Miranda Otto joins ‘Dance Academy’ movie

Miranda Otto on set of Dance Academy: The Movie at Sydney Opera House. Photo by Simon Cardwell.Internationally celebrated, award-winning actress Miranda Otto (think The Lord of The Rings, The Daughter, The Thin Red Line and Homeland) recently joined the cast of Dance Academy: The Movie

 

Currently shooting in Sydney before moving production to New York, Dance Academy: The Movie is the first feature film to come from the twice International Emmy-nominated global phenomenon Dance Academy, which launched the careers of some of Australia’s most sought-after young talent, spawned hundreds of fan sites (including fan fiction) and is currently screening in 160 countries around the world, including ZDF in Germany, Netflix in the U.S., Nickelodeon in the U.K. and on ABC3 in Australia.

 

Otto joins the cast in the role of Madeline Moncur, artistic director of the National Ballet Company. She’s responsible for the new direction of the company and choreographing its new works. Otto joins previously announced cast Xenia Goodwin (Tara), Dena Kaplan (Abigail), Thomas Lacey (Ben), Jordan Rodrigues (Christian), Alicia Banit (Kat), Keiynan Lonsdale (Ollie), Tara Morice (Miss Raine) and Nic Westaway (Xavier.)

 

Creator and Writer Samantha Strauss said, “Miranda Otto is one of my favourite actors on the planet. I can think of no greater artistic director – she is glitteringly beautiful, formidable but also brings a wonderful humanity to this key role.”

 

Executive Producer Joanna Werner commented, “We are delighted to have Miranda Otto join the cast of Dance Academy: The Movie. Miranda is an incredible actress who will bring so much to the role of Madeline and our cast is so excited to be working with her.” 

 

Miranda Otto stated, “Dance Academy has an amazing pedigree both in Australia and internationally and in a way I feel I have been part of the Dance Academy family since its very beginnings; so I am thrilled to formally join the company!”

 

Otto’s connections to Dance Academy are varied. In Season One, Otto’s husband Peter O’Brien played one the National Ballet Company’s most prominent choreographers, Sebastian Karamakov, father to Alicia Banit’s character Kat. Back in 1998, Alicia Banit played the role of the young Miranda Otto character in the Australian film Dead Letter Office. And in the third season, her father Barry Otto played the role of artistic director. 

 

Dance Academy: The Movie is the story of Tara Webster (Xenia Goodwin), who was destined to become one of the top dancers of her generation before a devastating injury crippled her career. In her quest to defy the odds, and make her comeback, Tara will discover what being defined by a dream really means. 

 

Dance Academy was created by Writer Samantha Strauss with Producer and Executive Producer Joanna Werner. The film’s Executive Producers are Louise Smith, Bernadette O’Mahony, Vicki O’Neil, Arne Lohmann and Nicole Keebe.

 

AACTA Award-winning Director Jeffrey Walker, who was the set-up director in Series 1, returns to helm the feature film, following international success on the multi-award winning series Modern Family, Hulu original series Difficult People, in addition to the Jack Irish telemovies Bad Debts and Black Tide, and his debut feature film Ali’s Wedding

 

Dance Academy: The Movie is produced by Werner Film Productions with investment from Screen Australia, Screen NSW, Film Victoria, The Australian Children’s Television Foundation and Soundfirm. It will be distributed in Australia and New Zealand by StudioCanal with international sales by ZDF Enterprises Germany.

 

Follow Dance Academy: The Movie on Facebook at www.facebook.com/danceacademyau, on Instagram @danceacademyau and Twitter @danceacademyau.

 

Photo: Miranda Otto on set of Dance Academy: The Movie at Sydney Opera House. Photo by Simon Cardwell.