

Dance Academy
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

Xenia Goodwin
Tara Webster

Alicia Banit
Katrina "Kat" Karamakov

Dena Kaplan
Abigail Armstrong

Isabel Durant
Grace Whitney

Jordan Rodrigues
Christian Reed

Thomas Lacey
Benjamin "Ben" Tickle

Keiynan Lonsdale
Oliver "Ollie" Lloyd

Tara Morice
Miss Raine
Seasons
Fifteen-year-old Tara Webster has grown up on a farm in outback Australia and has dreamt of being a dancer ever since she was a little girl. When she makes it into the National Academy of Dance - the best school in the country - she is sure her life is about to be spectacular. What Tara doesn't realize is how far behind she is in her training, and that there's a whole lot more to surviving the Academy than just dancing...

E1Learning to Fly
May 31, 2010
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.

E2Week Zero
Jun 1, 2010
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.

E3Behind Barres
Jun 2, 2010
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.

E4Mine Field
Jun 3, 2010
Tara is frustrated when Christian refuses to participate in trust exercises, Kat feels betrayed by Tara's secret crush on Ethan, and Sammy finds himself tied to Abigail for 24 hours.

E5Real Men Don’t Dance
Jun 4, 2010
Sammy is forced to choose between dance and his father when compulsory Saturday ballet classes clash with his Synagogue services; and Christian struggles to accept the rules of the Academy.

E6Perfection
Jun 7, 2010
Tara is stunned to learn Kat's mother is a world acclaimed ballerina and Tara's greatest idol. Meanwhile, Sammy's perfect girlfriend Mia has unexpectedly returned from an overseas exchange.

E7Crush Test Dummies
Jun 8, 2010
Christian shows Ethan some real Australian street hip-hop. Meanwhile, Tara is the self-proclaimed expert on crushes and is happy to educate Kat in every aspect of the mysterious art form.

E8Growing Pains
Jun 9, 2010
Tara is overjoyed by a rumour that she and Damien Lang are dating. Meanwhile, Abigail is unwilling to accept the changes in her developing body.

E9Heartbeat
Jun 10, 2010
Kat creates a video of her dancing that becomes an internet success. Meanwhile, Ethan views Christian as a friendly rival and the two boys begin to compete with each other.

E10Through the Looking Glass
Jun 11, 2010
Christian's best mate Aaron comes to stay and reveals the truth about the robbery they committed. Meanwhile, Abigail's control issues are spiralling out-of-control and she is caught shoplifting.

E11One Perfect Day
Jun 14, 2010
Tara is elated when Ethan asks her to dance in his choreographic assessment piece. She hopes that he is finally beginning to see her as romantic potential.

E12Pressure
Jun 15, 2010
Pressure is building at the Academy as the students prepare for exam week.

E13Family
Jun 16, 2010
It's Open Week at the Academy when parents watch their children in a series of demonstration classes.

E14Turning Pointes
Jun 17, 2010
Kat introduces Tara to her new boyfriend; Abigail struggles to convince her therapist to allow her to return to ballet classes and Sammy tries to convince Abigail to help him with ballroom dance classes.

E15My Life En Pointe
Jun 18, 2010
Petra Hoffman arrives at the Academy on exchange from the Berlin Ballet School; Kat has been ditching class to spend time with her new boyfriend; and Tara kisses Christian behind Ethan's back.

E16Free Falling
Jun 21, 2010
Kat is upset when her parents ignore her 16th birthday and in revenge throws herself a huge party at their harbour front home. The house quickly fills with people and events spiral out of control.

E17A Midsummer's Night Dream
Jun 22, 2010
It is school camp and everyone is dreading the trip away, especially Tara who has been made an outcast following the party.

E18Betty Bunheads
Jun 23, 2010
German exchange student Petra Hoffman is thrilled when she is invited to stay at the Academy; Abigail is making more trouble for Tara; and Sammy and Abigail have begun secretly kissing.

E19Fairest and Best
Jun 24, 2010
Junior footballers from the Institute of Sport have been sent to the Academy for some specialised training. The challenge is on between the dancers and the footballers to prove which is the toughest sport.

E20Ballet Fever
Jun 25, 2010
When the Board decides to cut hip hop and jazz from the curriculum Kat goes on the warpath. Tara and Christian find themselves together at the beach and their spark is rekindled.

E21FOMO: Fear of Missing Out
Jun 28, 2010
It's a month since Tara's injury and her plaster is due to come off, but Tara seems more focused on her new boyfriend and planning the school formal than she is in attending her doctor's appointments.

E22Flight or Fight Response
Jun 29, 2010
The date for Christian's robbery hearing has been set but his defence strategy relies on his best mate, Aaron. However Aaron has vanished. Meanwhile the time has come for Tara to go back to dancing.

E23Best Friends Forever
Jun 30, 2010
Christian's conscience gets the better of him and he changes his story to protect his friend. Meanwhile, Ethan has received interest from a dance company in Spain.

E24Heatwave
Jul 1, 2010
In the weeks since the court hearing, Sammy and Christian have been inseparable, but when Christian ditches Sammy to spend time with Tara, what Sammy feels is uncomfortably a lot like jealousy.

E25The Deep End
Jul 2, 2010
Rehearsals for 'The Nutcracker' are underway and Tara discovers that being the star is not all it's cracked up to be. Sammy is forced to admit that his feelings for Christian have changed.

E26Learning to Fly, Part 2
Jul 5, 2010
The end of year production has arrived. Things don't go smoothly when the director is not happy with Tara's performance and Abigail hides her costume.
It’s “second year” at the Dance Academy, and time to get serious. What happens over the next twelve months will determine whether Tara and her friends can become professional dancers or not. Tara, who climbed to the top in her first year at the Academy – in dance, life and love – has a lot to lose if she lets up. She has to train extra hard if she wants to win the prestigious Prix de Fonteyn. And she’ll have to do battle with a new rival and an unjust teacher, while developing a crush on a new student...

E1In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated
Mar 12, 2012
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.

E2Dream Life
Mar 13, 2012
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.

E3Faus Pax de Deux
Mar 14, 2012
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.

E4Legends
Mar 15, 2012
Tara's ecstatic when her mentor Saskia is appointed to teach the second years at the Academy. But Tara rapidly discovers that 'perfect' Saskia may not be the supportive teacher she hoped for...

E5Showcase
Mar 19, 2012
After Sebastian questions his son Ethan on the impressiveness of his piece at the Showcase, Ethan takes it out on Abigail, his soloist, in an attempt to create a spectacular performance.

E6Like No One's Watching
Mar 20, 2012
Sammy's little brother Ari arrives at the Academy throwing Sammy's hectic life schedule into havoc. Kat auditions to be a football cheerleader, happily encouraged by Ben. And Tara is having self esteem issues.

E7A Choreographed Life
Mar 21, 2012
Tara feels the time she spends with Christian is impacting on her dance study and suggests they 'pause' their relationship.

E8Connectivity
Mar 22, 2012
Tara decides to take action after realising that Saskia's continual critique of her dancing could jeopardise her mid-year exams, while Christian ditches his partner exam to hang out with Kat.

E9The Break
Mar 26, 2012
With exams finally over, both the boys and girls go out to let off some steam. However, Sammy is tense after failing his exams, Tara's still hurting from her breakup, and Grace decides to stir up trouble.

E10A Good Life
Mar 27, 2012
Sammy returns home for his Grandpa Morrie's funeral and to ask his father to support his Academy tuition. An act of sabotage severs frenemies Tara and Abigail.

E11Self Sabotage
Mar 28, 2012
Grace encourages Tara to take action against Saskia's spiteful treatment of her; Kat commences training for the Moulin Rouge which leads her to a big realisation; and Sammy is assigned a tutor.

E12Breaking Pointe
Mar 29, 2012
Tara's preparations for the Prix de Fonteyn are struck a devastating blow when Saskia's bullying results in an injury. Meanwhile, Kat convinces Miss Raine to grant her an audition to return to the Academy.

E13Backstab
Apr 2, 2012
Determined to prove Saskia wrong, Tara risks serious injury and possible expulsion from the Academy by competing in the Prix de Fonteyn Preliminary round.

E14Rescue Mission
Apr 3, 2012
Tara runs into Ben who's volunteering in the hospital leukaemia ward performance. Tara discovers Ben's deepest secret. Back at the Academy, Kat struggles with the culture shock of First Year.

E15Moving On
Apr 4, 2012
Tara negotiates her return to the Academy after being expelled. Meanwhile, Ethan's search for ongoing employment leads him to a position choreographing a fringe musical.

E16Origins
Apr 5, 2012
Sammy gets a second chance at the Prix de Fonteyn when he takes a road trip with Ollie to audition for the regional round. Sammy's feelings resurface and Christian invites himself along on the trip.

E17Love and War
Apr 9, 2012
The rivalry escalates between the first and second year students resulting in a dance battle; and Tara becomes unhinged when Grace entices her to become less serious.

E18Catch Me If I Fall
Apr 10, 2012
During an excursion to the circus, Christian's dad makes promises he's unable to keep; Tara tries to repair her friendship with Kat, and Sammy goes public with his new romance.

E19The Naturals
Apr 11, 2012
Tara opens herself up to love again and hunts for a new crush, Finn tries to convince Abigail to be the star of his new show, and Grace goes to extreme lengths to get Zach's attention.

E20Tick, Question Mark, Cross
Apr 12, 2012
Abigail's forced to make a choice between her ballet and the fringe musical. Her situation intensifies when her mother Anthea unexpectedly arrives. Meanwhile, Sammy tires of Ollie's persistent criticism.

E21Ladder Theory
Apr 16, 2012
Ben attempts to out-psych Christian during the National Prix de Fonteyn round, and Sammy's father is attending the Prix to watch him dance for the first time in years.

E22Win or Lose
Apr 17, 2012
Grace's father retracts a promise to visit her at the Academy: her self-assurance plummets. Christian's bounce back from his Prix de Fonteyn elimination drives him towards some reckless behaviour.

E23Live It or Fight It
Apr 18, 2012
During rehearsals of 'Peter Pan' Ben uses various tactics to prove to Tara he's a leading man, while Kat's efforts to research her character in the production lead to a realisation about her relationship.

E24The Prix De Fonteyn
Apr 19, 2012
The Prix de Fonteyn is two days away. Tara is stunned as Grace has returned to Sydney as a representative for the UK Prix team. The students' lives are changed forever when a tragedy strikes the Academy...

E25The Second
Apr 23, 2012
After a sudden tragedy, the Academy students must find a way to come together and help each other out in this time of darkness.

E26The Red Shoes
Apr 24, 2012
Abigail and Tara join forces to go head-to-head with a formidable enemy. Christian has to choose between the girl he loves and his desire to escape and Ben is offered an opportunity of a lifetime.
Tara and her friends are now seniors at the Academy and no one can forget that the Company is watching. It will be a hard chase to the finish line to see who will be offered a contract and finally achieve what they have been working towards for so long... and who will have to find a new dream. The friends began their training as kids with a lot to learn about dancing, about life and about themselves. This year will prepare them to say goodbye to their school days and go out into the world as resilient, courageous dancers and young adults.

E1Glue
Jul 8, 2013
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.

E2New Rules
Jul 15, 2013
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.

E3Second Chances
Jul 22, 2013
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.

E4Short Cut Clause
Jul 29, 2013
Ben is flattered when Saskia offers to be his mentor and it becomes clear there's potential for them to dance together brilliantly; and Abigail and Christian disturb everyone with their unlikely friendship.

E5Negative Patterns
Aug 5, 2013
Saskia arranges a special audition with the Company's artistic director for her protégé, Ben; Grace's world implodes; and Zach allows Christian to participate in a music video Ollie is producing.

E6Fake It Until You Make It
Aug 12, 2013
The Academy goes a little Hollywood when a film crew uses their building as a location for a new indie movie; and Grace tries to undermine a new relationship to guarantee her position on the tour.

E7Graceland
Aug 19, 2013
The Third Years are having the time of their lives on the road, but are prioritising fun over performance. Back at the Academy, Kat clashes with the movie's third assistant director, Jamie.

E8Travelling Light
Aug 26, 2013
On the final leg of their tour, the Third Years are invited to a traditional Indigenous ceremony and return the hospitality by offering a dance class to the local kids. Christian finds he is an unexpectedly good teacher.

E9Don't Let Me Down Gently
Sep 2, 2013
A career-making performance opportunity brings out the best and worst in everyone, and an injury that sidelines Ollie prompts him to use someone to get ahead.

E10N'FEKTD
Sep 9, 2013
Christian and Ollie prepare for Streetbeatz, a major hip hop competition; Kat prepares to audition for a minor role in Coppelia; and Ben takes a stab at revenge.

E11Start of an Era
Sep 16, 2013
The countdown to the final Company auditions has begun when suddenly it becomes a whole new playing field; and Christian and Tara come to a final resolution about their relationship.

E12A Perfect Storm
Sep 23, 2013
Auditions for the National Ballet Company have arrived bringing superstitions, old competitive battle lines and the performances that will determine the rest of their lives.

E13Not for Nothing
Sep 30, 2013
It's judgment day. The Third Years sit before the Company panel and learn their fate - who will be offered a professional contract with the National Ballet Company and who will have to find a new dream?

E14The Last Dance
Sep 30, 2013
During this special clip see the cast talk about how it felt to film the last dance scene of the series as well as what it was like to work on such an incredible show.
Videos
Storyline
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.
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