International Summer School this January in Sydney

The McDonald College’s sought-after International Summer School is a 5½ day program of lessons and workshops for juniors through to pre-professional dance students. This year’s Summer School will take place 16-20 January from 9 am-4pm each day.

Experience an exhilarating week focusing on mastering technique, harnessing creativity, and developing artistry and musicality with confidence. And most of all – a week of positivity, new friends, and world-class teaching. 

Students are divided into classes within each program, dependant on age and current ballet training. The McDonald College expert faculty will advise if they feel a student is in an unsuitable class and needs to be moved. This is at the discretion of the faculty and ISS Director. Their focus is always on the welfare of your child and the other students in the class. 

Classes are divided as follows: Junior Program for ages 7 – 10, Senior Program for ages 11 – 18, and Pre-Professional program is for dancers aged 15 to 20. Please note that Pre-professional students must be dancing at an Elite level. 

ISS2023 will wrap with an invitation to parents to observe a class and a demonstration of work achieved. 

This year, The McDonald College is honoured to have Mr David Yow, former Principal of Birmingham Royal Ballet join us – along with an exceptional faculty of master teachers and choreographers. 

David was born in Liverpool and trained at both The Royal Ballet Lower and Upper Schools. He graduated into Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet in 1982 and relocated with the company when it became Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1990. He rose to the rank of Principal Dancer and went on to dance with Cleveland/San Jose and Hong Kong Ballet companies.  

He returned to the Royal Ballet School to complete their teaching diploma for professional dancers. In 2022, he became a Fellow of the Cecchetti Faculty in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing. He also holds a degree in psychology from Goldsmith’s College, University of London.  

David teaches at international workshops, especially in Japan, and in summer schools around the world. He has also taught for the Hong Kong Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Michael Clark companies, and has been a regular member of the jury for the Asian Grand Prix in Hong Kong. 

In addition to Mr Yow, McDonald College welcomes back Paul Boyd and Jane Devine for classical ballet. This year, they are excited to introduce Kristen Hockley (musical theatre and jazz), Sian Sherwood (ballet and repertoire), Sophia Ndaba (contemporary), Veronica Beattie (broadway jazz), and Sally Harrison (strength and conditioning).

Lindsay Ellman-Brown is this year’s ISS Director.

Cost to attend January’s International Summer School is $599 per person.

Visit internationalsummerschool.com.au to register and learn more.