The McDonald College After Hours

Bravo Francesco, who has just returned from New York after attending the Joffrey Ballet School NYC Ballet Summer Intensive on a full scholarship, where he spent two weeks training alongside ballet students from around the world.

The achievements didn't stop there. Over the weekend, Francesco competed at the Australian Classical Grand Prix, reaching the Contemporary Finals and earning a Ballet Theatre Queensland Scholarship into the BTQ Company Regional Dancer Program for the 2027 Production Season.

Congratulations, Francesco! We can't wait to see what's next. 👏✨

The Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Gala at The Sydney Opera House was a wonderful event that showcased not only our talented dancers but all those who performed at this prestigious venue tonight.
Huge congratulations to Oliver on his brilliant performances as a Finalist in the Junior Ballet Scholarship! Congrats also to our two wonderful dancers, Yuna and Cynthia, who represented the College beautifully in the Future Stars Defile choreographed by Emma Sandall (photographed). Big congrats also to our fabulous 10/u Classical Group who gave a stunning performance of their Scottish Ballet. You all did us proud…Bravo! 🌟

Congratulations to our talented dancers and After Hours dancers on their outstanding achievements in the last Eisteddfod round of competitions. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and success on stage.

Sophia
🥇 3 First Place Awards
• Classical Ballet (Curtain Call Dynamic Dance Festival)
• Demi Character (Curtain Call Dynamic Dance Festival)
• Classical Ballet (Ryde Eisteddfod)

🥈 2 Second Place Awards
• Demi Character (Sydney Eisteddfod)
• Demi Character (Ryde Eisteddfod)

👏 4 Highly Commended Awards
• Classical Solo (Sydney Eisteddfod)
• Contemporary Solo (Sydney Eisteddfod)
• Contemporary Solo (Ryde Eisteddfod)
• Lyrical Solo (Curtain Call Dynamic Dance Festival)

Abigail
🥈 2nd Place, Wee Lees Trust Junior Ballet Championship (11 & 12 Years)
🥉 3rd Place, Jazz (11 & 12 Years)

Laila
👏 Highly Commended, Demi Character (11 Years)

Congratulations to Sophia, Abigail and Laila on these wonderful results. We are very proud indeed. 💙🩰



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Our summer intensive is back in 2027!

Join us from Monday 11 January to Friday 15 January 2027 for five inspiring days of classes and workshops led by acclaimed international and national dance masters.
For more than 20 years, thousands of dancers aged 7 to 20 have been part of this highly regarded Sydney summer intensive. Many return year after year, drawn by our exceptional guest faculty, outstanding training opportunities, and the lifelong friendships formed along the way.

EARLYBIRD SPECIAL

Save 10% with the CODE: EARLYSUMMER2027 (expires 31.10.2026)
+
College and After Hours students can save another 10% (check your emails for CODE).

We can’t wait to welcome you to ISS2027!

Congratulations to Oliver for being selected as one of the eight finalists for the 2026 Sydney Eisteddfod Junior Ballet Scholarship. Chookas to all the dancers for the Final at the Sydney Eisteddfod Ballet Gala on Sunday 2 August at the Sydney Opera House ⭐️
Photo: WinkiPoP Media

Big congratulations to Olivia K on winning the Junior Classical Section at ACC Canberra. Bravo! 🏆🌟
Congratulations to all our students who were all Finalists in their age groups for Classical and Contemporary - Olivia K, Olivia O, Yuna, Billi & Jasmine…well done girls! 👏

What a wonderful day to finish our Eisteddfod group season for these groups! So proud of each and every student on all their performances at Sydney Eisteddfod today.
🌟1st Place - 10/u Classical
🌟1st Place - 12/u Lyrical
🌟3rd Place - 12/u Contemporary
Thank you to everyone involved in making this season an enjoyable and great success…the teachers creativity and commitment, the students effort, the parents support, the costume departments time, and the administrators organisation. Without this amazing team, days like today would not happen.
Thank you 🙏

Congratulations to our winning 10/u Classical Group who were invited to perform at the Extreme Eisteddfod Gala tonight. They excelled with their performance and did the College proud. Thank you to Mrs Minol for her amazing work with this group and to all the parents for their support. Bravo to all! 🌟

So proud of all our groups who performed at Extreme Eisteddfod this weekend. A big shout out to our 10/u Classical Group on their 1st Place win, and to our 14/u Classical Group who were not acknowledged correctly as they should have been this morning due to a marking miscalculation, and actually received equal 2nd Place. Congratulations to our groups who were also rewarded with a HC…12/u & 14/u Lyrical, 12/u & 14/u Classical-small group. Bravo to all! 🌟🌟

Calling dancers of all ages for four weeks of complimentary social dance classes for adults, starting next Tuesday (21 Apr).

Each week, you’ll explore a different dance style in a welcoming environment — no experience needed.

All this is in preparation for the 100th Anniversary of The Ann McDonald College of Dancing, on
Saturday, 23 May, when we will host a Family Social Dance at the Fraser Centre.

We encourage everyone to join as this will be a special milestone for our College 🥰

Register via our events page - https://www.mcdonald.nsw.edu.au/blog/event/100th-anniversary-of-the-ann-mcdonald-college-of-dancing/.

100th Anniversary of the Ann McDonald College of Dancing To celebrate the centenary of our ‘parent’ College, the Ann McDonald College of Dancing, we are delighted to host a Family Social Dance in the Fraser Auditorium on Saturday 23 May, 6.30pm – 10.00pm. This special evening will be a chance for our community of families, friends, staff and alumni ...