The McDonald College Bids Farewell To Ballet Royalty For Another Year

With the new school year commencing, The McDonald Performing Arts College International Summer School is over for yet another year. But what a successful program it was! Over the course of two weeks, some 300 students were given the opportunity to improve their skills in a range of genres including classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, repertoire, and pointe. But more importantly, the young aspiring dancers got the opportunity to meet, and be taught by, one of their ballet idols, Ms Darcey Bussell. Ms Bussell, who was a former Principal Ballerina with The Royal Ballet, is widely regarded as one of the greatest English ballerinas of all time.

Ms Jacqui Dumont, Director of the summer program, said, ‘it’s wonderful that Darcey gives up her time to come out to our school to teach these young dancers. For a lot of them, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and to be taught by the great Ms Bussell, it is definitely a wonderful opportunity for them. Darcey has always given her time to our Summer School and we are blessed to have someone with her level of expertise come and teach our student’. In addition to Ms Bussell, the program had a range of teachers from all over the world. most notably, Ms Lynne Wallis, Artistic Director of The Royal Academy of Dance London, and Yulia & Maksim Vasilyeva, former Principals’ of the Kremlin Ballet. Sydney-based Rafael Bonachela, Artistic Director Sydney Dance Company, also held a master class for the students.