Aspiring contemporary dancers with a passion for exploration and a drive for a professional career can mark their calendars: applications for Sydney Dance Company’s renowned Pre-Professional Year (PPY) 2026 intake officially open on 5 May 2025.
For over a decade, SDC’s PPY program has stood as a leading force in contemporary dance training, nurturing inquisitive young artists and dynamic movers for successful careers on national and international stages.
Based at Sydney Dance Company’s iconic, state-of-the-art studios on Gadigal Land at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, the PPY offers a comprehensive full-time training experience. Students are immersed in a rich curriculum guided by some of Australia’s most respected choreographers, educators, and industry leaders.
The program is structured over two years, with students completing the CUA51520 Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) in their first year, followed by the CUA60120 Advanced Diploma of Professional Dance (Elite Performance) in their second year. As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO #45863), Sydney Dance Company is committed to providing a high-quality, recognised dance education.
A cornerstone of the PPY experience is the opportunity to work with a diverse range of creative voices, including members of Sydney Dance Company and acclaimed international guest collaborators. This exposure to a broad spectrum of practices and movement philosophies is integral to empowering dancers with a strong sense of personal agency and the artistic versatility essential for navigating today’s ever-evolving creative landscape.
The impact of the PPY resonates globally, with graduates making significant contributions to the dance world. Alumni have joined prestigious companies such as Wayne McGregor Dance Company, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, National Ballet of Marseille, Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company, Göteborg Opera, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australian Dance Theatre, Stephanie Lake Company, Chunky Move, and Sydney Dance Company’s own professional ensemble. Many have also successfully forged independent careers as artists, choreographers, and interdisciplinary creators.
At the heart of the PPY is a forward-thinking approach to training that integrates psychological and physiological considerations. This fosters an environment that encourages exploration, risk-taking, and artistic self-discovery. By challenging industry norms and exploring creative boundaries, PPY graduates emerge as curious, technically accomplished, and industry-ready artists poised to shape the dynamic future of contemporary dance.
Linda Gamblin, Sydney Dance Company’s Head of Training, highlights the program's unique philosophy: “What makes this program extraordinary is not just the training, it’s the thinking, reflecting and risk-taking that happen within it; building artists, not just dancers. Allowing space for the individual to confidently accept and mature their genuine nature in preparation for a professional career.”
Sydney Dance Company Artistic Director, Rafael Bonachela, echoes this sentiment: “With sophisticated technique, authentic movement and a strong sense of the artist within, PPY graduates are brave and generous when working within the contemporary dance industry.”
Philanthropic support plays a crucial role in the PPY, with generous donors providing scholarships to help ensure that financial barriers do not limit access to this transformative training program. These scholarships open vital pathways for emerging artists to pursue the opportunities needed to build a future in the arts.
Sydney Dance Company, based on Gadigal Land at Sydney’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, remains at the forefront of contemporary dance, continuously pioneering and evolving the artform. Under the artistic direction of Rafael Bonachela, the Company’s international reputation reflects contemporary Australia on a global scale, connecting with diverse audiences worldwide. The PPY is a key part of the Company’s commitment to education and development programs designed to nurture the next generation of dance artists and educators.
Applications for the Sydney Dance Company Pre-Professional Year 2026 open on 5 May 2025.