Page 61 - DANCE 2020 Full Time Studies Guide

Full-Time STudieS Guide 2020
Madison Whiteley
Corps de ballet, Semperoper Ballett Dresden, Germany.
What were the most important benefits
of your studies?
I was very lucky to have many wonderful teachers whilst studying at ARDA and I feel
I owe a lot to my early years of training there.
I had very good advice to commence my full time studies at the age of thirteen. For some students 13 might feel too early to leave normal school and commit fully to dancing. However, it enabled me to optimise every hour in the day. I completed my academic schooling via distance education and my grades improved a lot as I could study at my own pace. A huge benefit of my studies in Australia was the versatility. While my main focus was classical ballet, I also studied contemporary, jazz, improvisation and choreography whilst at ARDA.
My grades improved because I could study at my own pace. A huge benefit of my studies in Australia was the versatility.”
How quickly did you gain employment upon graduation?
I received three contract offers in my last year of training at ENBS. I accepted an apprenticeship with Semperoper Ballett Dresden. After a successful apprentice year I accepted a full corps de ballet contract.
Tell us a little about your present job.
Semperoper Ballett Dresden is a large ballet company in Germany. The repertoire includes all the major classical ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker and
La Bayadère, as well as a vast range of contemporary and neo classical works. The company also performs a variety of works by William Forsythe and David Dawson. I feel very lucky to be part of a company with a repertoire that is so versatile and inspiring.
What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you were a student?
I know now that while it is important to work very hard, it is equally important to work smart and always for yourself. It’s crucial to do the mental work as well as the physical work. If something isn’t working, it’s better to stop and analyse than to keep repeating just for the sake of working hard.
Where are you from? Brisbane.
Where did you undertake your
full-time training?
I commenced my training with Annette Roselli Dance Academy in Brisbane at the age of five. I then continued into the full-time training program at ARDA at the age of thirteen. I trained full-time for four years before accepting an offer from the English National Ballet School where I continued my studies for another two years.
What level of education had you attained before beginning your full-time training? I was in Year 8 at school when I decided to
switch to distance education to allow me to
‘Don’t just work hard for the sake of it; work smart.’
train full time. I had also completed all my RAD exams up to the intermediate level.
How did you find the transition from full-time studies to the profession?
The transition is a big one. You go from having constant individual attention and corrections
to being much more independent and taking responsibility for your own body and work. I enjoyed the transition to being a professional dancer because I’ve always been quite independent and I like to work for myself.
The schedule of a professional dancer is very different to that of a student. As a student I would usually start the day with 1.5-2.5 hours
of training followed by pointe class, variations, pas de deux, contemporary, etc. In a professional ballet company, the focus is on rehearsals for upcoming performances.
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PHOTO: TIM CROSS