Series synopsis
Dance Academy is an Australian comedy drama family television series that premiered on ABC Me on May 31, 2010. It ended on September 30, 2013. It was created by Joanna Werner, Samantha Strauss. It stars Xenia Goodwin, Alicia Banit, Dena Kaplan and Isabel Durant.
At Sydney's National Dance Academy, a few talented youngsters are recruited for the excruciatingly tough course. It follows Tara Webster, a sheepfarmgirl who's ambition is to be the next best ballerina. Jewish long line of doctors' heir Samuel 'Sammy' and minor juvenile offender Christian are the outsiders but gradually fit in, making new kinds of friends. Star ballerina's daughter Kat also introduces them in the circle of last-year brother Ethan, who already aspires a career as choreographer. A ...
Premise
At Sydney's National Dance Academy, a few talented youngsters are recruited for the excruciatingly tough course. It follows Tara Webster, a sheepfarmgirl who's ambition is to be the next best ballerina. Jewish long line of doctors' heir Samuel 'Sammy' and minor juvenile offender Christian are the outsiders but gradually fit in, making new kinds of friends. Star ballerina's daughter Kat also introduces them in the circle of last-year brother Ethan, who already aspires a career as choreographer. Also Abigail, a smart young girl who'll walk over dead bodies to reach the stars tries to sabotage everything and everyone.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Xenia Goodwin as Tara Webster
- Alicia Banit as Katrina "Kat" Karamakov
- Dena Kaplan as Abigail Armstrong
- Isabel Durant as Grace Whitney
- Thom Green as Samuel "Sammy" Lieberman
- Jordan Rodrigues as Christian Reed
- Thomas Lacey as Benjamin "Ben" Tickle
- Tim Pocock as Ethan Karamakov
Supporting cast
- Keiynan Lonsdale as Oliver "Ollie" Lloyd
- Tara Morice as Miss Raine
- Cariba Heine as Isabelle
Guest cast
- Robert Alexander as Mr. Kennedy
- Steven Vidler as Neil Webster
- Josef Brown as Patrick
- Anne Looby as Dr. Wicks
- Olivia Cianci as Georgia
- Matt Cranleigh as Sean
- Tahlia Gavin as Young Tara
- Stephen Multari as Tim
- Vanessa Gray as Jan Webster
- Deborah Kennedy as Miss Histead
- Zika Nester as Tikkinova
- Shayni Notelovitz as Bonnie
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 67 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | March 10, 2012 | March 10, 2012 |
| Season 1 | 26 | May 31, 2010 | July 5, 2010 |
| Season 2 | 26 | March 12, 2012 | April 24, 2012 |
| Season 3 | 14 | July 8, 2013 | September 30, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Backstage Pass Ever wondered what it is really like to go to Dance Academy? Get a glimpse behind the scenes as our cast take you through the extensive audition process, rigorous ballet boot camp and the thrill of becoming one of the stars. |
March 10, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Learning to Fly Country girl Tara Webster travels to Sydney to audition for the prestigious National Academy of Dance. It's a tumultuous week as she realises her dream is going to be a lot more difficult than she thought. |
May 31, 2010 |
| 2 |
Week Zero Tara arrives at the Academy excited about the year ahead. As she struggles to fit in, she learns the hard way to respect her teachers and find true friends. |
June 1, 2010 |
| 3 |
Behind Barres Tara's crush on Ethan threatens her friendship with Kat; Abigail wins a decisive victory; Christian finds himself in police custody and, with nowhere else to go, has to accept his place at the Academy. |
June 2, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated It's a rollercoaster year for Tara and her friends as they begin Second Year at the National Academy. Relationships fall apart as new ones are forged and shaking things up are two new students. |
March 12, 2012 |
| 2 |
Dream Life Tara finds a new mentor to admire in Saskia Duncan, the youngest principal dancer in the Company's history. Saskia takes Tara under her wing, but gives her a few things to worry about such as if there's a future with Christian. |
March 13, 2012 |
| 3 |
Faus Pax de Deux Kat finally makes friends with the coterie of outcast girls at school, but despite having sworn off dancing, finds herself helping them choreograph a piece for drama class. Meanwhile, Ben Tickle is upgraded into second year. |
March 14, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Glue It's three weeks into Third Year and Tara and her friends are already feeling the pressure. Speculation bubbles when the National Ballet Company announces it needs three temporary fill-in roles in the corps de ballet. |
July 8, 2013 |
| 2 |
New Rules On their first day as fill-in dancers, Tara, Grace and Ben encounter cliques in the corps de ballet. Meanwhile, Christian has no interest in going back to the Academy. |
July 15, 2013 |
| 3 |
Second Chances Kat struggles to stay positive and her determination to advance into Third Year is morphing into dangerous patterns. Meanwhile, Grace plays match-maker, and Christian's lost his place at the Academy. |
July 22, 2013 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ABC Me |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 31, 2010 |
| Last aired | September 30, 2013 |
| Runtime | 24 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Monday |