Youth Programs

Youth Ensemble

Develop your technique, artistry, and performance!

Challenging, extending and nurturing future contemporary dancers.

2025 Applications open now.

Overview


Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15 & 15 – 18


Dates Sundays x 24 (Junior and Senior)  Mondays x 24 (Primary)


Levels Intermediate, Advanced


Applications are open for 2025

Auditions will be held on 19 January 2025


New Primary Ensemble in 2025!

Sydney Dance Company is excited to launch a Primary Ensemble in 2025, in addition to our Junior and Senior Ensembles.

Primary Ensemble is designed for upper primary school students (ages 10-12) interested in extending their training in contemporary dance. 

About Youth Ensemble

Do you have the passion, drive and curiosity to explore contemporary dance further? Youth Ensemble is an extension program which works in conjunction with regular studio training to provide dancers with a sense of creative expression, technical development and the opportunity to learn contemporary repertoire from industry specialists.

Delivered throughout terms 1, 2 and 3, the Youth Ensemble is for dancers at an intermediate to advanced level ages 10-12 (Primary), 12-15 (Junior) and 15-18 (Senior) , culminating in a formal performance in our Neilson Studio Theatre.

Aiming to challenge, extend and nurture future contemporary dancers, the Youth Ensemble dancers have the opportunity to further develop their contemporary and allied dance techniques, create and explore their own movement, and learn and rehearse contemporary dance choreography in a professional context.

Informed by Sydney Dance Company’s innovative approach to dance education, this program will offer young dancers insights into their identity as an artist, what the world of professional contemporary dance is like and a chance to further develop as a dancer. The Youth Ensemble also supports those studying HSC Dance in school.

Involvement in the Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble is by audition only. Auditionees can be enrolled in primary school (primary ensemble) and secondary school (junior and senior ensemble) while training at a local dance studio or a full-time dance institution. It is recommended applicants are participating in a minimum of 2-3 hours a week of dance training outside of the Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble. Successful auditionees will be required to enroll in the full program for 2025 (three terms, commencing 16 February 2025).

Auditions for Youth Ensemble will be on 19 January 2025.

“Youth Ensemble was a refreshing, passionate and inclusive experience, which has enabled my young dancer to dream again after so much disruption.”  ~ Parent of Youth Ensemble Participant

“Youth Ensemble is shaping the contemporary dance artists of tomorrow”

– Rafael Bonachela
Artistic Director, Sydney Dance Company

Focus Areas
Technique: Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble dancers will be extended through the development of contemporary dance techniques. Focus is placed on exposing dancers to a wide variety of contemporary dance techniques often used in a professional contemporary dance context.

Conditioning: To enable dancers to challenge themselves, the ensemble will build strength, flexibility and control through tailored conditioning programs, drawing from yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique and applied movement and behaviour principles.

Improvisation: Youth Ensemble dancers will explore their own unique movement style and be challenged to experiment and push the boundaries of movement. Dancers will be guided through improvisation task work, a key element in contemporary dance, and encouraged to explore a variety of movement qualities.

Choreography: Through creative task work and improvisation, Youth Ensemble dancers will have the opportunity to develop their own movement phrases. Dancers will also work with teachers and choreographers to create and develop pieces which will be rehearsed and presented at an informal showing in the studio at the completion of the program.

Artistry: Through all aspects of the Youth Ensemble program dancers will be encouraged to explore their own identity as an artist. They will be challenged to self-reflect, explore their creativity and develop maturity as a dancer and an artist.

Teachers and Choreographers

Sydney Dance Company teachers and choreographers are experienced dancers and teachers.  Our industry experienced teachers will nurture and challenge each young person to achieve their best possible outcome.  With industry experience and a passion for teaching they provide support and guidance to all students. All our teaching staff have a valid Working With Children Check.

How to get here

Weekly Youth Ensemble sessions will be held at Sydney Dance Company studios, Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road WALSH BAY.

Times and Fees

Junior & Senior Youth Ensemble runs over 8 Sundays in Terms 1, 2 & 3. Dates and times for 2025 are as follows:

Term 1: Sunday 16 February 2025 – Sunday 6 April 2025
Term 2: Sunday 4 May 2025 – Sunday 29 June 2025 (no lesson Sunday 8 June)
Term 3: Sunday 3 August 2025 – Sunday 21 September 2025

Junior: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Senior: 12:15pm – 3:15pm

Primary Youth Ensemble runs over 8 Mondays in Terms 1, 2 & 3. Dates and times for 2025 are as follows:

Term 1: Monday 17 February 2025 – Monday 7 April 2025
Term 2: Monday 5 May 2025 – Monday 30 June 2025 (no lesson Monday 9 June)
Term 3: Monday 28 July 2025 – Monday 15 September 2025

Primary: 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Youth Ensemble 2025 Fees

Primary: $850
Junior: $1360
Senior: $1575

Contact

02 9258 4843
[email protected]

Subscribe to our eNews to hear about more about Advanced training programs.

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Overview


Ages 10 – 12, 12 – 15 & 15 – 18


Dates Sundays x 24 (Junior and Senior)  Mondays x 24 (Primary)


Levels Intermediate, Advanced


Applications are open for 2025

Auditions will be held on 19 January 2025


New Primary Ensemble in 2025!

Sydney Dance Company is excited to launch a Primary Ensemble in 2025, in addition to our Junior and Senior Ensembles.

Primary Ensemble is designed for upper primary school students (ages 10-12) interested in extending their training in contemporary dance. 

About Youth Ensemble

Do you have the passion, drive and curiosity to explore contemporary dance further? Youth Ensemble is an extension program which works in conjunction with regular studio training to provide dancers with a sense of creative expression, technical development and the opportunity to learn contemporary repertoire from industry specialists.

Delivered throughout terms 1, 2 and 3, the Youth Ensemble is for dancers at an intermediate to advanced level ages 10-12 (Primary), 12-15 (Junior) and 15-18 (Senior) , culminating in a formal performance in our Neilson Studio Theatre.

Aiming to challenge, extend and nurture future contemporary dancers, the Youth Ensemble dancers have the opportunity to further develop their contemporary and allied dance techniques, create and explore their own movement, and learn and rehearse contemporary dance choreography in a professional context.

Informed by Sydney Dance Company’s innovative approach to dance education, this program will offer young dancers insights into their identity as an artist, what the world of professional contemporary dance is like and a chance to further develop as a dancer. The Youth Ensemble also supports those studying HSC Dance in school.

Involvement in the Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble is by audition only. Auditionees can be enrolled in primary school (primary ensemble) and secondary school (junior and senior ensemble) while training at a local dance studio or a full-time dance institution. It is recommended applicants are participating in a minimum of 2-3 hours a week of dance training outside of the Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble. Successful auditionees will be required to enroll in the full program for 2025 (three terms, commencing 16 February 2025).

Auditions for Youth Ensemble will be on 19 January 2025.

“Youth Ensemble was a refreshing, passionate and inclusive experience, which has enabled my young dancer to dream again after so much disruption.”  ~ Parent of Youth Ensemble Participant

“Youth Ensemble is shaping the contemporary dance artists of tomorrow”

– Rafael Bonachela
Artistic Director, Sydney Dance Company

Focus Areas
Technique: Sydney Dance Company Youth Ensemble dancers will be extended through the development of contemporary dance techniques. Focus is placed on exposing dancers to a wide variety of contemporary dance techniques often used in a professional contemporary dance context.

Conditioning: To enable dancers to challenge themselves, the ensemble will build strength, flexibility and control through tailored conditioning programs, drawing from yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique and applied movement and behaviour principles.

Improvisation: Youth Ensemble dancers will explore their own unique movement style and be challenged to experiment and push the boundaries of movement. Dancers will be guided through improvisation task work, a key element in contemporary dance, and encouraged to explore a variety of movement qualities.

Choreography: Through creative task work and improvisation, Youth Ensemble dancers will have the opportunity to develop their own movement phrases. Dancers will also work with teachers and choreographers to create and develop pieces which will be rehearsed and presented at an informal showing in the studio at the completion of the program.

Artistry: Through all aspects of the Youth Ensemble program dancers will be encouraged to explore their own identity as an artist. They will be challenged to self-reflect, explore their creativity and develop maturity as a dancer and an artist.

Teachers and Choreographers

Sydney Dance Company teachers and choreographers are experienced dancers and teachers.  Our industry experienced teachers will nurture and challenge each young person to achieve their best possible outcome.  With industry experience and a passion for teaching they provide support and guidance to all students. All our teaching staff have a valid Working With Children Check.

How to get here

Weekly Youth Ensemble sessions will be held at Sydney Dance Company studios, Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road WALSH BAY.

Times and Fees

Junior & Senior Youth Ensemble runs over 8 Sundays in Terms 1, 2 & 3. Dates and times for 2025 are as follows:

Term 1: Sunday 16 February 2025 – Sunday 6 April 2025
Term 2: Sunday 4 May 2025 – Sunday 29 June 2025 (no lesson Sunday 8 June)
Term 3: Sunday 3 August 2025 – Sunday 21 September 2025

Junior: 9:30am – 12:00pm
Senior: 12:15pm – 3:15pm

Primary Youth Ensemble runs over 8 Mondays in Terms 1, 2 & 3. Dates and times for 2025 are as follows:

Term 1: Monday 17 February 2025 – Monday 7 April 2025
Term 2: Monday 5 May 2025 – Monday 30 June 2025 (no lesson Monday 9 June)
Term 3: Monday 28 July 2025 – Monday 15 September 2025

Primary: 4.30pm – 6.00pm

Youth Ensemble 2025 Fees

Primary: $850
Junior: $1360
Senior: $1575

Contact

02 9258 4843
[email protected]

Subscribe to our eNews to hear about more about Advanced training programs.