Event 28 June 2026

TEACHING BOYS IN BALLET & INTRODUCTION TO PAS DE DEUX

The WA Classical Ballet Teachers’ Association Inc. invites teachers, students and parents to join us for a practical and engaging morning with respected ballet educator, Christian Luck.

This unique educational event explores the challenges and opportunities of training boys in ballet, while also providing an introduction to the fundamentals of classical partnering.

Whether you are a teacher looking for practical strategies, a student wanting to expand your skills, or a parent interested in understanding ballet training, this session offers valuable insights and hands-on learning.

This exciting workshop is comprised of three segments:
• a Boys’ Club class, which will include information on how to adapt exercises to suit both boys and girls in one class
• a discussion on some of the challenges facing boys in ballet today
• a practical session on how to introduce students to basic pas de deux (which will include female students)

Book Now
Date:

28 June 2026

Start Time:

9.00 am

Finish Time:

12.30 pm

Venue:

Youth Ballet WA, 74-76 Goodwood Parade, Burswood (corner Vivian Street)

Who should attend:

Male students (the morning includes a Boys’ Club class), female students (Grade 6 or over)

meet our presenter

CHRISTIAN LUCK

Many teachers find themselves asking:

What do I do when there is only one boy in a class of girls?
How can I keep male dancers challenged and engaged?
How can exercises be adapted appropriately for boys and girls?

Christian will share practical ideas and demonstrations including:

- Structuring exercises for boys and girls
- Musical considerations for male dancers
- Encouraging elevation and dynamic movement
- Incorporating beats and batterie
- Alternative approaches to turns and virtuosity
- Creating combinations that better suit male dancers
- Maintaining class cohesion while addressing different training needs

Following the Boys' Club class there will be a short discussion session on the challenges facing boys in ballet training today.

Students will be introduced to the foundations of classical partnering in a safe and supportive environment.

Topics may include:
- Moving reverence
- Promenades in attitude
- Supported arabesques
- Supported promenades
- Sideways supported leans
- Basic pirouette preparation
- Partner communication and awareness

This session is suitable for male and female students beginning their pas de deux journey and for teachers wishing to gain greater confidence introducing basic partnering concepts.

Female students must be Grade 6 or above.

9.00am – 10.15am
Boys' Club Class with Christian Luck (Live piano accompaniment)
Teachers and parents are welcome to book to observe.

10.15am – 10.30am
Morning Break

Short discussion:
The Challenges of Teaching Boys in Ballet

10.30am – 11.15am
Adapting Exercises for Boys and Girls

11.15am – 12.15pm
Introduction to Basic Pas de Deux

12.15pm – 12.30pm
Questions, Feedback & Wrap-Up

Teachers
Gain practical strategies that can be immediately applied in your own classes.

Students
Explore specialised training concepts and learn the foundations of classical partnering.

Parents
Develop a greater understanding of ballet training and the unique considerations involved in supporting young male dancers.

Student Participant
Boys: participate in all practical sessions.
Girls: participate in Introduction to Basic Pas de Deux session

Teacher Observer / Participant
Observe classes and participate in discussions.

Parent Observer
Observe throughout the morning.

Students should wear appropriate ballet attire and ballet shoes.

Observers - please be aware that the studios can be cool, and bring appropriate warm coverings

Students participating in the pas de deux section should be comfortable working with partners in a supervised educational environment.

And here's some feedback:

Student: “I love that I can connect with more boys in ballet. Whenever I am in a class it’s all girls, girls, girls.”

Parent: “I loved that my son was taught and inspired by male teachers. Ballet is often a lonely activity for boys and having mentors that have been there, done that and made a career out of it has been really confidence building for him.”

Book Now
Scroll to Top

Meet christian luck

Christian was born in Sydney and firstly trained at the Mc Donald college of performing arts before being accepted into The Australian Ballet School where he completed a 3 year course, graduating with a diploma in dance.

He joined West Australian ballet in 2004, and he has danced many major roles since including Marcello in Simon Dows La Boheme, Tybalt in Youri Vamos Romeo and Juliet, The prince in David Nixons Beauty and the Beast and the main male role in Forsyth’s Step text among the highlights!

Christian retired from The West Australian Ballet in 2022, after an illustrious  professional career of 18 years, making him the company’s longest serving member in their 70 year history.

Christian is now enjoying passing on his wealth of knowledge to the upcoming generation of dancers.

 

Most recently Scott has turned to weaving his skills in Neuro-Kinesiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Thai Body Work and Equine Assisted Learning under the umbrella of Emerald Energetics which focuses on movement, sound, light and equine assisted wellness. He continues to create three dimensional kinetic landscapes for professional dance companies and universities world wide.

Meet Scott putman

Scott Putman is a choreographer, movement educator, director and writer integrating contemporary ballet and modern techniques into practices deeply influenced by eastern philosophy, neuro science and contemporary physics. 

He is the creator of the Elemental Body Alignment System© (EBAS) and Fundamental Conscious Movement (FCM); both of which support a holistic approach of remapping neural muscular pathways, expanding greater range of motion as well as encouraging qualitative expression for a more authentic and holistic movement practice.

Since graduating with a BFA in Dance and Choreography in from Columbia College, he has created dance works focused on the belief that choreography is the art of shaping energy in space. Scott has also danced with both modern and ballet companies such as Mordine and Company Dance Theater, Ballet Theater of Chicago, Minnesota Ballet, Demetrius Klein Dance Company as well as his own company Cerulean Dance Theater in addition to several independent choreographers such as Bob Eisen and Randy Duncan.

After extensive performing, Scott returned to the academic arena at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where he received his MFA exploring the parallels of modern physics and eastern philosophy as a vehicle of expression and physical training.

Directly after his time at UCI he was invited to join the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of Dance and Choreography as a visiting professor which turned into a 22 year run as a tenured professor teaching across the curriculum in both the technical and creative tracks. During this time he continued to develop his choreographic vision with Amaranth Contemporary Dance and shared EBAS levels I and II with the student body.

Most recently Scott has turned to weaving his skills in Neuro-Kinesiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Thai Body Work and Equine Assisted Learning under the umbrella of Emerald Energetics which focuses on movement, sound, light and equine assisted wellness. He continues to create three dimensional kinetic landscapes for professional dance companies and universities world wide.

Meet Scott putman

Scott Putman is a choreographer, movement educator, director and writer integrating contemporary ballet and modern techniques into practices deeply influenced by eastern philosophy, neuro science and contemporary physics. 

He is the creator of the Elemental Body Alignment System© (EBAS) and Fundamental Conscious Movement (FCM); both of which support a holistic approach of remapping neural muscular pathways, expanding greater range of motion as well as encouraging qualitative expression for a more authentic and holistic movement practice.

Since graduating with a BFA in Dance and Choreography in from Columbia College, he has created dance works focused on the belief that choreography is the art of shaping energy in space. Scott has also danced with both modern and ballet companies such as Mordine and Company Dance Theater, Ballet Theater of Chicago, Minnesota Ballet, Demetrius Klein Dance Company as well as his own company Cerulean Dance Theater in addition to several independent choreographers such as Bob Eisen and Randy Duncan.

After extensive performing, Scott returned to the academic arena at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where he received his MFA exploring the parallels of modern physics and eastern philosophy as a vehicle of expression and physical training.

Directly after his time at UCI he was invited to join the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in the department of Dance and Choreography as a visiting professor which turned into a 22 year run as a tenured professor teaching across the curriculum in both the technical and creative tracks. During this time he continued to develop his choreographic vision with Amaranth Contemporary Dance and shared EBAS levels I and II with the student body.

Most recently Scott has turned to weaving his skills in Neuro-Kinesiology, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Thai Body Work and Equine Assisted Learning under the umbrella of Emerald Energetics which focuses on movement, sound, light and equine assisted wellness. He continues to create three dimensional kinetic landscapes for professional dance companies and universities world wide.