Ballet break has students in a spin

26 November 2009
By Rebecca Perry

Thumbs up ... Kelvin Grove State College students Joseph Stewart and Aeden Pittendreigh from the school's Queensland Dance School of Excellence will train with Queensland Ballet next year.

Two talented young Brisbane dancers have leapt at the chance to take part in a full-time Queensland Ballet program next year.

Students Joseph Stewart and Aeden Pittendreigh are completing their Year 12 studies through Kelvin Grove State College's Queensland Dance School of Excellence (QDSE).

Joseph and Aeden will graduate with several individual dancing honours and awards, including performing with the Paris Opera Ballet in Brisbane earlier this year.

They'll be putting that talent and experience to good use when they take up a place in Queensland Ballet's Professional Year program next year.

Aeden who has been dancing since he was five said he hoped the opportunity would help him to pursue his dreams of a career in ballet.

'I'm pretty excited,' Aeden said.

'It's something that I've been thinking about since I started at Kelvin Grove in Year 8.

'It's a one-to-two-year course and can lead to a traineeship or contract with the company.

'I would love to work with a ballet company professionally and tour Australia and possibly the world.'

QDSE senior dance instructor Angus Lugsdin said the professional year gave students world-class dance experience and training.

'They will be undergoing vigorous ballet training as well as contemporary and other dance forms,' Mr Lugsdin said.

'They will also be learning and rehearsing the Queensland Ballet productions so they can take the role of one of the professionals in case of injuries or illness.'

Mr Lugsdin said the QDSE was established in 1982 as a partnership between Kelvin Grove State College and Queensland Ballet.

'Students enrolled at the school are full-time members of Kelvin Grove State College but their dance subjects are taught by professionals from the industry,' he said.

'The school shares the same premises as the Queensland Ballet and that close link is vitally important to our students and staff.'

For more information on the QDSE, visit the website or email qdse@acenet.net.au