Youth dance companies give students a taste of professional life.

Some companies are an arm of a school and/or require participants to be enrolled as students; we have listed only those companies that, as far as we can make out, are independently run and hold open auditions.

The hands play a vital part in a dancer’s expressiveness, writes Denise Richardson.

The expression in your eyes and the direction of your gaze add essential refinement to your dancing, writes Denise Richardson.

Is there a secret to a high, light jump? Nina Levy investigates.

Getting your legs around your ears and holding them there requires a combination of strength and flexibility, writes Nina Levy.

Eating disorders are relatively rare but, when they do strike, it is more common among adolescent girls, and particularly those in areas that demand a lean body shape. Like dance. Karen van Ulzen consulted three former dancers-turned-psychologists – Dr Gene Moyle, Dr Peta Lilley and Lucinda Sharp – on ways to ensure pupils are not put at risk.

DANCE teachers and educators are being urged to take part in the National Dance Qualifications Project – an Australia-wide review of teaching qualifications.

Teachers’ expectations of their students can have a profound influence, writes Gene Moyle.

Young dancers often find it difficult to cope when they leave home to join a school or company. Gene Moyle offers some solutions.

Use the start of the new year to prepare yourself mentally and set your goals, writes Gene Moyle.

Dancers should all aspire to be perfect, shouldn’t they? That depends on how you go about it, says Lucinda Sharp.

Considering how much work our feet do in every dance class, it’s not surprising that our toenails suffer. Michelle Hosking advises on how to look after them.

All dancers know that corrections are necessary to improve their dancing, but sometimes they can get you down. Lucinda Sharp advises on how to think positively.

YOU have just learnt that you will be performing a solo role in an extract or even maybe, in a full length classical ballet – your dream since you were a small child and started going to dance classes.

Exercise builds muscles, right? So how can you stop them getting too big? Janet Karin explains.