Back to TV Shows
Dance Academy
Overview
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.
Status
Ended
Created By
Joanna Werner, Samantha Strauss
Network
ABC Me
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
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...
Episodes
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.
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.
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.
Mine Field
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.
Real Men Don’t Dance
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.
Perfection
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.
Crush Test Dummies
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.
Growing Pains
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.
Heartbeat
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.
Through the Looking Glass
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.
One Perfect Day
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.
Pressure
Pressure is building at the Academy as the students prepare for exam week.
Family
It's Open Week at the Academy when parents watch their children in a series of demonstration classes.
Turning Pointes
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.
My Life En Pointe
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.
Free Falling
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.
A Midsummer's Night Dream
It is school camp and everyone is dreading the trip away, especially Tara who has been made an outcast following the party.
Betty Bunheads
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.
Fairest and Best
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.
Ballet Fever
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.
FOMO: Fear of Missing Out
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.
Flight or Fight Response
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.
Best Friends Forever
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.
Heatwave
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.
The Deep End
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.
Learning to Fly, Part 2
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.
Top 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
