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Teaching
In 2021 Sydney Dance Company’s advanced training programs expanded to reach more young dancers. We doubled the Pre-Professional Year cohort and formed two groups, delivering a two-year program covering the Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance) and the Advanced Diploma of Dance (Elite Performance). Our programs for younger people still in secondary school include the Senior Contemporary Dance Program delivered at The McDonald College in Strathfield, and the Youth Ensemble delivered at the Wharf. Both provide pathways to the PreProfessional Year and further industry training. This not only feeds the ‘ecosystem’ of contemporary dance and strengthens the sector in New South Wales and Australia, but also positions Sydney Dance Company on the international stage.
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Our unique approach to dance training for young aspiring professionals facilitates stronger creative voices, and empowered and autonomous dancers, who have agency to shape and form the future of contemporary dance. In 2021, we expanded the reach of Sydney Dance Company’s teaching expertise and sector leadership through:
Pre-Professional Year
• The expansion of the Pre-Professional Year (PPY) into two cohorts, and into a two-year course, created positive impacts in the industry, in our training culture and for individual dancers.
• We were able to employ more industry specialists, including choreographers and guest teachers, allowing us to continue to develop our innovative teaching practices.
• Spending two years in the course is of significant benefit to the dancers, allowing them to develop and expand their movement. Often young dancers come to the first year of the course and experience methodologies that are very different from those to which they were exposed in their previous training. It can take time to adapt to the course’s ethos.
• Dancers who returned to the course for a second year graduated with solid technical training and performance experience. More importantly they had developed a more refined approach to their own self-reflective dance practice and built confidence.
Jonah Johnston PPY Dancer 2021
“The Pre-Professional Year expanded my understanding of movement, creativity, and my place within that. I’m grateful for the sharing of knowledge and ideas that are continuously being explored within the studio. Through the past two years we have worked with a range of teachers and choreographers giving us insight into different processes of creative development. Sydney Dance Company’s Pre- Professional Year is a melting pot for dancers who are willing to explore and re-define dance; it is exciting to see where these amazing artists will end up.”
Hugo Poulet PPY Dancer 2020 and 2021
Youth Ensemble
• Thirty-four young dancers aged between 13 and 18 years formed our two 2021 Youth Ensembles:
Junior Youth Ensemble and Senior Youth
Ensemble.
• Exposure to a range of contemporary dance practices through Youth Ensemble helps young dancers to develop industry-led artistic expertise in Greater Sydney and beyond.
• Eight Youth Ensemble dancers auditioned for
PPY for 2022, strengthening the pathway from
Youth Ensemble into full-time training, not only with the Company, but also with other courses around the country.
Youth Intensive
• Fifteen dancers spent a week at Sydney Dance
Company in January, working with our faculty and industry specialists. Dancers from Greater
Sydney and interstate were able to explore contemporary dance and experience what training in the Pre-Professional Year program might be like.
A Q&A with the Pre-Professional Year faculty was held to support and share information about potential pathways for young dancers.
“Listening to Rafael and dancer Davide speak to the Youth Ensemble was so refreshing and honest as well as caring, passionate and inclusive. This experience has allowed the young dancers to dream again after a deflating and demotivating time through the pandemic.” Youth Ensemble 2021 parent
“Youth Ensemble has been such a stimulating environment for me to develop my contemporary technique and I loved developing friendships within a community of dancers like myself.” Youth Ensemble 2021 dancer
“Youth Ensemble has been great exposure for my daughter, she has made some great friends and worked with some wonderful Company dancers who have inspired her.” Youth Ensemble 2021 parent
“The collaboration between Sydney Dance Company and The McDonald College has created an exciting program for students who want to delve deeper into contemporary dance. Learning from Sydney Dance Company teachers together with the chance to join the Pre-Professional Year students each week has made this a unique opportunity for students to experience the PPY program and explore their options of further training beyond school.” Lindsay Ellman-Brown McDonald College Programs Coordinator
• Through the senior contemporary dance stream at McDonald College, senior high school students gain insights into the professional world of dance through classes, workshops with industry specialists, and facilitated off-campus immersive excursions that expose them to the industry and help build knowledge.
• During periods of Covid lockdown, students were given the opportunity to learn from Sydney
Dance Company through participating in classes via Zoom. “The Professional Intensive gave me an insight into the creations and workings of being a professional dancer. Learning sections of Sydney Dance Company's repertoire challenged us physically and provided a glimpse into what dancing like a Company member is like. The classes also gave myself a chance to regain some dance training back into my body after a period off.” Professional Intensive participant
Professional development
• While lockdowns meant that fewer dancers were able to participate in week-long secondments with our dancers, 20 Pre-Professional Year dancers were able to spend a week with the Company, learning repertoire and gaining insight into the industry.
• Additional Level 3 Contemporary Dance classes were made available in the public class timetable.
• In January 2021, 12 dancers participated in our week-long Professional Intensive, learning repertoire and participating in classes with
Rehearsal Director Richard Cilli and other industry specialists. Focus was on supporting dancers in navigating what the arts sector looks like in a ‘post-
Covid’ world and creating networks for professional dancers in Sydney.
To improve learning outcomes and connections between students and industry experts we increased our capabilities through:
Updating teaching skills to develop lessons for physical and digital pedagogy
• We conducted training for our teaching artists and Company dancers to build their confidence in delivering safe and engaging content in both faceto-face and virtual environments.
• In 2021, PPY dancers created 81 films, two of which were made in collaboration with industry specialists, with the remaining 79 being created by the dancers themselves. These films helped them discover their creative identities, and improved the technical skills required to create, produce and distribute their own work. We also helped our graduating dancers develop skills that they can use in the industry’s expanding digital space.
• We found that the hybrid model of virtual and inperson training was of great benefit to dancers who were geographically isolated, as well as those with alternative learning styles. The hybrid model was also used for Company rehearsals as well as PPY and Youth Ensemble learning. Our digital sessions were recorded and have been archived.
• During lockdown, we connected PPY dancers via Zoom with GUTS dance (NT), The Farm (QLD),
Hofesh Shecter (UK) and Dance North (QLD).
This was a useful way to trade skills and information while also broadening industry knowledge for young dancers and preparing them to transition into the industry.
Conditioning studio
• On our return to the Wharf in 2021, we welcomed a Strength and Conditioning Studio Manager to the team to enable us to offer personalised individual
Pilates and conditioning programs for the Company dancers, PPY dancers, staff and public.
Shifting culture for a contemporary landscape
• For both employees and training participants across all programs, our teaching ethos now incorporates
Mindful leadership, Illuminating effective language to produce success, Training the person holistically,
Creating a collaborative and compassionate environment to produce art for everyone, and
Increasing social capital.
Access to professional industry environment
• Across all our advanced training programs we offer multiple opportunities for young dancers to engage with industry specialists and established arts practitioners. This expands their industry networks and sense of belonging.
• Daily, PPY dancers occupy the same training space as those in the Company, giving them the opportunity to observe professional dancers in a professional setting. - PPY first-year dancers are rostered in to join the Company for morning class, giving them an opportunity to see how their skills translate to the professional environment. - PPY second-year dancers join the Company for week-long secondments, allowing them to see first-hand how a professional rehearsal and creative process happens. • During periods when they had to be redeployed because of Covid, Company dancers contributed to the development of School Resource Packs and delivered virtual workshops for schools across the country.
• Company dancers also delivered face-to-face workshops while on National Tour.
• The artistic team has significant input in training programs, creating a pathway from youth programs through to professional training.