Events 2026

The following events were held in 2026.

No further events are planned for the second half of the year, in deference to the busy ballet calendar our members are managing.

The exception to this is Boys’ Club classes, which will run until the end of the year.  For details, see the separate Boys’ Club page

On Sunday 15 March 2026 at 9.00am, we welcomed two highly respected specialists for a practical and inspiring 2-part workshop.  This was an exceptional professional development morning designed specifically for dance teachers  wanting to build stronger, safer, more resilient dancers.

Elizabeth (Liz) Cumming – Osteopath & Former Professional Dancer

Former dancer with The Australian Ballet and recipient of a scholarship to train with Paris Opera Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet and Royal Danish Ballet.

 Now a registered osteopath of 25 years’ clinical experience, Liz  presented:

Understanding Function & Preventing Injury in Dancers

✔ How osteopaths screen for movement “function”

✔ Identifying subtle dysfunction before injury occurs

✔ Reducing strain in vulnerable areas

✔ Practical strategies teachers can apply immediately

EMMA SULLEY – SPECIALIST SPORTS & DANCE PHYSIOTHERAPIST

An APA Titled Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, Emma has worked with dancers from Bangarra Dance Theatre, Ballet Black, Birmingham Royal Ballet and was a physiotherapist at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Emma led a session on:

Supplementary Exercise to Improve Extensions and Jumps in Dance – Part 2

This interactive professional development workshop was designed specifically for Perth dance teachers wanting to elevate both performance and longevity in their dancers.

This practical, hands-on session focused on closing the gap between current dance science and real-world ballet teaching. Participants had the opportunity to see, feel and experience the exercises firsthand — gaining studio-ready strategies they could confidently implement straight away.
✔ How to find clean, efficient rotation and translate it into higher, more controlled extensions

✔ The mobility required for expressive lines and powerful jumps — and how to develop it safely

✔ Dance-specific strength training exercises to enhance allegro

The workshop also provided clear guidance on integrating these strategies into class planning and daily training, equipping participants with practical tools to help dancers build strength, resilience and long-term durability — without compromising artistry.

Elizabeth Cumming
Emma Sulley

10 & 12 April 2026

On 10 & 12 April 2026, Perth teachers were offered the amazing opportunity to gain the qualifications and knowledge to teach the prestigious International Character Dance Syllabus created by the wonderful Alida Segal! 

If you want your students to have greater Strength; Flexibility; Versatility; Dynamics; Expressivity; Artistry; Musicality…include Character Dance in your curriculum.

Today’s dancer is required to perform pieces in a vast variety of styles; transform into multiple personalities and create an infinite number of shapes, in a multitude of musical rhythms. Versatility is a key attribute for all dancers, especially those who aspire to professional employment.

WACBTA collaborated with Ms Segal to bring this seminal work to Perth for a two day  teacher training course on 10 & 12 April 2026.   

17 May 2026

On 17 May 2026, participants were invited to join WACBTA for a specialised professional development morning designed for teachers of young dancers aged 3–6 years.

This event featured two complementary workshops combining developmental knowledge and practical teaching strategies.

Workshop 1: Child Development & Motor Skills

Delivered by paediatric occupational therapist and trained teacher, Solveigh Baramili, this session explored:

  • Motor skill development and milestones
  • Balance, coordination, and postural control
  • Motor planning and sequencing
  • Sensory processing and attention
  • Why children develop at different rates

Teachers gained insight into how development impacts learning and participation, and how to adapt teaching accordingly .

Workshop 2: Creating Engaging Pre-School Dance Classes

Delivered by experienced dance educator and studio director, Terrie Wayside, this practical session covered:

  • Structuring effective classes
  • Using music, imagination, and repetition
  • Communication strategies for young dancers
  • Behaviour and parent management
  • Creating positive, engaging learning environments

Participants left with practical tools and ideas ready to implement immediately.

On 28 June 2026, teachers, students and parents were invited to join us for a practical and engaging morning with respected ballet educator, Christian Luck.

This unique educational event explored the challenges and opportunities of training boys in ballet, while also providing an introduction to the fundamentals of classical partnering.
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 shared 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 was a short discussion session on the challenges facing boys in ballet training today.
Students were introduced to the foundations of classical partnering in a safe and supportive environment.

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

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

This was a rare opportunity to observe specialised boys’ ballet training, explore practical teaching strategies and gain an introduction to classical partnering—all in one engaging morning.

Christian Luck
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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.