Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 8/19/2009

Question
Hello, i recently turned 19 i have lived in Korea for about 2 years to teach English. I have always wanted to do ballet so since I have been in Korea i have been taken up classical ballet privately and also with a class (Beginner and Intermediate). I enjoy doing Ballet and now have a huge passion for it. I will be returning to my country in Australia at the end of this year and i would love to continue dancing. I wanted to know if there is any chance for me in becoming a ballet teacher in the future and if there was any chance for me to do a course for ballet in college at my age and at my level.
This is something that i really want to succeed in so if you have any information or advice it will be much appreciated.
Thank you!

Answer
Hi Clara. You most certainly can continue ballet in Australia and become a qualified teacher. I am not familiar with colleges there, but you can search as every college has its particulars on the net. See what is available to you, and the kind of dance courses available. There may an affiliation with a private arts ballet school and a dance department - I would search for that, that will get you a good teachers' training course and a degree as well.

http://www.cecchettiballet.org
is the Cecchetti Society of Australia, and
http://www.rad.org.au
is the Royal Academy of Dancing in Australia. They are the two biggest training systems that qualify teachers.

http://www.australianballetschool.com.au/index.asp?section=Vocational-Dance-Teac...
is the page for The Australian Ballet School's teacher training course.

All the best with this! Dianne

Oops - the last link is for a course that is different than my first impression. It is for professional dancers - not right for you. But check out the other pro schools in the country and see if they have teacher training for someone not retiring from the stage.