Specialist Course

Develop your

Potential

8 to 18 years of age

The Kim Baker Ballet Academy offers an Elite Specialist Course designed for the talented and dedicated dancer who would like to pursue a career in dance. Entry to this course is via audition for applicants from 8 to 18 years of age.

Curriculum

The Elite Specialist Course teaches the Vaganova method of ballet, a precise technique and system of instruction. The Vaganova syllabus is considered one of the finest syllabus for Classical Ballet. Tenets of the Vaganova method include the development of lower back strength and arm plasticity, and the requisite strength, flexibility and endurance for ballet.

The students are required to attend a range of classes depending on their Grade or Level. The comprehensive curriculum includes:

Classical Tuition
Contemporary tuition
Character Dance
Theory
Drama
Repertoire and Production
Performance

Audition Tours

At the completion of the Year 12 Elite Specialist Course, students are taken on an audition tour of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth to audition for full time, Diploma of Dance and Bachelor of Dance Courses which then enable the students to audition for dance institutes and companies in Australia and throughout the world.

Teacher Training

Students who show an interest and aptitude for teaching are trained by The Academy. All training is led by Kim Baker who has completed teacher training methodology with Classical Dance Teachers Australia, Vaganova Syllabus with Lubov Nikonorenko, at the American School of Ballet, the Jaqueline Kennedy Onnasis School of Ballet in the United States and the Australian Ballet School. Kim has studied with some of the world's finest teachers including Lubov Nikonorenko and Maria Besobrasova. She attends teacher development annually at the National Theatre Ballet in Melbourne, Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy and the National College in Newcastle.

Professional Guests

Our specialist students attend various sessions throughout the year with professional guest instructors. These may include:

Sally Collard-Gentle. Former Prima Ballerina Sadler Wells Opera Ballet, Scottish Ballet and Australia Ballet.
Rio Mitani. Austrian Ballet Company - Tokyo Director.
Christian Martinu. Austrian Ballet Company - Tokyo Ballet Master.
Joel Bray. International dancer and choreographer.
Callum Hastie. Principle dancer Ballet Mainz Germany, West Australian Ballet and Pact Ballet.
Jacinta Ross-Ehlers. Perth born, European trained Prima Ballerina West Australian Ballet, Bern Ballet, Basler Ballet.
Milos Mutavdzic. Dancer Australian Ballet and Principle Dancer West Australian Ballet.
Adam Wheeler. Artistic Associate Stompin, Artistic Director 2nd Toe Dance Collective, Teacher Chunky Moves.
Beverly Jane Fry. Prima Ballerina The Stuttgart Ballet, English National Ballet, Aterballetto (Italy) and London City Ballet.
Josef Brown. Former Soloist Australian Ballet Company and Choreographer and Dancer Sydney Dance Company. Actor appeared in Neighbours, Home and Away and Spartacus. Principle role of "Johnny Castle" in the Australian musical Dirty Dancing.