stock AM (1990-1998), and Marilyn Rowe OBE.
Joanne Michel and students, courtesy The Australian Ballet School. Photo John Tsiavis.
From the moment that a national company was under consideration, so too was the establishment of a national school. The Australian Ballet School was therefore founded as an essential adjunct to the Company.
The majority of dancers in The Australian Ballet are graduates of The Australian Ballet School, including the Artistic Director. Graduates can also be found as principals and soloists in major companies throughout the world. Such is the standard of excellence that within six months of graduating, 90% of students gain contracts. This is one of the highest employment rates of any tertiary institution in Australia.
The School works in close liaison with The Australian Ballet, sharing the purpose-built facilities of The Australian Ballet Centre in Melbourne. The Centre is adjacent to the Victorian Arts Centre, integrated into a creative environment in which Australian dance is able to flourish.