Dance Academy
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | May 31, 2010 |
| Founder | Werner Film Productions, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ZDF |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television series, film, books, DVDs |
| Website | www |
Dance Academy is a teen drama television series from Australia, developed by Werner Film Productions in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and ZDF. The first season debuted on 31 May 2010, followed by the second season on 12 March 2012, and the third season aired on ABC3 starting 8 July 2013 within Australia.
The series consists of three seasons comprising a total of 65 episodes. A cinematic continuation titled Dance Academy: The Movie was launched in Australian theaters by StudioCanal on 6 April 2017.
Plot
Dance Academy centers on Tara Webster (Xenia Goodwin), who begins her journey as a first-year student at Sydney’s National Academy of Dance, an institution functioning as a high school dedicated to dance education. Throughout the series, she hones her abilities in ballet, contemporary, and hip-hop styles while building friendships and overcoming various obstacles. In season one, Tara forms close bonds with fellow students Kat (Alicia Banit), Ethan Karamakov (Tim Pocock), Sammy Lieberman (Thom Green), Abigail Armstrong (Dena Kaplan), and Christian Reed (Jordan Rodrigues), and interacts with their instructor Ms. Raine (Tara Morice).
Season Two highlights Tara’s return as she competes in the prestigious international Prix de Fonteyn ballet contest. This season introduces new characters including students Grace Whitney (Isabel Durant), Ben Tickle (Thomas Lacey), Ollie Lloyd (Keiynan Lonsdale), along with instructors Saskia Duncan (Brooke Harman) and Zach. The storyline also confronts the impact of a sudden death within the academy community.
In Season Three, the narrative follows the students’ final year as they strive to secure contracts with a professional dance company. Both Grace and Tara temporarily join the corps de ballet; Kat takes a lead role in a dance film; Abigail and Ollie explore careers in commercial dance and singing; meanwhile, the third-year students embark on a regional Australian tour performing a contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Series | Film | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Xenia Goodwin | Tara Webster | colspan="3" Template:CMain | Template:CMain | ||
| Alicia Banit | Kat Karamakov | colspan="3" Template:CMain | Template:CMain | ||
| Dena Kaplan | Abigail Armstrong | colspan="3" Template:CMain | Template:CMain | ||
| Thom Green | Sammy Lieberman | colspan="2" Template:CMain | colspan="2" Template:N/A | ||
| Jordan Rodrigues | Christian Reed | colspan="3" Template:CMain | Template:CMain | ||
| Tim Pocock | Ethan Karamakov | colspan="2" Template:CMain | colspan="2" Template:N/A | ||
| Tara Morice | Mrs. Lucinda Raine | colspan="3" Template:CRecurring | Template:CMain | ||
| Thomas Lacey | Ben Tickle | Template:N/A | colspan="2" Template:CMain | Template:CMain | |
| Isabel Durant | Grace Whitney | Template:N/A | colspan="2" Template:CMain | Template:N/A | |
| Keiynan Lonsdale | Ollie Lloyd | Template:N/A | Template:CRecurring | Template:CMain | Template:CMain |
Production
The production of Dance Academy is managed by Joanna Werner's company, Werner Films Productions, in collaboration with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Screen Australia, Film Victoria, Film New South Wales, and Germany's ZDF. As of August 2012, distribution agreements had been secured for 180 regions globally, encompassing every continent except Antarctica.
Series 1 (2010)
The casting process commenced in early 2009 in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney, focusing on actors proficient in both acting and dance to collaborate with leading Australian choreographers. Filming took place from July to November 2009. Although initially planned for a mid-2010 launch on ABC3, the series premiered on ABC1 on 31 May 2010 and subsequently on ABC3 on 6 June 2010. The show made its debut in Germany on ZDF on 26 September 2010.
Series 2 (2012)
On 2 July 2010, ABC and ZDF approved the production of the second series. Casting calls were announced in September 2010, with principal filming conducted in Sydney between January and August 2011. Series two premiered on ABC3 on 12 March 2012, consisting of 26 episodes broadcast Monday through Thursday until 24 April.
Series 3 (2013)
Funding for a third series comprising 13 episodes was granted by Screen Australia on 5 December 2011. Filming was scheduled from 27 August to 27 November 2012. Alicia Banit and Thomas Lacey revealed the third season’s premiere date during ABC3's Studio 3 on 5 June 2013, with the first episode airing on 8 July 2013.
Online streaming
The series is accessible via streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon. Additionally, all episodes from the three seasons are available for free viewing on the official YouTube channel outside of Australia.
DVD releases
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has issued DVDs containing all episodes from the first three series. Series one and two were distributed in four volumes each, while series three was released in two volumes alongside complete series box sets.
| Title | Region 4 release date |
Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Dance Academy – Learning to Fly |
July 1, 2010 | Episodes 1–5 |
| Dance Academy – Growing Pains |
September 2, 2010 | Episodes 6–12 |
| Dance Academy – Turning Pointe |
September 2, 2010 | Episodes 13–19 |
| Dance Academy – Ballet Fever |
October 7, 2010 | Episodes 20–26 |
| Dance Academy – The Complete First Series |
December 2, 2010 | All episodes from series one (26 episodes) |
| Dance Academy – Raising the Barre |
April 5, 2012 | Episodes 27–32 |
| Dance Academy – Breaking Pointe |
May 3, 2012 | Episodes 33–38 |
| Dance Academy – Catch Me If I Fall |
June 7, 2012 | Episodes 39–45 |
| Dance Academy – Win or Lose |
June 7, 2012 | Episodes 46–52 |
| Dance Academy – The Complete Second Series |
November 7, 2012 | All episodes from series two (26 episodes) |
| Dance Academy – New Rules |
September 4, 2013 | Episodes 53–58 |
The Complete Third Series All episodes from series three (13 episodes). }
Awards
| Title | Region 4 release date | Episodes |
|---|
| Ceremony | Award | Nominee | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 AWGIE Awards | Children's Television: C Classification | "Growing Pains" by Sarah Lambert | Template:Nom |
| 2010 AWGIE Awards | Children's Television: C Classification | "Turning Pointes" by Greg Waters | Template:Nom |
| 2010 Australian Directors Guild Awards | Best Direction in a Television Children's Program | "Behind Barres" directed by Jeffrey Walker | Template:Won |
| 2010 AFI Awards | Best Direction in Television | Jeffrey Walker for "Week Zero" | Template:Nom |
| 2010 AFI Awards | Best Children's Television Drama | Dance Academy | Template:Nom |
| 2011 Kidscreen Awards | Best Companion Website | Dance Academy | Template:Won |
| 2011 TV Week Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Children's Program | Dance Academy | Template:Won |
| 2011 Seoul International Drama Awards | Best TV Drama | Dance Academy | Template:Nom |
| 2011 International Emmy Awards | Children and Young People | Dance Academy | Template:Nom |
| 2011 Asian Television Awards | Best Children's Programme | "Learning to Fly, Part 2" written by Samantha Strauss | Template:Nom |
| 2011 Hugo Television Awards | Children's Series | Dance Academy, Season 2 | Template:Won |
| 2011 Banff World Media Festival | Youth Programs (13+) – Fiction | "Week Zero" by Samantha Strauss | Template:Nom |
| 2012 AACTA Awards | Best Children's Television Series | Dance Academy, Series 2 | Template:Nom |
| 2013 TV Week Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Children's Program | Dance Academy | Template:Won |
| 2014 TV Week Logie Awards | Most Outstanding Children's Program | Dance Academy | Template:Nom |
Books
Seven paperback novels, each presenting the story from the viewpoint of a different character, were published by ABC Books and HarperCollins Australia. These books are based on specific episodes of Dance Academy:
- Dance Academy: Tara: Learning to Fly (Meredith Costain, 2010)
- Dance Academy: Sammy: Real Men Don't Dance (Bruno Bouchet, 2010)
- Dance Academy: Christian: Behind Barres (Sebastian Scott, 2010)
- Dance Academy: Kat: Anywhere but Here (Bruno Bouchet, 2010)
- Dance Academy: Abigail: Through the Looking Glass (Rachel Elliot, 2010)
- Dance Academy: Tara: Everything to Lose (Meredith Costain, 2012)
- Dance Academy: Abigail: Nice Girls Finish Last (Bruno Bouchet, 2012)
Film: Dance Academy: The Movie
On 22 April 2015, it was announced that a feature film adaptation of Dance Academy would be produced with financial support from Screen Australia. This movie acts as a continuation of the television series, taking place eighteen months after the conclusion of the third season and following Tara’s journey toward establishing her ballet career. Pre-production commenced on 17 April 2016, with principal photography beginning on 29 May and concluding on 22 July 2016. The official trailer was unveiled on 25 December 2016. Renamed as Dance Academy: The Movie, it premiered in Australian theaters on 6 April 2017 through StudioCanal and was subsequently distributed internationally on Netflix under the title Dance Academy: The Comeback.
Plot
At twenty years old, Tara's life remains unsettled a year and a half after sustaining an injury that changed her career trajectory. She balances attending a college writing course with waitressing at the Sydney Opera House, while her former competitor and roommate Abigail excels as a dancer with the National Ballet Company. Meanwhile, Tara’s closest friend Katrina Karamakov has achieved success as a children’s television star in New York, and Ben Tickle holds a principal position with the Austin Ballet. Tara's boyfriend Christian works as a dance instructor for children and offers her the chance to live with him.
Tara initiates legal action against the National Ballet, claiming negligence and pursuing nearly one million dollars in damages, bolstered by a statement from her former instructor Ms Raine. However, after receiving an audition invitation from Madeline, the Company’s artistic director, Tara withdraws the lawsuit and resumes training. When she fails to secure the role, she travels to New York alongside Kat to explore further dance prospects. Christian disapproves of this decision and soon ends their relationship.
Although initially reunited with enthusiasm, Tara and Kat soon encounter tension due to differing lifestyles and Tara’s disapproval of Kat’s boyfriend. Tara reconnects with Ollie, a former classmate who candidly shares the difficulties involved in breaking into professional dance.
Subsequently, Tara relocates to Austin to stay with Ms Raine and her husband Marcus, hoping for an audition opportunity with Marcus' Austin Ballet. Ms Raine advises Tara to reexamine her aspirations. Meanwhile, Ben faces a leukemia relapse and is medically advised against physical activity but yearns to dance. Defying his doctor’s orders, Ben collaborates with Tara to choreograph a contemporary piece titled "Orpheus and Persephone" for the Fringe Festival under the duo name "Benstara."
Following their acclaimed performance, Madeline offers Tara a corps de ballet position after another dancer withdraws due to injury. Despite fulfilling her ambition, Tara finds life in the corps demanding and unsatisfactory. She abruptly leaves a performance upon learning that Ollie—now dancing in "Benstara" and caring for Ben—has called about Ben’s collapse.
Tara resigns from the company and reunites with Kat and Christian, who returns from Australia expressing his feelings for her. Motivated by Tara’s determination, Abigail steps into Tara’s role in the fringe show despite being contracted with the National Ballet.
Back in Sydney, Tara observes Christian’s students performing at the Samuel Lieberman Centre. Embracing her evolving goal of becoming a choreographer, she begins planning her next work in Christian’s journal, confidently anticipating success both in her career and personal life.
External links
- at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Dance Academy available on Hulu (United States)
- Articles with short description
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- 2010 Australian television series debuts
- 2013 Australian television series conclusions
- Australian children's television programming
- 2010s Australian drama series
- Dance-related television shows
- Australian English-language series
- 2010s teen drama series
- Television productions set in Sydney
- Television series focused on ballet
- Australian television programs centered on teenagers
- Australian children's drama productions
- StudioCanal productions
- Films with scores by David Hirschfelder
- Works concerning performing arts education
- Australian teen drama television programs
- StudioCanal films