Russian Choreographic Academy

THE PROFESSIONAL BALLET SCHOOL

Director: Susan Thomson

Greetings from the Principal & Director, Miss Susan Thomson:

There has always been an insatiable curiosity about Russian ballet. Dancers such as Maya Plisetskaya, Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasilyev, Natalia Bessmertnova and Erek Mukhamedov have electrified and transformed western audiences. These, and other Russian dancers, are all products of the Russian system of training. The proof of Russian ballet's superiority is stated in its history and long traditions. By comparison western ballet is still young. Russian ballet is the cradle of ballet and continues to joyfully maintain its momentum of creative effort, producing a level of art that is never less than miraculous, through The Bolshoi Ballet and other Russian ballet companies.

Please allow me to introduce you to a truly unique concept and school in the Australasian world of performing arts. The Russian Choreographic Academy provides students in this region with exclusive access to the acclaimed and complete Russian system of training. It also provides a rare opportunity for the top graduates to audition for major Russian ballet companies and for the elite to gain employment with them. Additionally, RCA students have the option to study ballet along with an academic program (available predominantly via Camberwell High School).

Visiting Riga

From our Director, Susan Thomson

Toivo and I recently spent 2 weeka at The Latvian National Ballet Academy in Riga, as the guest of Mr. Harolds Ritenbergs (Director). This Academy has trained many fabulous dancers over the years and is a direct link to the Vaganova Academy. This marvellous school has trained Mikhail Baryshnikov (Kirov Ballet), Marius Liepa(Bolshoi Ballet), Goudonov (Bolshoi)and many other sensational dancers who have given an enormously to the art of classical ballet. Mr. Harolds Ritenbergs, was himself a sensational dancer and is a most distinquished and honoured gentleman in the archives of dance (he graduated in the same class as Marius Liepa). Mr. Ritenbergs, Director, gave most generously of his time to us at this marvellous academy. For Susan and Toivo it was indeed a great privilege and also a very inspirational experience, to be able to observe the outstanding teachers of this academy. The students were beautifully trained and showed the excellent results of the Russian training system. The Latvian Academy’s corridors are lined with hundreds of photographs of the many outstanding dancers that have been trained there. At present we are in the process of arranging Guest Teachers to come from this international academy and a possible exchange programme.

2012 Winter School

Click "here" for application form.

New Staff

RCA will welcome 2 new teachers coming from Saint-Petersburg, Russia in June this year. These teachers like all the teachers brought to Australia by RCA highly experienced and prior to coming have been teaching in Russian State Academies.

Congratulations

To Carmin Smith for being selected as a year round trainee with $12,000 Summer tuition Scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School - New York. Carmin was selected for her exceptional talent and potential.

Testimonial

Congratulations to all the beautiful students at RCA on a lovely Twilight Performance Also to the Director & Teachers congratulations on your dedication & hard work What a stunning demonstration of class & repertoire! I absolutely loved it Could've watched more happily

The unique Russian system of training that has produced a multitude of the world’s most exceptional dancers is only successful when taught in its entirety by highly qualified teachers from where it originated.

RCA only selects students who can and have demonstrated their great potential for development and capability to be an elite classical ballet artist, thus enabling them to take their place on the international stage.

As the Russian system of training is an art and a science no effort spent in such training is wasted, even if the recipient does not make the grade.The training will educate students to carry themselves with dignity and character. The RCA discipline will equip the pupil with the capability to succeed in other spheres as well as ballet.

RCA teachers are of the highest calibre with a distinguished level of knowledge and experience.

RCA offers the unprecedented opportunity for artistic and cultural exchange between Russia and Australia.

Our students are empowered with an RCA education that is unequalled and unparalleled anywhere else in Australasia and with over thirty years of teaching ballet, I know this system rewards its students with success.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Thomson

(Adv Dip ABS PDTC)