GAY WIGHTMAN SCHOOL OF BALLET

The Gay Wightman School of Ballet provides classical ballet training of the highest calibre for both students pursuing dance as a fun, healthy hobby, and for the talented, dedicated student seeking a career in the classical dance or performing arts profession.

We aim to develop self-confident, happy and healthy students and take into account student's needs and range of abilities. It is our policy to keep in line with new developments in Safe Dance, Nutrition, Health and directional guidance.

The school specialises in classical ballet with the safe and correct training of your children our major priority. When taught correctly classical ballet has many benefits. Our classes are not only fun for children to dance, but they also help coordination, sense of rhythm, fitness, musicality and self-expression, as well as promoting self-discipline and boosting confidence. Each class emphasises correct placement, performing quality and dynamics.

A wide range of additional classes are offered to our students including: Jazz, Character, Contemporary, Tap, Funk, Hip Hop, Boys Funk, Lyrical Jazz, Pointe, Pas de Deux, Pilates, Repertoire, National Dance, Mime, Anatomy, Nutrition, Stretch and Limber (including Swiss Ball, Theraband and Wobble Board exercises).

 VET Dance (certificate 11 in Dance) Units 1-4 is available to all our dance students in Years 10, 11 & 12. The school offers nationally accredited Certificate courses.

FACILITIES

Gay Wightman School of Ballet offers:

• two professional studios with floor to ceiling mirrors
• airconditioning
• heating
• tarquett floors
• 3 spacious change rooms
• kitchen facilities
• costume hire department 
• on site dance wear shop

HISTORY

The opening of the Gay Wightman School of Ballet marked the introduction to the eastern suburbs of classical ballet based on the finest tradition of training in the acclaimed Russian methods.The school rapidly grew to be one of Melbourne's acknowledged balletic training centers, with unprecedented success as a private dance institution. This success has been maintained for 48 years.

Gay Wightman was Borovansky trained under the tutelage of Xenia Borovansky, Martin Rubinstein, Janina Ciunovas and other prominent teachers during the fifties. She opened her school in the absence of any company activity due to the death of Edouard Borovansky. By the time the Company reformed as the Australian Ballet Company, her school had grown to a very prestigious level and she decided against abandoning her students to further a promising professional career.

Gay joined Madam Borovansky in the establishment of the Australian based Borovansky Memorial Australian Academy of Dancing (BMAAD) examination society.

Over the years a large number of our graduate students have auditioned successfully into the Australian Ballet School and Company, many others dance professionally with International companies.

Gay Wightman’s daughter Alisa Finney took over as Principal of the school in 1991.

PRINCIPAL – ALISA FINNEY

The Gay Wightman School of Ballet Principal Alisa Finney has the following qualifications;
• Bachelor of Applied Science RMIT
• Bachelor of Business Administration RMIT ( Major – Human Resource Management, Minor - Business)
• Australian Ballet School Advanced Teachers Diploma – Distinction
• Advanced Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management – Box Hill TAFE
• Australian Institute of Classical Dance Licentiate Diploma
• Borovansky Memorial Australian Academy of Dancing (BMAAD) Advanced Teachers Diploma
• Certificate in Child Psychology – Australian Ballet School
• Advanced Certificate in Child Psychology – Australian Ballet School
• Safe Dance Certificate – Box Hill TAFE
• VIC FIT Training Certificate
• Certificate IV in Work Place Training and Assessment
• Artistic Director of Melbourne Ballet Company

GRADUATE STUDENTS

The Gay Wightman School of Ballet has had many outstanding graduates who have excelled in the following companies;

• Australian Ballet Company
• Royal Ballet Company
• English National Ballet Company
• England North Ballet Company
• Royal Monte Carlo Ballet Company
• Maurice Bejart Company
• Freiberg Ballet Company
• Saarbruken Ballet Company
• New York City Ballet Company
• Hong Kong Ballet Company
• Munich Ballet Company
• Dusseldorf Ballet Company
• Australian Opera Ballet Company
• Australian Contemporary Dance Company
• West Australian Ballet Company
• Canadian National Ballet Company
• Queensland Ballet Company
• Festival Ballet Company
• Royal National Danish Ballet Company

London Adele Genee Winners

Holly Smart

1st Place

Allison Smith

2nd Place

Kim Francis

Finalist

Graeme Murphy\Janet Vernon $10,000 Scholarship

Holly Smart won the prestigious Australia wide auditions Graeme Murphy \ Janet Vernon $10,000 scholarship.

Gay Wightman Students chosen for guest roles with the Australian Ballet Company

The Competition
Coralie Kane was chosen for the role of Aida

Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker

• Rosamund Davison
• Adele Corrie
• Madeleine Karanikolopoulos
• Tania Agnoletto
• Sharon Fernandez

Madam Butterfly by Stanton Welsh

• Emma Moy
• Kimberley Leaw

PERFORMING ARTS ACHIEVEMENTS

• Phantom of the Opera
• Saturday Night Fever
• Sisterella
• Cats
• Song and Dance
• Showboat
• Starlight Express
• Billy Elliott
• The Footy Show
• Blue Heelers