Ballet masterclasses open to region’s dancers

BOOKINGS are now open for ballet students in regional Victoria to secure a spot in a series of exclusive training sessions with dancing professionals.

Hosted by The Academy dance school in Ballarat, studio owner and operator Kellie Fishwick-Roscoe said the Grampians Region Classical Ballet Master Classes offer participants an opportunity to learn and be inspired by industry greats.

“The classes have been running for a few years and we bring these amazing teachers to regional areas and extend the invitation to dancers from anywhere in regional Victoria,” she said.

“It’s a great way for them to come to our town, have a fabulous class, meet other dancers and generally just get inspired.

“The Academy runs the classes, however, we have in the past taken these classes to Warrnambool, Ararat and are hoping to extend further into the regions in the future.”

Aimed for classical ballet students aged seven and up, with the classes to be tailored to the rate of registrations, Ms Fishwick-Roscoe said they don’t expect to turn anyone away.

“We try not to sell out, if we have a full class we ask the teacher to see if we can make another class and try and include as many kids as we can,” she said.

“Depending on the registrations we will have a few classes and opportunities for private coaching as well.”

While usually offering around four sessions a year, Ms Fishwick-Roscoe said after having to cancel one and put the rest online last year, they decided to just go with two this time around.

“The first teacher, Joanne Michel, is a long-term resident faculty member of the Australia Ballet School and a former professional dancer herself with the Australian Ballet,” she said.

“We’re very excited to have her and she has been to Ballarat here with the program in the past and is well liked.

“The second, George-Murray Nightingale, is a young, enthusiastic member of the Australian Ballet company which we have had the privilege of having him online so we thought it would be great to get him back so the kids can experience his enthusiasm in person.”

Although participants may learn a range of skills and techniques throughout the masterclasses, Ms Fishwick-Roscoe said the most important thing is that they leave feeling motivated.

“The main thing that we aim for the participants to take away from the classes is inspiration,” she said.

“Bloc Dancewear sponsor the program and provide vouchers which the teachers are encouraged to select students that have been inspired within the class and taking on the corrections.

“We also encourage them to get to know someone knew from another school or town who is likeminded and also loves to dance.”

With classes set for 2 May, find out more or register via trybooking.com/725344.