DANCE

The Dance program at VCASS has been enriched by a series of interviews presented with alumni for the Career Planning class for our Year 12 students. Initiated during lockdown, it has continued to be an exciting initiative to prepare our students for the various pathways and journeys that are possible. Not limited to any one dance genre or other related/expansive fields, we look at their various journeys throughout Australia and internationally.

In 2022, we have been touched by the stories, depth of knowledge and tips for auditions from the following alumni:

Edward Pope and Georgia Swan, currently with the Queensland Ballet as Artist and Soloist respectively. Edward also worked with West Australian Ballet.

Amy Lim, currently performing with the contemporary company Tanzmainz in Germany before taking up a new contract with The Ballet National de Marseille in France.

Fabian Aloise, international choreographer and dancer. One of Fabian’s personal career highlights was working alongside theatre legend Ann Reinking as associate choreographer on FOSSE (USA and international tours).

Genevieve O’Keefe, currently performing with MIR Dance Company in Germany before taking up her new position with Nederlands Dans Theater 1, based in Den Haag, the Netherlands.

Upcoming interviews have been booked with Nathan Pavey, whose first professional engagement was with West Side Story in Australia and Germany, and Coco Wood who has recently been engaged as an artist with Sydney Dance Company.

What a great testament to the world class training offered at VCASS for dancers in their formative and pre-professional years, an experience very clearly appreciated by our esteemed alumni.

It has also been an exciting time to see our alumni back on our Melbourne stages after our long lock outs from the theatre. Bravo and Brava to:

Alinta Chidzey - Moulin Rouge

Simon Fairweather - Hamilton

Olivia Castagna; Eli Cooper, Sydney Patterson & Joe Miller - American in Paris

Even our amazing staff are hitting the floors again with Nicole Melloy tapping and singing gloriously in the recent show,  Two Hits and a Ms, at Hamer Hall.

The cruise ships are now up on board and many of our graduates have chosen this path to dance and visit the world. Alumni, Bella Archibald is one performing with her expertise on Odyssey of the Seas, currently in Italy. Congratulations to Michael Scott-Kahans who has just had his debut as a professional dance artist in Christopher Anderson’s Cinderella with Alberta Ballet in Canada.

Finally,  it is always so wonderful to have our alumni visit staff/school, and to teach our current cohort of dancers, such as the talented Jareen Wee.

We are proud of our family and community spirit.

 VCASS is certainly the place to be.