Bonnyrigg High School has an extensive Dance program, offering a range of ensembles and performance groups who perform publicly throughout the year. Each year, students have successfully auditioned and performed at regional and state events representing Bonnyrigg High School with pride. Our teachers are industry professionals, who have extensive experience in the Dance and Performing Arts field and a passion for sharing this knowledge with the students in the Academy and Dance programs.
Bonnyrigg High School Dance Academy
Bonnyrigg High School has a specialist Dance Academy designed to focus on developing gifted and talented dance students within the performance arts. The practical based course is designed to challenge students across a variety of styles and performance arenas. Classes are taught in a new and fully equipped dance studio on the school grounds. The air-conditioned state of the art dance studio boasts a 24m x 12m sprung timber floor with electric blinds, full length mirrors across the length of the studio and timber barres. The surround sound audio system operates through the latest technology and students are able to store their uniform in the lockers available in the on site change room and storage facilities.
Students will develop their dance technique through a practical course to prepare for auditions and perform at various events both regionally and on a state level.
Students start to learn the basics of dance in Years 7 and 8 through the academy program. They then have the option to select Dance as an elective in Years 9 and 10, which is compulsory for those students who are successful in their audition for the Dance Academy. HSC Dance is offered in the senior years of schooling, for students with a love of dance.
Through active engagement in the Dance Academy, students will enhance their dance technique and performance skills, develop teamwork, leadership, problem solving and organisational skills, which can be transferred across a range of contexts.
How do you join the academy?
The Bonnyrigg High School Dance Academy is available to all students who wish to undertake specialist study in Dance. Auditions will be held annually for students in Years 7 - 12. Students undertake intensive tutoring in our professionally equipped studio whilst completing their comprehensive studies.
Junior Dance Academy:
The junior performance group is open for students in Years 7 and 8 to audition to be members of the Junior Dance Academy. Rehearsals are once a week in the BHS dance studio to prepare for various state, regional and community events throughout the year.
Year 9 and 10 Dance Academy:
Students must elect the 200 hour elective dance course to be eligible to audition for the Year 9 or 10 dance academy. This group rehearses four periods per timetable cycle, forming part of the online classes for the successful students. There are no/minimal before or after school rehearsals.
Senior Dance Academy:
The senior performance group is open for students in Years 11 and 12 elective dance class to audition to be members of the Senior Dance Academy. This group rehearse once a week in the BHS dance studio and prepare for various state, regional and community events throughout the year.
Can I study dance at BHS if I am not in the dance academy program?
Yes!
Year 7 and 8:
The Dance Leaders program is a lunchtime dance program with student mentors from Year 10 dance elective selected to teach students from Years 7-8 as a weekly extra curricular dance program. These students prepare a performance for the Dance Showcase evening held in Term 3.
Year 9 and 10:
A 200 hr dance elective course is offered to all students at Bonnyrigg High School. It can be chosen as their X or Y subject during the subject selection process in Year 8.
Year 11 and 12:
The HSC dance course is open to all Year 11 and 12 students to study as an ATAR course. Dance is a 2 unit subject which can be chosen by students during the subject selection process in Year 10.
Primary links dance program
In conjunction with Mount Pritchard Public School and St Johns Park Public School, this program has been established since 2016 and is run by the two dance teachers from BHS.
Southern Stars
Students in any of the dance programs from Bonnyrigg High School can elect to be part of Southern Stars performance group and perform at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
Schools Spectacular
Students from the Dance Academy and Senior Ensemble are eligible to audition to be members of the Schools Spectacular dance group and submit an audition to The Arts Unit to be selected for Schools Spectacular each year. Students in the Dance Academy are also eligible to apply for The Arts Unit state specialist ensembles.