We visited the Royal Opera Ballet. Its located by a very busy place called Covenant Gardens . We took a tour of the theater and were guided by a man named Pierre who was very knowledgeable. Unfortunately we could not take pictures inside. Some of the things I learned about the Royal Opera Ballet is that in 1997 they did major renovation that allowed much quicker changes of productions. The stages pieced float around like puzzle. The ballet company now also practices in the same building. We got to tour the practice facilities which included 3 large room with sky lights and many smaller rooms. The actual theater is very old and beautifully. They pointed out the royal box where the royal family watches the shows. The Royal Ballet School is across the street from the opera house connected by a bridge. They call this bridge the aspiration bridge since the students aspire to be a part of the professional company. In a typical year about 90 students graduate and only a couple of them are asked to go to the professional company.
Hello Alexia
Well done!
We are Australian.
My daughter is 10 and is thinking about auditioning too. How old were you in your audition tape? And how Ald were you when you went?
Blessings!
God is Good!
I was 10 and 2 months on the audition video and when I went I was about 10 and 1/2.
It was great, very different than other summer intensives school. I also attended SAB and ABT.
Thank you for responding. I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you.
What is SAB and ABT?
In the audition video you have very strong legs!
Well done in any case!
And the photos of you in your contemp dance look amazing (the recent ones you just posted).
Blessings
God is Good!
Hi,
SAB (School of America Ballet) and ABT (American Ballet Theater) are two schools in New York that produce a lot of dancers. Alexia auditioned for both programs again this year and will be attending ABT for a 3 week summer program. Thanks on the nice comments on the contemporary piece, it was the first time she performed it in competition. Alexia is infatuated with Australia and loves Dance Academy and H2O (Just Add Water). She has been lobbying for us to take her to Australia for 3 years now. We hope to be able to do it in the next couple of years; maybe she can find a summer/winter ballet program down under.
Regards,
Alexia’s Dad
HI Alexia’s Dad,
Thank you for getting back to me. the ballet world is a very steep learning curve!
Australia is marvellous!
Dance Academy is set in Sydney, and has beautiful scenes that really show off the harbour beautifully … it really is a beautiful city and the beaches are marvellous.
We live in a suburb of Melbourne which is south of Sydney, and that city is the base for The Australian Ballet Company and The Australian Ballet School.
The Australian Ballet School has a winter school programme (in about June) and a summer school programme in the first week or two of January (nice and hot and a great time to come to Australia … your winter of course … perhaps you could think of a hot Christmas).
The programmes do not at this stage require auditioning, and there is not live in facilities, although there is good accommodation close by.
If you ever consider it, please contact us, or use our email address to contact us privately.
I believe there are excellent training facilities in Queensland as well. the director is Li Cun Xing (that may not be the correct spelling sorry) he was the main character that Mao’s Last Dancer was about (true story, have heard him speak about his autobiography years ago, my mother-in-law taught one of his children at school and a lovely man … very talented and is currently based in Queensland, another beautiful part of our country…that may be worth some investigation when/if you think of coming.
Many blessings with all you are doing, and I wish your daughter the best with all her auditions and comps. and I trust she thrives at the summer programmes in NY (I love NY City!! how marvellous)
Blessings
God is Good!