The Australian Ballet School (ABS) has officially announced the dates for its annual National Audition Tour, set to take place between May and July 2025. This tour represents a key opportunity for talented young dancers seeking entry into the school's prestigious training programs for the 2026 academic year.
Visiting major capital cities across the country, the tour provides a pathway for students aiming for careers in classical dance. The audition process itself is designed to be accessible, consisting of a modified Classical ballet class combined with a physical assessment. According to the School, no special preparation is required beforehand. The audition focuses on evaluating core attributes essential for rigorous training, including coordination, inherent musicality, and physical suitability for the demands of the ABS programs.
The School emphasises its commitment to fostering diversity within the art form, explicitly welcoming auditions from dancers of all cultural backgrounds and orientations. They assure that all applicants receive equal consideration during the selection process.
Training Pathways
Successful auditionees will be considered for one of two primary training streams, depending on their age (at 30 June 2025), demonstrated ability, and location or accommodation needs:
- Intra/Interstate & International Training Program (ITP): For younger dancers, typically aged 9 to 13 years. This program is structured flexibly, allowing students to enhance their existing local dance training with specialised input from the ABS.
- Full-Time Program (FTP): Targeting students aged 13 to 18 years, this encompasses Levels 4 through 8 of the School's comprehensive training syllabus. It integrates intensive dance training with academic schooling.
Potential applicants and their families can find more detailed information about each program on The Australian Ballet School's official website, which also hosts a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section addressing common queries about the audition process.
2025 National Audition Tour Schedule
The tour will visit the following cities on the specified dates. Please note that these dates are subject to change:
- Canberra: 15 June
- Adelaide: 29 June
- Brisbane: 3 & 4 July
- Sydney: 6 - 8 July
- Perth: 15 - 17 July
- Hobart: 27 July
- Melbourne: 28 – 30 July
Specific audition class times will be confirmed and communicated to applicants approximately two weeks before each event date. Due to the high volume of applications anticipated, the School notes that requests for specific individual audition dates or times cannot be accommodated.