FAQ

Located in the heart of Sydney, just a 15 min walk Circular Quay in the heart of the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road, Dawes Point, NSW 2000

On Foot
Wharf 4/5 is a brisk 15 minute walk from both Circular Quay and Wynyard Station. From Circular Quay walk towards Dawes Point via Argyle Street, then right onto Lower Fort Street, left onto Windmill Street and down the steps to Hickson Road.

By Bus
Wharf 4/5 can be accessed by the 324 and 325 bus services from the Eastern Suburbs. To check on updates to your bus services please visit transportnsw.info or phone 131 500.

By Car
Metered parking is available outside the Wharf. There are a number of car parks close by. We suggest travelling by public transport where possible.

Sydney Dance Company adheres to the NSW Government’s advice and Health Orders.

Masks are currently mandatory for everyone over 12 in all areas of the Wharf Studios, including during dance class.

Classes are capped at 20 participants.

Everyone must sign into the Wharf using the Service NSW QR Code app.

If you have any of the following symptoms: cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath or have been in contact with another person who has recently tested positive for COVID-19, please do not come to the Studios. Get tested, wait for a negative result and adhere to any self-isolation guidelines from the NSW Government before you return to the Studios. If you have returned from overseas and completed quarantine, but develop symptoms, please don’t come to class and do get a COVID-19 test.

We offer programs for children and young people at our Wharf Studios. You can find more information here.

The Company dancers are based at the Wharf Studios and rehearse there whenever they are not on national or international tour.

Our season performances are at the Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay on Hickson Road, and our New Breed seasons are presented at Carriageworks.

Yes, whenever the studios are vacant, they are available for hire to external organisations. Please contact our Events and Venue Hire Manager.

The Drop-In classes run continuously throughout the year. We don’t have terms or start dates, so you can join in anytime! Different routines are taught each week, so that new students are not left behind. However, we do offer Intro Short courses which run for four or eight weeks.

Each class specifies a level indicating its relative difficulty. If you are concerned about the level, please begin with a lower level class as a warm-up and then try a higher-level class the next time, if appropriate

This is a difficult question to answer because everyone is different. If you are feeling competent about the level you are currently undertaking and don’t find it challenging enough, then please have a chat with the teacher after class and ask them if you could potentially try a higher level class.

The majority of students in class are aged in their 20s and 30s, however all ages attend from 16 to 70

We offer a ​Seniors​ Jazz \u0026amp; Tap class for ages 55+ on Thursdays at 12.30pm. These classes are $12 and can only be purchased at reception. However, there are other classes offered by Sydney Dance Company that are also suitable for mature age students. Please call our office on 02 9258 4818 for a recommendation.

You can expect to do a really good a warm up and stretch, and then learn either a routine or phrases which will teach you technique and develop skills. In a Contemporary class, movement and choreography will be drawn from ballet technique along with other styles of dance, so each class and teacher will feel different. The music could be anything from classical to electronic.

Yes. Part of Contemporary dance involves floor work. You will be taught to do floor work safely but it can be challenging for people who have not done so before. If you are concerned please speak to your teacher.

You can expect to do a really good warm up and stretch. You will do some core work to strengthen and tone. You may do some progressions across the room which help you develop your Jazz technique. This enables students to ask questions and observe how specific movements are executed at a step by step pace. You will then learn a routine which will change from week to week.

Progressions are breakdowns and lead-ups of complex steps that normally travel across the room. This allows the dancer to improve and gain confidence as they advance their technique.

Most classes teach a different routine every night. Some dance teachers teach the same routine over two classes but they will still teach the routine from the beginning each time.

Lyrical class will start with a ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace warm up and stretch. This will be followed by a focus on technique. The technique exercises will usually connect to the choreography that will be taught in the class. This enables students to ask questions and observe how specific movements are executed at a step by step pace. Many of the technique exercises will be progressions from the corner or centre of the room across the floor. You will learn a piece of choreography and run the routine a number of times.

Lyrical is such an expressive dance style it can often mean dancers’ movements are restricted. Splitting into groups allows each dancer to get the most range out of their movement.

You can expect to do a really good warm up and stretch. You may do some exercises or combinations that develop Hip Hop technique. This allows you to ask questions and observe how specific movements are executed at a step by step pace. You will then learn a routine which will change from week to week.

Most classes teach a different routine every night. Some dance teachers teach the same routine over two classes but they will still teach the routine from the beginning each time.

Some of our Hip Hop teachers teach popping and/or locking in their classes. But we don’t offer technique classes specifically in Popping and Locking.

No, we don’t teach break dancing.

Similar to a Jazz class, Theatre Jazz has a rigorous warm up and progression sequences to improve or maintain technique, and then a routine will be taught which can vary between modern style musical theatre, iconic choreographers such as Bob Fosse and everything in between.

Jazz contains commercial choreography as seen in music videos whereas Theatre Jazz contains choreography that would appear in musicals.

You can expect to do a thorough ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace of your knees, ankles and feet. You will then do some combinations and progressions as you develop your Tap technique – this may be done at the barre or in the centre of the room.

We understand that tap shoes are an investment. We suggest leather soled shoes ideally with a slight heel as an alternative.

You can expect to do a really good warm up and stretch. You will do some core work to strengthen and tone. You may do some progressions or combinations that develop technique. This allows you to ask questions and observe how specific movements are executed at a step by step pace. You will then learn a routine which will change from week to week.

Jazz-Funk-Hip Hop.

JFH is a commercial dance style, similar to the kinds of dance you might see in a music video. Hip Hop is more focused on movement dynamics and styles, and can include techniques such as popping and locking.

Latin Funk is a ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace fast paced one-hour class. The class consists of a series of different dance sequences influenced by Latin dance styles such as Salsa and Samba. It’s essentially non-stop so it’s an excellent cardio workout.

An open class means it is for all levels of experience. Those who are more skilled can challenge themselves and focus on the technique, whilst less experienced dancers can still follow the steps but with less detail.

The Jazz Workout is a one hour class which starts with a warm up, stretch and core strength work. You will then be taught a short routine which will give you a high-intensity cardio workout.

An open class means it is for all levels of experience. Those who are more skilled can challenge themselves and focus on the technique, whilst less experienced dancers can still follow the steps but with less detail.

We do not have reformers in our studio.

Pilates Grammar multiReplace focuses on core strength and flexibility. Stretch is about encouraging flexibility and engaging all of the different muscle groups. Yoga creates a ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace connection as well as a great all over body workout.

Yes, you will need to bring your own mat during this time.

Yes, you will need to bring your own yoga mat during this time.

Pilates classes focus on building core strength and flexibility. Stretch is about encouraging flexibility and engaging all of the different muscle groups of a dancer. Yoga creates a mind-body connection as well as strengthening and increasing flexibility.

Our teachers practice a variety of Yoga styles and will often incorporate different styles such as Hatha and Ashtanga into their practice.

Pilates focus on core strength and flexibility. Stretch is about encouraging flexibility and engaging all of the different muscle groups. Yoga creates a mind-body connection as well as a great all over body workout.

You are welcome to bring your own yoga mat, however we also provide mats.

Our senior classes require no experience for the Jazz class. However, if you have never done any Tap before you may find the class quite challenging.

We understand that tap shoes are an investment. We suggest leather soled shoes ideally as an alternative with a slight heel if you are trying for the first time.  Once you have decided to come regularly, we do recommend purchasing Tap shoes.

Yes, this class is for those over 55. People of all ages are very welcome to attend any of our other drop in dance classes.

Sydney Dance Company courses are for young people ages 8-11 and 12-15 excited by dance. The course requires no prior experience to participate. Catering to a diversity of experience, the classes allow all young dancers to explore and develop their own unique potential.

The Youth Ensemble is for experienced dancers aged 14-18 who participate in a minimum of two hours a week of dance training in addition to the Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble program.

Classes will have a maximum of 26 dancers to enable individual attention and a collaborative ensemble to form to encourage interesting and creative group expression.

Wear casual dance wear, something that you already have and feel comfortable in e.g. dance tights and top, leotard and tights with skirt or shorts over the top, track pants and t-shirt/singlet top. Wear cotton socks or dance bare feet. Flesh canvas ballet flats that support the growing foot, are optional.

Please bring a bottle of water and a snack if required. Take your bags into the studio with you and leave valuables at home.

ReadyMade Works studios which is located at Level 1, 247–257 Bulwara Rd, Ultimo.

Friends and family are welcome to attend the last 30 minutes of the final class each term where students will demonstrate their progress and perform choreographed pieces in an informal and relaxed environment. This is not a performance but an opportunity for the students to share their work.

Please enrol online. Parents/Guardians will be asked to create an account for themselves. Once created, create an account for each child you wish to enrol. Enrol in the selected course and then checkout. If you wish to enrol multiple children or purchase multiple class, click on the button before checking out. The Youth Ensemble is by application only.

We do not provide refunds or credits for change of mind or other personal circumstances. We can provide a credit note if the cancellation is due to a medical reason and a medical certificate is provided.

During School Holiday Workshops and Contemporary Youth Courses under 12 years:
●  Children will be checked off and their parent or carer will be asked to confirm their emergency contact and medical information if required.
●  Children will be required to go to and return from the toilet in a minimum of twos at all times. Sydney Dance Company has public change rooms and toilets (similar to those in a public swimming pool).
●  Children will need to be collected from the studio by a parent or carer who will need to make themselves known to the supervisor in charge.

All children:
●  Lunch breaks will be supervised by a member of staff inside the studio.
●  Any child or young person with a special need such as allergy or injury shall be introduced to the supervisor in charge and their needs discussed and shared with teachers and assistants where appropriate.
●  Roll call is taken at the beginning of the day and again at lunchtime to ensure all children who are expected to be present are accounted for.

Organised School Excursions
If your child is attending a Sydney Dance Company event as part of an organised excursion with their school, classroom teachers will supervise and usual excursion rules and policies as outlined by their school will apply.

Sydney Dance Company will only use photos/videos of children where permission has been granted by the child and by their parents or legal guardians. Images and/or footage of children will only be utilised on official Sydney Dance Company sites or marketing material.

A child or parent of a child is, of course, free to choose not to provide permission to photograph their child – participation in Sydney Dance Company’s programs does not depend on whether or not permission has been granted.

All staff members who work with children are required to provide a valid Working With Children Check. No individual may be employed to work with children, by law, who do not hold this Working With Children Check.