We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Top Class is presented, the sovereign Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Dance is a movement language that crosses cultures throughout the world, giving expression to social and personal experiences. Today’s concerts showcase dance in just some of its many forms, from classical ballet to street dance and so much in between. The solos performed in these concerts are the result of hard work, incredible talent and creative passion. We are thrilled to gather today to celebrate skill, artistry and perseverance.
Students who received the highest grades in the 2021 performance examination were invited to audition for Top Class Dance in January 2022. The 32 performers in today’s concerts were selected from those who auditioned, representing some of the best young dancers in Victoria. The selection panel comprised VCE VET Dance Chief Assessor Lisa Woolley, VCE Dance Chief Assessor Cheryl Kaloger, VCE VET Dance Assessor Shaylee Ashby and VCE Dance Assessor Peter Tserbis.
Top Class gives current VCE performing arts students valuable insight into what is required to achieve excellence in their study. The concerts encourage and inspire students during their own creative studies, and provide realistic examples of best practice.
We thank all performers for their commitment and generosity in presenting their work once more for the benefit of current students, teachers and the public.
VCE VET DANCE
TENIELLE GOODMAN
Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, North Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country /
McClelland College, Frankston, Bunurong Country
JAZZ
This performance is in the style of Broadway/cabaret jazz. The context for the piece is a Broadway show or a cabaret performance. The target audience is anyone who enjoys watching theatrical dance for entertainment.
NATALIE HUDONO
Russian Choreographic Academy, Hawthorn East, Wurundjeri Country /
Camberwell Girls Grammar School, Canterbury, Wurundjeri Country
BALLET
This variation is the 11th Waltz from Chopiniana by Mikhail Fokine. It premiered in 1908 at the Mariinsky. Fokine’s Chopiniana pays homage to the Romantic Era, inspired by images of the legendary Marie Taglioni and her contemporaries. This piece is to be performed in a traditional proscenium arch theatre. The target audience is anyone who loves ballet.
SOPHIE TSIFRIDIS
Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School, Essendon, Wurundjeri Country /
St Columba’s College, Essendon, Wurundjeri Country
JAZZ
This is a traditional jazz solo influenced by the accompanying jazz swing music, designed to be presented in a conventional theatrical proscenium arch setting. The piece was created for dance competitions and showcases, and is appropriate for all age groups with an interest in jazz, specifically musical theatre.
CHRISTIAN NAIMO
Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, North Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country /
Parade College, Bundoora, Wurundjeri Country
CONTEMPORARY
This dance is choreographed for a music video for the accompanying song, reflecting a contemporary style of dance seen in film clips. The piece is targeted towards teenagers and young adults who enjoy watching emotive dance performances.
‘DANCE IS ABOUT THE AESTHETICS AND THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO CREATING SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL. MOTIVATION AND DEDICATION TO THE CRAFT IS WHAT PUSHES ME TO DO MY BEST, TO ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO BETTER, AND THE OUTCOME IS ALWAYS WORTH IT.’
— Yuan Yuan Tan, Principal Dancer with the San Francisco Ballet
JESSE BOTTOMLEY
Bev Palmer Performing Arts, South Morang, Wurundjeri Country /
Loyola College, Watsonia, Wurundjeri Country
TAP
This tap performance is a theatrical-style routine with street tap influences. The intended context and audience for this performance is competitions, eisteddfods or a VET Dance showcase.
AMY KEEN
Jane Moore Academy of Ballet, Highett, Bunurong Country /
Firbank Grammar School, Brighton, Bunurong Country
CONTEMPORARY
This contemporary solo demonstrates a high level of physicality and references the style of Australian choreographer Leigh Warren. This solo is best suited for performance in an intimate black box theatre with a neutral stage setting. The intended audience is anyone who enjoys watching contemporary dance. It could also be performed at an eisteddfod or used as an audition piece.
VCE DANCE – SKILLS-BASED SOLO PERFORMANCE
LUCAS MCLEAN
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Southbank, Wurundjeri Country
FREYA STILLS-BLOTT
Haileybury Girls College, Keysborough, Bunurong Country
EMILY FUREY
Gisborne Secondary College, Gisborne, Wurundjeri Country
BETH PERT
Melbourne Girls’ College, Richmond, Wurundjeri Country
RUBY THORNTON-MACKAY
Beaconhills College, Berwick, Bunurong Country
XARA BURGE
Virtual School Victoria, Thornbury, Wurundjeri Country /
Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe, Wurundjeri Country
CHLOE CAFFARI
Northern College of the Arts and Technology, Preston, Wurundjeri Country
COHESIVE COMPOSITION SOLO PERFORMANCE
NOA PITT
Cheryl Kaloger Brown School of Dance, Hawthorn East, Wurundjeri Country /
Mount Scopus Memorial College, Burwood, Wurundjeri Country
THE MAGNET
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: A magnet is attracted to the centre of the room; it’s stuck and unable to move.
Section B: The tension starts to ease as the magnet tries to escape the centre.
Section C: The magnet repels and explores the space with joy until it’s pulled back to the floor.
JADEN LAL
Northern College of the Arts and Technology, Preston, Wurundjeri Country
ADDICTION
Formal structure: Binary (A, B)
Section A: The feeling of euphoria, on a high from the intake of drugs.
Section B: The impact of the drugs is experienced until falling into an unconscious state.
AINSLEY TANNER
Ballet Theatre Australia, South Melbourne, Wurundjeri and Bunurong Country /
Virtual School Victoria, Thornbury, Wurundjeri Country
STRESS
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: A girl awakens and becomes aware of her surroundings.
Section B: The stress manipulates the girl, pushing her into chaos. She feels out of control.
Section C: The stress overwhelms the girl.
FREYA STILLS-BLOTT
Haileybury, Keysborough, Wurundjeri Country
THE ROBOT
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: The robot is constructed piece-by-piece.
Section B: The robot starts to become human.
Section C: The robot is now humanised, delighted in their physicality. The sentient being joins society.
BETH PERT
Melbourne Girls’ College, Richmond, Wurundjeri Country
MOULD
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: The mould spores develop
Section B: The mould grows and starts to spread.
Section C: The mould becomes out of control, spreading across the whole surface.
VCE VET DANCE
KAYLAH ICOVSKI
Bev Palmer Performing Arts, South Morang, Wurundjeri Country /
Loyola College, Watsonia, Wurundjeri Country
JAZZ
The style of this solo ‘Devil’ is Broadway jazz, featuring theatrical movement vocabulary with industry specific expression and polish. The context is a number from Broadway musical ‘The Witches of Eastwick’. This solo was created to be performed as a competition piece or at a concert, ideal for an audience who enjoy theatrical dance styles.
CALEB WATERWORTH
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Southbank, Wurundjeri Country
CONTEMPORARY
This contemporary solo is titled ‘Grinding the Teeth’. The intended audience is anyone who enjoys watching contemporary dance performances and going to the theatre. The context is a traditional proscenium arch setting.
TIAH BROWN
Jane Moore Academy of Ballet, Highett, Bunurong Country /
Firbank Grammar School, Brighton, Bunurong Country
JAZZ
This musical theatre-inspired jazz solo, ‘My Strongest Suit’, incorporates theatrical-style movement, in addition to individual choreographic style. This solo is intended to be performed on a large auditorium stage, for audiences attending a dance concert or dance eisteddfod, or anyone who enjoys the entertainment of jazz dance and musical theatre. This piece could also be performed for an audition panel.
KEELA MOLONEY-SMITH
The Academy of Classical Ballet, Ballarat Central, Wadawurrung Country /
Ballarat Clarendon College, Newington, Wadawurrung Country
CONTEMPORARY
This solo is a newly choreographed piece influenced by Kyall Shanks and his work at Yellow Wheel dance company. The context for the performance is a traditional proscenium arch theatrical stage. The solo would be appropriate to the contemporary dance market of shows such as ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ and ‘World of Dance’. Dance agents or members of contemporary companies would also be appropriate audience as the solo shows a wide range of skills appropriate for competition.
ALIRA PETCH
Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, North Melbourne, Wurundjeri Country /
Aitken College, Greenvale, Wurundjeri Country
STREET
This solo includes an eclectic combination of street techniques. The ideal performance context would be an outdoor amphitheatre at a community event, or a dance competition. The intended audience are people of any age that enjoy dance for entertainment.
BROOKE HUMPHREYS
Ringwood Secondary College, Ringwood, Wurundjeri Country
CONTEMPORARY
The style of this piece is post-modern contemporary with theatrical stylistic references reminiscent of Pina Bauch works. The context of this solo is the school’s annual dance night, for performance in a simple black box theatre. The appropriate audience is the family, friends and teachers invited to support and enjoy the school’s dance night.
VCE DANCE – SKILLS-BASED SOLO PERFORMANCE
RUBI HAWKINS
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Southbank, Wurundjeri Country
ALANAH DOUGLAS
Northern College of the Arts and Technology, Preston, Wurundjeri Country
ELAINA BIANCHI
Strathmore Secondary College, Strathmore, Wurundjeri Country
ELLIE LOVISON
Virtual School Victoria, Thornbury, Wurundjeri Country /
Loreto College, Ballarat Central, Wadawurrung Country
SOPHIE PARKS
Cheryl Kaloger Brown School of Dance, Hawthorn East, Wurundjeri Country /
Avila College, Mount Waverley, Wurundjeri Country
LANAH VASILEVSKI
St Monica’s College, Epping, Wurundjeri Country
KAYLAH ICOVSKI
Bev Palmer Performing Arts, South Morang, Wurundjeri Country /
Loyola College, Watsonia, Wurundjeri Country
COHESIVE COMPOSITION SOLO PERFORMANCE
SOFIA COBBLEDICK
Albert Park College, Albert Park, Bunurong Country
MOMENTARY PULSE
Formal structure: Binary (A, B)
Section A: The feelings of laziness and boredom when time passes slowly.
Section B: The feelings of anxiety and overwhelm when time passes too quickly.
ELLA-ROSE DOOLAN
Mt Martha School of Dance, Mount Martha, Bunurong Country /
Balcombe Grammar School, Mount Martha, Bunurong Country
INSOMNIA
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: The character is trying to fall asleep, and becomes restless.
Section B: The character tries to function and manage themselves despite fatigue.
Section C: The character breaks down and becomes isolated.
ASHLEY BRKOVIC
Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School, Southbank, Wurundjeri Country
A TURTLE’S JOURNEY
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: A baby turtle hatches from its shell and makes its first movements to find water.
Section B: The turtle dives into a rockpool, grows and becomes more confident.
Section C: The mature turtle is taken away by a current into the deep ocean, and swims freely.
ELLIE LOVISON
Virtual School Victoria, Thornbury, Wurundjeri Country /
Loreto College, Ballarat, Wadawurrung Country
VOICES IN MY HEAD
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: A girl hallucinates, seeing and hearing voices that aren’t there.
Section B: The girl tries to fight her hallucinations, while her anxiety builds.
Section C: The girl’s thoughts spiral out of control and feed her anxiety.
CONOR HAIGH
Cheryl Kaloger Brown School of Dance, Hawthorn East, Wurundjeri Country /
De La Salle College, Malvern, Wurundjeri Country
THE HAND
Formal structure: Narrative (A, B, C)
Section A: Energy emanates from the hand – it has a mind of its own.
Section B: The energy takes over the body – a fight between the hand and body begins.
Section C: The energy absorbs the body – the fight is lost and the hand completely takes over.
Note: If two schools are listed, the first is the student’s Dance provider; the second is their home school.
The performers and their families, friends and teachers
Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank, Wurundjeri Country
VCE and VCE VET Chief Assessors for Dance and MCs: Cheryl Kaloger and Lisa Woolley
Dance Selection Panel 2022: Lisa Woolley, Cheryl Kaloger,
Shaylee Ashby and Peter Tserbis
Performing Arts Coordinators: Eleanor Boydell and Catherine Devery
Festival and Events Manager: Miranda Picton-Warlow
Festival and Events Coordinator: Jenny Sun
Festival and Events Officer: Jim Thomas
Festival and Events Assistant: Jessica Dunn
Curriculum Manager, Performing Arts: Margaret Arnold
Program Manager, VCE VET Dance: Danielle McAuliffe
Graphic design: Nuttshell
Take a look at some of the other exciting Season of Excellence 2022 events at the Season Hub