Our annual performance at Eastbank theatre in Shepparton is always a fantastic highlight of the year for students of the Goulburn Valley Academy of Ballet.
Performing for an audience is a really great way for young people to develop confidence and poise and to put the skills they have gained to use. The concert is also a team effort and everyone puts in a fantastic effort to create a great evening of entertainment.

Classical: The first item in each concert is a Classical story ballet. We often perform a classic ballet  in its entirety and our school is the only local opportunity for students to dance in one of these great ballets. The Nutcracker, Copellia and La Fille Mal Gardee are three examples. Some of our ballets are based on well known stories such as Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz and Alice In Wonderland. We have also developed some original story ballets such as The Gypsy Princess and The Blue Danube which have proved very popular with audiences.

As the curtain opens the audience are in store for an entertaining, theatrical experience that is danced and acted by our students. These shows combine the talents of all students from the youngest performers whose cuteness always draws sighs of delight from the audience to our senior dancers whose  dancing and acting skills draw have the audience cheering in appreciation for their well developed technique and abilities.

Jazz or Modern Dance is usually presented with a linked theme such as Songs from the Movies, Music Through the Ages or a single artist such as 'A Kind of Magic' which thrilled audiences with its seamless performances to a medley of Queen classics. The audience always loves this high energy part of the show.

Our concerts feature very good production values and include sets and theatrical lighting.

Each concert flows smoothly without irritating breaks except for an interval. Organisation has been refined to a high standard and a calm and purposeful atmosphere backstage helps everyone to perform their best. Smooth drop-off and pick-up procedures make it easier for parents.

Costumes: At the Goulburn Valley Academy of Ballet we understand that not all parents have the time or skill to sew a costume nor can everyone afford to buy expensive items like tutus and tiaras, so costumes are hired for a minimal charge from the ballet school which has built up a large store of lovely dance costumes. When new costumes are made anyone helping sew gets a discount on their costume fees. Parents with students at some other dance schools have found that costume requirements can present large hidden costs and/ or time burdens, this is something that we have avoided at Goulburn Valley Academy of Ballet. Our dancers always look fantastic every time they are on stage.

Volunteers: While there is no obligation we are grateful for parents who volunteer to help organise children backstage and to usher the audience to their seat.

Awards: Each concert season culminates with a short presentation, the highlight of which is the presentation of scholarship, runner-up and encouragement trophies and awards to keen and enthusiastic students. These awards are not always awarded to the best dancers but reward positive effort and attitudes from children. Scholarship and runner-up recipients receive discounts from their fees in the next year.

Concerts are held at the end of November before the ‘silly season’ of chaotic pre-Christmas events really takes hold in December.
Taking part in a Goulburn Valley Academy of Ballet concert will be a highlight of any year for a dance student.