Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) Claimed

CUA51520 - DIPLOMA OF PROFESSIONAL DANCE (Elite Performance)
The CUA51520 - Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) is a one-year, full-time year of study that develops students' technical and creative skills in the discipline areas of ballet, pointe, pas de deux and solos, contemporary techniques, choreography, dance history, music for dance, anatomy, nutrition and fitness.

CUA60120 - ADVANCED DIPLOMA OF PROFESSIONAL DANCE (Elite Performance)
The CUA60120 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) extends students’ classical ballet training with a further year of full-time study to build skills needed for lifelong sustainability in the dance profession. The course encourages dancers’ individuality, confidence, flair and creativity. Students take classes in ballet, pointe, classical repertoire, contemporary techniques, choreography, performance, dance history, music, fitness and dance teaching methods. Graduates of the Advanced Diploma can choose to undertake a third and final year of intensive ballet training to attain a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) degree.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (Dance)
A challenging contemporary dance focused course where regular performance, intensive training and classroom practice are central to the philosophy of the program.
The pursuit of physical excellence is paired with the nurturing of creativity, laying the foundations for the performer, choreographer and/or independent practitioner. The course provides an insight into dance as an art form, and as a social and educative experience, offering additional skills in communication, critical thinking, research and analysis.

Sustainability in relation to professional career pathways is emphasised through engagement with industry partners and exposure to diverse performance environments. Industry placement, short study tours and international exchange opportunities provide a local, national and international perspective.

BACHELOR OF PERFORMING ARTS (Hons) LINK Dance Company
The Bachelor of Performing Arts (Honours) course provides students with an opportunity to focus in depth on a particular research topic of their choice while also receiving further research training at fourth year Honours level.

LINK Dance Company is a company like no other. Unique in Australia, this graduate dance company based at WAAPA offers tertiary-trained dancers the simulated experience of being a member of a dance company for a year, while attaining a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Honours).

This transition year between undergraduate training and life as a professional dancer occurs within the supportive structure of a conservatoire environment, with access to world-class physical and faculty resources.

Established in 2002 by celebrated choreographer Chrissie Parrott as an innovative research project within WAAPA’s Dance Department, LINK has evolved into a resident company with an ongoing commitment to the creation of new works, performance, touring and research. Under Artistic Director Michael Whaites (2006-present), LINK has forged strong connections with the dance industry to help facilitate career pathways for its graduates.

LINK Dance Company closely replicates the range of activities experienced in a small professional company. Dancers attend daily class and rehearse with highly regarded Australian and international choreographers to achieve multiple performance and practice-based outcomes including local performances, site-specific work, a dancers’ choreographic season and, when the opportunity arises, either local, national or international touring. The company has access to all WAAPA facilities, including rehearsal space, theatres, musicians, designers, set and costume construction, and production staff.

LINK’s ‘simulated workplace’ is practice-as-research, which allows LINK dancers to follow their own interests as they develop their research topic, leading to their thesis. Previous company members have undertaken research on topics as varied as dance film-making, choreography, performance management, dancers’ health and well-being, and injury prevention.