Our hope at YBWA is to teach holistically, to impart not only technical skills but also help students to understand the life skills needed to be a dancer.We are all so privileged to be a part of our students’ individual development, to help nurture them artistically whilst working on their personal goals. We are passionate about sharing our knowledge and experience of Dance with our students.Youth Ballet WA

• Youth Ballet WA (YBWA) is a not-for-profit charitable organisation providing an elite ballet programme that has an emphasis on career-based training. With professional staff that have extensive experience in all aspects of dance, we offer our students the very best dance education. YBWA offers scholarships for elite dancers who have the potential to pursue a career in dance yet face struggles in making their dreams become a reality.
• We are a talent-led organisation accepting only those young people showing great aptitude for dance and a passion to embrace it as a career. We ensure that students receive individual tuition to meet their specific level and ability and are nurtured throughout their experience with YBWA.
• YBWA is one of Perth's leading vocational training centres, founded in 2005, grew from the Terri Charlesworth School of Ballet founded in 1960 by WA’s first Prima Ballerina Terri Charlesworth, and the Ballet Centre of WA, founded by Sonya Shepherd.

Experience

• Our dedicated Board comprises skilled members with a long association within the arts.

Collaboration

• Together with the support of the Charlesworth Ballet School, we are able to provide the best dance education and opportunities to young dancers.

Patrons

• Youth Ballet WA is proud to have His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson APM, Governor of Western Australia and Ms Terri Charlesworth OAM as our Patrons.

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMME

The pre-professional programme of Youth Ballet WA is designed to nurture and develop the young dancer and enable them to achieve a career in dance. 

The programme concentrates on technique and skill development. This includes Classical Ballet, Pas de Deux, Variations, Repertoire, Pointe Work, Contemporary, Improvisation, Spanish and Character Dance, Music, Theory and Performance. We are also mindful of the young dancers’ fitness to dance and our programme includes strength and conditioning classes, as well as Pilates.

Classical ballet makes up the major component of the courses studied and is based on the Vaganova method of training, which is considered the finest syllabus for classical ballet.

WHAT WE OFFER OUR STUDENTS

• Graduate from YBWA Pre-Professional Dance programme ready for tertiary training or apprenticeships with dance companies.
• Access to high-quality performance opportunities at professional venues and in front of large audiences.
• Benefit from international exposure due to our ongoing relationships with European ballet schools and companies.
• Participate in exclusive masterclasses lead by internationally recognized coaches, teachers and choreographers.
• Gain academic qualifications that provide pathways to broader opportunities.
• Train in a unique, purpose-built, state of the art facility.
• Together all aspects offer an ideal environment for young, academically empowered dancers to grow and develop.
• We strive to be the foremost pre-professional ballet school in Western Australia and the first choice for exceptionally talented and motivated young people passionate about dance. Our focus is to provide our students with a world-class education that will lead them to the best opportunities for building a professional career in dance.

FOUNDATION PROGRAMME

YBWA offers programmes for after school students. Students attend for up to 14 hours of tuition per week, whilst attending their regular academic school.

The primary focus of the Foundation Programme is to provide our young boys and girls with the fundamentals of ballet, often working on the floor to focus on alignment, strength and flexibility and to develop a love for this art form. Foundation students do not necessarily need to have done much ballet before but have a natural, inquisitive nature and desire to dance combined with the physical attributes to assist with technique required of classical ballet dancers. 

Following the Foundation B Programme students can either transition via invitation or audition into the Full-Time Programme, Year 1, or continue into the Junior 1st program for after-school students. Age is only used as a guide when placing students into these levels, and ongoing coaching and feedback monitor appropriate student placement and progression.

FULL-TIME PROGRAMME

YBWA offers its full-time classical ballet program to students between the age of 9 and 18-years-old. YBWA currently has 42 students over 7 levels in the full-time programme. This unique programme also combines academic studies allowing students to successfully complete Year 12 WACE, in either general or ATAR pathways. 

Throughout the year our students are provided with the opportunity to perform solo classical variations, Contemporary and Spanish performances, Classical Ballet Repertoire Excerpts and full-scale Classical Ballet performances at venues such as the Crown Theatre and His Majesty's Theatre. These performance opportunities provide our students with crucial on-stage experience to develop both technical and artistic qualities. 

YBWA aims to aid our students to realise their full potential whilst assisting with confidence, resilience and self-value fostering positive self-esteem and mental health.

Academic Schooling is provided through SIDE (School of Isolated and Distance Education), with qualified teachers on site to assist at the YBWA premises.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMME

This course is designed for students who have a desire to continue to dance and are passionate about developing excellence in dance but may not wish to choose ballet as a career pathway. After school students continue their academic studies in the traditional learning environment of High School and attend ballet classes in the evenings. 

Throughout the year all our foundation and after school students are provided with the opportunity to perform in Classical Ballet Repertoire Excerpts and full-scale Classical Ballet performances at venues such as the Crown Theatre and His Majesty's Theatre, Contemporary and Spanish performances, classical variations and corp de ballet repertoire parent viewings.

Programmes Offered 

Foundation Years

(Ages 8 to 11)

Our aim is to transition talented students into the full-time programme on completion of Foundation Years A and B. Foundation A - 3 days per week. Foundation B - 3 days per week(8 to 10 hours per week)

 Fulltime Study

(Ages 11 to 18)

Preparatory Year, 1st Year, 2nd Year, 3rd Year, 4th Year5th Year, 6th Year, 7th Year, Graduating Year

8:30am to 4:30pm, 5 days per week inclusive of academic schooling.

After School Classes

(Ages 11 to 18)

Junior Years - 4 days a week, Middle Years - 4 days a week, Senior Years - 4 days a week(10 to 14 hours per week) Students in Junior – Senior Years can audition at any time to transition into the full-time programme.

PATHWAYS - Tertiary Training and Careers

Upon completing the Graduating Year, students are eligible for: 1. Australian or International tertiary training. 2. Apprenticeship awards or contracts with Ballet Companies in Australia or Overseas.

Academic Schooling (Part of the Full-time Programme)

Primary and high school academic studies are provided through SIDE (School of Isolated and Distance Education), with a qualified academic teacher emplyed at YBWA's premises to assist students schooling. Students graduate with a West Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) with many students completing ATAR and gaining the option of university eligibility.