Tanya Pearson Academy

We are thrilled to congratulate Bea on an outstanding result at the Finals of the 2026 Australian Classical Grand Prix.

Australian Classical Grand Prix 2026
🏆 Winner, Junior Classical Division
🏆 Winner, Junior Contemporary Division

Bea took home $1,000 in prize money and trophies, winning both Junior Divisions. Remarkably, this is the second year in a row she has won the Junior Contemporary Division.

We are so proud of Bea and the wonderful progress she continues to make, shining across both classical and contemporary. After three long days of competition, classes and workshops, she embraced every moment and gained so much from the experience.

Bea would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to the jury, Martin James, Clare Morehen and Tim Podesta, and to the organisers of the Australian Classical Grand Prix.

A heartfelt thank you also to Miss Xanthe, to Miss Emma and Miss Kendall for their wonderful work on Bea's solos.

We are delighted to congratulate Violet on a wonderful result at the Australian Classical Grand Prix 2026.

Australian Classical Grand Prix 2026
🏆 Winner, Senior Classical Division, $750 prize

We are so proud of Violet, whose artistry continues to shine on stage.

A heartfelt thank you to Miss Gilli for her dedication, creativity and care in preparing and supporting Violet throughout the season.

Congratulations to Florence on another wonderful result, this time at Energy Express.

Energy Express
🥇 1st place, 12U Classical Ballet Solo

We are so proud of Florence, whose beautiful growth continues to shine through both in class and on stage.

A heartfelt thank you to Miss Karina for her dedication, creativity and care in preparing and supporting Florence throughout the season.

Congratulations to Bea on her amazing results at the City of Ryde Eisteddfod.

City of Ryde Eisteddfod
🏆 Winner, Junior Ballet Scholarship, $500
🥇 1st place, 12U Classical Ballet Solo
🥇 1st place, 12U Lyrical Solo
🥇 1st place, 12U Demi-Character Solo
🥈 2nd place, 12U Contemporary Solo

We are so proud of Bea and the wonderful progress she continues to make across every genre, both in class and on stage.

Bea would like to extend her heartfelt thanks to the generous donors and supporters of the City of Ryde Eisteddfod, whose kindness made the Junior Ballet Scholarship possible.

A heartfelt thank you also to Miss Emma, Miss Kendall and Miss Xanthe for their dedication, creativity and care in preparing and supporting Bea throughout the season.

Our Australian Youth Ballet Triple Bill 2026 was an extraordinary performance and a truly memorable celebration of artistry, collaboration, and the exceptional talent of our young dancers. It was an inspiring evening that showcased three beautifully diverse works.

Congratulations to every dancer on your sensational performances. Your commitment, dedication and passion were evident in every moment on stage, and you should all be incredibly proud of what you achieved. Across three beautifully contrasting works, you captivated our audience with your versatility, artistry and professionalism.

A heartfelt congratulations and thank you to choreographer Paul Knobloch for his outstanding work, Light Path. The dancers delivered a powerful and compelling performance, bringing Paul’s vision to life with remarkable depth and maturity. We are so grateful for the time Paul spent with our students during his residency at Tanya Pearson Academy. It was an invaluable experience, and one they will cherish for years to come.

It was also incredibly special to see Arafura Scarp, choreographed by Xanthe Geeves, performed by these talented young artists with such unique vibrancy. You embraced the work with sincerity, strength and beauty, bringing every moment of the choreography to life with remarkable artistry. From the very first day of the creative process through to the final performance on stage, it has been an immensely rewarding journey. We are incredibly proud of your stunning performances and the commitment, sensitivity and passion you brought to this work.

A huge thank you to Gilli O’Connell and Karina Hernandez for their exceptional work staging Swan Lake Act II. Their dedication, care and expertise have nurtured these dancers throughout the rehearsal process, and it was wonderful to see the students flourish under their guidance in such an iconic classical work.

Our sincere thanks also to our special guest artists, Katherine Sonnekus of The Australian Ballet and Charles Dashwood of West Australian Ballet for their sublime performances as Odette and Prince Siegfried. Their divine artistry, elegance and generosity on stage inspired both our dancers and audience alike.

A very special thank you to Kim Peade for his incredible expertise and wonderful support in lighting the production. We truly appreciate your generosity and creativity to bring each choreographer’s vision to life with such atmosphere, clarity and beauty.

To everyone who contributed to making this production possible - our creative team, costume helpers, staff, production crew, families and supporters- thank you.

Congratulations once again to our remarkable Australian Youth Ballet artists- You shone brilliantly, and we couldn’t be prouder.

Inside the Studio: Arafura Scarp

We are delighted to share rehearsal moments as the dancers of the Australian Youth Ballet and Tanya Pearson Academy prepare Arafura Scarp, choreographed by Xanthe Geeves, recipient of The Australian Ballet's Emerging Female Classical Choreographer Award in 2020.

Set to Ross Edwards' Concerto for Guitar and Strings, "Arafura Dances", the work draws inspiration from the natural beauty and rugged landscapes of the Arafura Escarpment in northern Australia. Moments of tranquil beauty are interwoven with themes of vulnerability and resilience, before the work builds into a celebration of vitality, rich with dynamic movement, playful interactions and soaring energy.

Arafura Scarp originally premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2023 as part of Sydney Eisteddfod's 90th Anniversary celebrations, created to give pre-professional dancers from across New South Wales the opportunity to perform on that iconic stage. For this Triple Bill season, the work has been reimagined and expanded to encompass all movements of Edwards' score.

Our dancers have embraced its joy and freedom wholeheartedly, and watching them grow into this uniquely Australian work has been a highlight of our rehearsal season.

Experience Arafura Scarp at our Triple Bill tomorrow, Saturday 25 July at 6pm at The Concourse Theatre, Chatswood, alongside Swan Lake Act II, featuring Katherine Sonnekus of The Australian Ballet and Charles Dashwood of West Australian Ballet, and Light Path, a world premiere choreographed by Paul Knobloch of The Australian Ballet.

Tickets: https://www.theconcourse.com.au/event/triple-bill-2026-swan-lake-act-ii-arafura-scarp-and-light-path/

Inside the Studio: Swan Lake Act II

We are delighted to share a first look at our Australian Youth Ballet company dancers in costume as they prepare Swan Lake Act II for this Saturday's Triple Bill.

The famous lakeside act is one of the most treasured works in the classical repertoire.

Our dancers have embraced this timeless ballet with such elegance and dedication, dancing as a graceful corps de ballet and performing in beautifully unified formations. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and can’t wait to see them bring Swan Lake to life on stage.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Miss Karina Hernandez and Miss Gilli O'Connell, who have staged Swan Lake Act II with such care, knowledge and attention to detail. The dancers have flourished under their guidance.

On Saturday our dancers will be joined on stage by our Special Guest Artists, Katherine Sonnekus of The Australian Ballet as Odette and Charles Dashwood of West Australian Ballet as Siegfried. They arrive in the studio tomorrow, and we look forward to sharing a glimpse of their first rehearsals together.

Experience Swan Lake Act II at our Triple Bill on Saturday, 25 July at 6pm at The Concourse Theatre, Chatswood, alongside Arafura Scarp, choreographed by Xanthe Geeves, and Light Path, a world premiere choreographed by Paul Knobloch of The Australian Ballet.
Tickets: https://www.theconcourse.com.au/event/triple-bill-2026-swan-lake-act-ii-arafura-scarp-and-light-path/