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Program
The aim of the Henley Sports Academy is to assist student athletes in their sporting and academic pathways. Students have two 80-minute and one 50-minute lessons per week over the school year. The Dance Academy focus for each term includes:
Term 1
Theory focus: Sports psychology and goal setting, elements of dance, choreographic devices and structures, safe dance practice, performance and choreography analysis.
Practical focus: individual and small group choreographic skills, hip hop, classical, jazz and contemporary technique and performance.
Term 2
Theory focus: Exercise physiology analysis and performance presentation.
Practical focus: Small group choreography, hip hop, classical, jazz and contemporary technique and performance, rehearsal of repertory, performance at choreographic evening and dance competitions and dance specific fitness development.
Term 3
Theory focus: Technique analysis and performance presentation.
Practical focus: Rehearsal of repertory and performance at evening of dance and dance competitions.
Term 4
Theory focus: Coaching and performance presentation.
Practical focus: Development of hip hop, jazz and contemporary technique.
Academy coaches and staff
Program Manager: Megan Palmer Cooper
Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary)
AC Arts Bachelor of Dance Performance (1st and 2nd Year)
Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing Teaching Diploma
Training in Classical, Contemporary, Jazz and Tap.
Lead Teacher Certification
Training venues
Henley High School Dance Studio 1 and 2 (mirrors and barres)
Henley High School High Performance Sports Centre
Henley High School Performance Space (small performance space)
Henley High School Hall (large performance space)
Brighton Theatre (performance space)
Stretch & Flex
Academy achievements
2024:
Dance Star States
Secondary Lyrical / Contemporary (Small Teams)
1st – Water (Henley High School)
2nd – Burn (Henley High School)
4th – Earth (Henley High School)
Secondary Jazz/Broadway/Commercial (Small Teams)
2nd – Call Me Mother (Henley High School)
3rd – Vogue (Henley High School)
4th – Fever (Henley High School)
Secondary Hip Hop (Small Teams Senior) – 1st – Henley High School
Secondary Hip Hop (Small Teams Junior) – 1st – Henley High School
Secondary Soloists
Lyrical – Red Snr (Elite) – 1st – Imogen C and 2nd – Jorja E
Jazz/Broadway/Commercial – Red Snr (Elite) – 2nd – Imogen C
Contemporary – Red Snr (Elite) – 1st – Jorja E and 2nd – Imogen C
Secondary Auditions
Lyrical / Contemporary – 1st – Jorja E
Lyrical / Contemporary Junior – 1st – Amelia W and 2nd – Natalie V
Jazz/Broadway/Commercial Senior – 1st – Jorja E
Dance Star Nationals
Secondary Hip Hop (Small Teams Junior) – 3rd – Henley High School
Secondary Lyrical / Contemporary (Small Teams)
6th – Burn (Henley High School)
10th – Water (Henley High School)
Secondary Hip Hop (Small Teams Senior) – 2nd – Henley High School
Secondary Jazz/Broadway/Commercial (Small Teams) – 4th – Call Me Mother (Henley High School)
Secondary Soloists
Lyrical – Red Snr (Elite) – 4th – Imogen C and 5th – Jorja E
Jazz/Broadway/Commercial – Red Snr (Elite) – 3rd – Imogen C
Contemporary – Red Snr (Elite) – 3rd – Jorja E and 5th – Imogen C
Secondary Auditions
Lyrical / Contemporary – 7th – Jorja E
Lyrical / Contemporary Junior – 1st – Amelia W and 5th – Natalie V
Jazz/Broadway/Commercial Senior – 5th – Jorja E
Dance Ultra
Junior Hip Hop – 1st
Middle School Jazz – 1st
Senior Hip Hop – 2nd
Open Contemporary – 3rd
2023:
Dance Ultra
Middle School Hip Hop – 1st
Middle School Jazz – 1st
Senior Hip Hop – 2nd
2020: Dance Star State Finals: 1st Classical, 1st Theatrical, 3rd Jazz, 3rd Hip Hop
2019: Dance Star Nationals: 7th Senior Hip Hop
Student sporting pathways post school
2024: Emilee H – Transit Dance Cert IV Dance
2022: Noah Wheatley: English National Ballet School, Vanemuine Ballet, Estonia
2020: Abbey Case: Dance Force Cert IV Dance.
2020: Abbey Harby: Brent Street, Cert IV Dance
2019: Abbey Harby: ACARTS Adelaide, Cert IV Dance, AC Arts Bachelor – Dance Performance
2018: Declan Richards-Thomson: ACARTS, Adelaide
Other past students have gone onto full time dance training in Adelaide either doing a certificate course at Gravity or a bachelor of Dance at Flinders University at the Adelaide College of the Arts campus.
Academy Award Winners
2024
Top of Subject: Amelia W
Emerging Young Talent: Lara S
Striving for Excellence: Sophia R
2023
Top of Subject: Ruby F
Emerging Young Talent: Grace S
Striving for Excellence: Jorja E
2022
Top of Subject: Georgia S
Persistence and Diligence: Georgia S
Leadership Award: Noah G-W
2021
Top of Subject: Rebecca S
Persistence and Diligence: Georgia
Leadership Award: Noah G-W
2020
Top of Subject: Rebecca S
Persistence and Diligence: Myah S
Leadership Award: Eve T
2019
Top of Subject: Rebecca S
Dedication to Excellence: Tiana M
Emerging Young Talent: Piper W
2018
Top of Subject: Nada R Z
Persistence & Diligence: Rebecca S
Leadership Award: Abbey H