1 October 2015
Australian Ballet School
Levels 1 to 8 of The Australian Ballet School in Divertissement choreographed by Simon Dow. Performed as part of Showcase 2015 at Arts Centre Melbourne, 20 September 2015 - Photograph by Sergey Konstantinov

Today on World Ballet Day 2015, Arts Minister Senator Mitch Fifield announced an increase in Australian Government support for the Australian Ballet School.

The Australian Ballet School will receive an annual increase of $200,000 through the Cultural Development Program.

This additional funding from 2016 will enable the Australian Ballet School to undertake annual performances at the Sydney Opera House. These performances will raise the profile of the School outside its Melbourne home and build new audiences in New South Wales. 

Performances at the Sydney Opera House will provide new opportunities to showcase the internationally recognised achievements and skills of the Australian Ballet School's students and alumni, and to explore further corporate and philanthropic support.

The Australian Ballet School has been Australia's preeminent national centre for excellence in classical dance training for more than 50 years, with more than 90 per cent of all graduating students securing professional contracts with the Australian Ballet.

The Australian Government is proud to provide ongoing annual support for the Australian Ballet School as one of Australia's seven elite performing arts training organisations.

Read the full Funding boost for Australian Ballet School of World Ballet Day media release.