Original title
Dance Academy
Released
5/31/2010
Origin country
AU
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Family
Production companies
Werner Film Productions
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
3
Number of episodes
66
At Sydney's National Dance Academy, a few talented youngsters are recruited for the excruciatingly tough course. It follows Tara Webster, a sheepfarmgirl who's ambition is to be the next best ballerina. Jewish long line of doctors' heir Samuel 'Sammy' and minor juvenile offender Christian are the outsiders but gradually fit in, making new kinds of friends. Star ballerina's daughter Kat also introduces them in the circle of last-year brother Ethan, who already aspires a career as choreographer. Also Abigail, a smart young girl who'll walk over dead bodies to reach the stars tries to sabotage everything and everyone.
Ever wondered what it is really like to go to Dance Academy? Get a glimpse behind the scenes as our cast take you through the extensive audition process, rigorous ballet boot camp and the thrill of becoming one of the stars.
Fifteen-year-old Tara Webster has grown up on a farm in outback Australia and has dreamt of being a dancer ever since she was a little girl. When she makes it into the National Academy of Dance - the best school in the country - she is sure her life is about to be spectacular. What Tara doesn't realize is how far behind she is in her training, and that there's a whole lot more to surviving the Academy than just dancing...
Country girl Tara Webster travels to Sydney to audition for the prestigious National Academy of Dance. It's a tumultuous week as she realises her dream is going to be a lot more difficult than she thought.
Tara arrives at the Academy excited about the year ahead. As she struggles to fit in, she learns the hard way to respect her teachers and find true friends.
Tara's crush on Ethan threatens her friendship with Kat; Abigail wins a decisive victory; Christian finds himself in police custody and, with nowhere else to go, has to accept his place at the Academy.
Tara is frustrated when Christian refuses to participate in trust exercises, Kat feels betrayed by Tara's secret crush on Ethan, and Sammy finds himself tied to Abigail for 24 hours.
Sammy is forced to choose between dance and his father when compulsory Saturday ballet classes clash with his Synagogue services; and Christian struggles to accept the rules of the Academy.
Tara is stunned to learn Kat's mother is a world acclaimed ballerina and Tara's greatest idol. Meanwhile, Sammy's perfect girlfriend Mia has unexpectedly returned from an overseas exchange.
Christian shows Ethan some real Australian street hip-hop. Meanwhile, Tara is the self-proclaimed expert on crushes and is happy to educate Kat in every aspect of the mysterious art form.
Tara is overjoyed by a rumour that she and Damien Lang are dating. Meanwhile, Abigail is unwilling to accept the changes in her developing body.
Kat creates a video of her dancing that becomes an internet success. Meanwhile, Ethan views Christian as a friendly rival and the two boys begin to compete with each other.
Christian's best mate Aaron comes to stay and reveals the truth about the robbery they committed. Meanwhile, Abigail's control issues are spiralling out-of-control and she is caught shoplifting.
Tara is elated when Ethan asks her to dance in his choreographic assessment piece. She hopes that he is finally beginning to see her as romantic potential.
Pressure is building at the Academy as the students prepare for exam week.
It's Open Week at the Academy when parents watch their children in a series of demonstration classes.
Kat introduces Tara to her new boyfriend; Abigail struggles to convince her therapist to allow her to return to ballet classes and Sammy tries to convince Abigail to help him with ballroom dance classes.
Petra Hoffman arrives at the Academy on exchange from the Berlin Ballet School; Kat has been ditching class to spend time with her new boyfriend; and Tara kisses Christian behind Ethan's back.
Kat is upset when her parents ignore her 16th birthday and in revenge throws herself a huge party at their harbour front home. The house quickly fills with people and events spiral out of control.
It is school camp and everyone is dreading the trip away, especially Tara who has been made an outcast following the party.
German exchange student Petra Hoffman is thrilled when she is invited to stay at the Academy; Abigail is making more trouble for Tara; and Sammy and Abigail have begun secretly kissing.
Junior footballers from the Institute of Sport have been sent to the Academy for some specialised training. The challenge is on between the dancers and the footballers to prove which is the toughest sport.
When the Board decides to cut hip hop and jazz from the curriculum Kat goes on the warpath. Tara and Christian find themselves together at the beach and their spark is rekindled.
It's a month since Tara's injury and her plaster is due to come off, but Tara seems more focused on her new boyfriend and planning the school formal than she is in attending her doctor's appointments.
The date for Christian's robbery hearing has been set but his defence strategy relies on his best mate, Aaron. However Aaron has vanished. Meanwhile the time has come for Tara to go back to dancing.
Christian's conscience gets the better of him and he changes his story to protect his friend. Meanwhile, Ethan has received interest from a dance company in Spain.
In the weeks since the court hearing, Sammy and Christian have been inseparable, but when Christian ditches Sammy to spend time with Tara, what Sammy feels is uncomfortably a lot like jealousy.
Rehearsals for 'The Nutcracker' are underway and Tara discovers that being the star is not all it's cracked up to be. Sammy is forced to admit that his feelings for Christian have changed.
The end of year production has arrived. Things don't go smoothly when the director is not happy with Tara's performance and Abigail hides her costume.
It’s “second year” at the Dance Academy, and time to get serious. What happens over the next twelve months will determine whether Tara and her friends can become professional dancers or not. Tara, who climbed to the top in her first year at the Academy – in dance, life and love – has a lot to lose if she lets up. She has to train extra hard if she wants to win the prestigious Prix de Fonteyn. And she’ll have to do battle with a new rival and an unjust teacher, while developing a crush on a new student...
It's a rollercoaster year for Tara and her friends as they begin Second Year at the National Academy. Relationships fall apart as new ones are forged and shaking things up are two new students.
Tara finds a new mentor to admire in Saskia Duncan, the youngest principal dancer in the Company's history. Saskia takes Tara under her wing, but gives her a few things to worry about such as if there's a future with Christian.
Kat finally makes friends with the coterie of outcast girls at school, but despite having sworn off dancing, finds herself helping them choreograph a piece for drama class. Meanwhile, Ben Tickle is upgraded into second year.
Tara's ecstatic when her mentor Saskia is appointed to teach the second years at the Academy. But Tara rapidly discovers that 'perfect' Saskia may not be the supportive teacher she hoped for...
After Sebastian questions his son Ethan on the impressiveness of his piece at the Showcase, Ethan takes it out on Abigail, his soloist, in an attempt to create a spectacular performance.
Sammy's little brother Ari arrives at the Academy throwing Sammy's hectic life schedule into havoc. Kat auditions to be a football cheerleader, happily encouraged by Ben. And Tara is having self esteem issues.
Tara feels the time she spends with Christian is impacting on her dance study and suggests they 'pause' their relationship.
Tara decides to take action after realising that Saskia's continual critique of her dancing could jeopardise her mid-year exams, while Christian ditches his partner exam to hang out with Kat.
With exams finally over, both the boys and girls go out to let off some steam. However, Sammy is tense after failing his exams, Tara's still hurting from her breakup, and Grace decides to stir up trouble.
Sammy returns home for his Grandpa Morrie's funeral and to ask his father to support his Academy tuition. An act of sabotage severs frenemies Tara and Abigail.
Grace encourages Tara to take action against Saskia's spiteful treatment of her; Kat commences training for the Moulin Rouge which leads her to a big realisation; and Sammy is assigned a tutor.
Tara's preparations for the Prix de Fonteyn are struck a devastating blow when Saskia's bullying results in an injury. Meanwhile, Kat convinces Miss Raine to grant her an audition to return to the Academy.
Determined to prove Saskia wrong, Tara risks serious injury and possible expulsion from the Academy by competing in the Prix de Fonteyn Preliminary round.
Tara runs into Ben who's volunteering in the hospital leukaemia ward performance. Tara discovers Ben's deepest secret. Back at the Academy, Kat struggles with the culture shock of First Year.
Tara negotiates her return to the Academy after being expelled. Meanwhile, Ethan's search for ongoing employment leads him to a position choreographing a fringe musical.
Sammy gets a second chance at the Prix de Fonteyn when he takes a road trip with Ollie to audition for the regional round. Sammy's feelings resurface and Christian invites himself along on the trip.
The rivalry escalates between the first and second year students resulting in a dance battle; and Tara becomes unhinged when Grace entices her to become less serious.
During an excursion to the circus, Christian's dad makes promises he's unable to keep; Tara tries to repair her friendship with Kat, and Sammy goes public with his new romance.
Tara opens herself up to love again and hunts for a new crush, Finn tries to convince Abigail to be the star of his new show, and Grace goes to extreme lengths to get Zach's attention.
Abigail's forced to make a choice between her ballet and the fringe musical. Her situation intensifies when her mother Anthea unexpectedly arrives. Meanwhile, Sammy tires of Ollie's persistent criticism.
Ben attempts to out-psych Christian during the National Prix de Fonteyn round, and Sammy's father is attending the Prix to watch him dance for the first time in years.
Grace's father retracts a promise to visit her at the Academy: her self-assurance plummets. Christian's bounce back from his Prix de Fonteyn elimination drives him towards some reckless behaviour.
During rehearsals of 'Peter Pan' Ben uses various tactics to prove to Tara he's a leading man, while Kat's efforts to research her character in the production lead to a realisation about her relationship.
The Prix de Fonteyn is two days away. Tara is stunned as Grace has returned to Sydney as a representative for the UK Prix team. The students' lives are changed forever when a tragedy strikes the Academy...
After a sudden tragedy, the Academy students must find a way to come together and help each other out in this time of darkness.
Abigail and Tara join forces to go head-to-head with a formidable enemy. Christian has to choose between the girl he loves and his desire to escape and Ben is offered an opportunity of a lifetime.
Tara and her friends are now seniors at the Academy and no one can forget that the Company is watching. It will be a hard chase to the finish line to see who will be offered a contract and finally achieve what they have been working towards for so long... and who will have to find a new dream. The friends began their training as kids with a lot to learn about dancing, about life and about themselves. This year will prepare them to say goodbye to their school days and go out into the world as resilient, courageous dancers and young adults.
It's three weeks into Third Year and Tara and her friends are already feeling the pressure. Speculation bubbles when the National Ballet Company announces it needs three temporary fill-in roles in the corps de ballet.
On their first day as fill-in dancers, Tara, Grace and Ben encounter cliques in the corps de ballet. Meanwhile, Christian has no interest in going back to the Academy.
Kat struggles to stay positive and her determination to advance into Third Year is morphing into dangerous patterns. Meanwhile, Grace plays match-maker, and Christian's lost his place at the Academy.
Ben is flattered when Saskia offers to be his mentor and it becomes clear there's potential for them to dance together brilliantly; and Abigail and Christian disturb everyone with their unlikely friendship.
Saskia arranges a special audition with the Company's artistic director for her protégé, Ben; Grace's world implodes; and Zach allows Christian to participate in a music video Ollie is producing.
The Academy goes a little Hollywood when a film crew uses their building as a location for a new indie movie; and Grace tries to undermine a new relationship to guarantee her position on the tour.
The Third Years are having the time of their lives on the road, but are prioritising fun over performance. Back at the Academy, Kat clashes with the movie's third assistant director, Jamie.
On the final leg of their tour, the Third Years are invited to a traditional Indigenous ceremony and return the hospitality by offering a dance class to the local kids. Christian finds he is an unexpectedly good teacher.
A career-making performance opportunity brings out the best and worst in everyone, and an injury that sidelines Ollie prompts him to use someone to get ahead.
Christian and Ollie prepare for Streetbeatz, a major hip hop competition; Kat prepares to audition for a minor role in Coppelia; and Ben takes a stab at revenge.
The countdown to the final Company auditions has begun when suddenly it becomes a whole new playing field; and Christian and Tara come to a final resolution about their relationship.
Auditions for the National Ballet Company have arrived bringing superstitions, old competitive battle lines and the performances that will determine the rest of their lives.
It's judgment day. The Third Years sit before the Company panel and learn their fate - who will be offered a professional contract with the National Ballet Company and who will have to find a new dream?
During this special clip see the cast talk about how it felt to film the last dance scene of the series as well as what it was like to work on such an incredible show.
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