AABC Adult Ballet Competition & Festival 2027
Terms and Conditions of Entry
These Terms and Conditions govern registration for and participation in the AABC Adult Ballet Competition & Festival 2027, including the Sunday competition, onstage warm-up, Friday Repertoire Masterclasses, Saturday ABC Training Experience and any other activity included in an entrant's confirmed booking (the Event).
Paid registrations are not yet open. These Terms may be updated before registration opens. The dated version accepted by an entrant during paid registration will form part of that entrant's booking.
Please read these Terms before registering. By completing paid registration, an entrant confirms that they have read and accepted these Terms, the AABC 2027 Competition Rules, the AABC Scoring and Awards Framework and the Adult Ballet Centre Privacy Policy.
Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under the Australian Consumer Law or another applicable law.
Refund policy at a glance
Change of mind: Registration, competition-entry and festival-activity fees are non-refundable and non-transferable where an entrant changes their mind or simply decides not to participate.
Medical withdrawal received by 1 August 2027: An eligible medical withdrawal supported by appropriate documentation will receive a 60% refund of the applicable fees.
Medical withdrawal received from 2 August 2027: An eligible medical withdrawal received from 2 August 2027 but before the commencement of the entrant’s first booked AABC activity will receive a 40% refund of the applicable fees.
Withdrawal after participation has commenced or non-attendance: No refund, credit or transfer is ordinarily available for an activity already attended, commenced or missed.
Cancellation or major change by AABC: If AABC cancels a purchased service or makes a major change, the entrant will receive the remedy required by Australian Consumer Law. Where AABC chooses to cancel and does not provide an acceptable replacement, this will generally be a refund of the fees paid for the cancelled service.
This summary must be read together with sections 5 and 7 below.
1. Eligibility and authority to enter
1. An entrant must be at least 18 years old on the competition date.
2. Each entrant must complete and accept their own registration and personal risk acknowledgement. A teacher, studio or group representative may assist but cannot accept the risk acknowledgement on another adult entrant's behalf.
3. The entrant confirms that all information supplied is accurate, complete and not misleading, including their age, training history, division, performance details, ensemble members, relevant injuries or health restrictions and accessibility requirements.
4. Dancers currently engaged as full-time professional company members or under a regular professional dance performance contract are not eligible. Former professional dancers and dancers with vocational, pre-professional, teaching or occasional paid-performance experience must disclose that experience and enter the appropriate division.
5. AABC may request reasonable clarification or evidence to confirm eligibility or division placement. AABC may refuse or cancel an entry based on materially false, incomplete or misleading information, subject to applicable law.
2. Formation of the booking
1. Registering interest does not reserve a place and does not create a paid booking.
2. A booking is confirmed only when the official registration form and required declarations have been completed, the required payment or first approved instalment has been processed, and AABC has issued written confirmation.
3. Entry is subject to capacity. AABC may close a division, section or festival activity before the published closing date.
4. The booking includes the entrant's confirmed selections, these Terms, the Competition Rules, the Scoring and Awards Framework, the Privacy Policy and the event information disclosed before payment.
5. If documents conflict, the entrant's written booking confirmation prevails for the specific services purchased, followed by these Terms and then the Competition Rules.
3. Fees and payment
1. All fees are in Australian dollars and includes GST in the checkout, GST and compulsory charges are additional unless clearly stated otherwise before payment.
2. Each competitor must pay one Dancer/Participation Registration Fee and the applicable fee for every Performance, Masterclass, ABC training Classes and Feedback Session entered. Every member of a pas de deux, duo, trio or group must register individually and pay the fees applicable to their own entry.
3. Optional festival activities are charged separately unless expressly included in the booking confirmation.
4. Where an instalment plan is offered, the schedule displayed and accepted during checkout forms part of the booking. The entrant remains responsible for all amounts due under the applicable cancellation policy.
5. If an instalment fails, AABC will provide reasonable notice and an opportunity to correct payment. If it remains unpaid, AABC may cancel the unpaid part of the booking and apply section 5 to amounts paid and payable, to the extent permitted by law.
6. AABC may recover a reasonable third-party cost caused by a dishonoured or reversed payment only where that cost was actually incurred and disclosed. AABC will not impose an undisclosed penalty.
4. Why fees are committed early
AABC is a capacity-limited, professionally produced event. From the time an entry is accepted, AABC begins allocating and committing costs for venue hire, theatre and technical services, adjudicators, staffing, programming, registration systems, payment processing, competitor administration, accreditation, certificates, music management, production and the capacity reserved for the entrant.
The cancellation policy is intended to recognise these base commitments. It is not intended to operate as a penalty or remove any statutory right.
5. Entrant cancellation, withdrawal and refunds
5.1 How to withdraw
An entrant must submit a cancellation or withdrawal request in writing to contact@adultballetcentre.com.
The request takes effect when it is received by AABC. The entrant should retain AABC’s written acknowledgement as confirmation that the request has been received.
AABC may request information reasonably necessary to assess the request and apply the correct refund provision.
5.2 Change of mind and voluntary withdrawal
AABC does not provide a refund, credit or transfer where an entrant changes their mind or simply decides that they no longer wish to participate.
Change of mind includes, but is not limited to:
a. deciding not to attend;
b. changing personal or travel plans;
c. insufficient preparation or dissatisfaction with personal progress;
d. preferring to attend another event or activity;
e. being unavailable because of ordinary work, family or personal commitments; or
f. another circumstance that does not medically prevent the entrant from participating safely.
The entrant may notify AABC that they are withdrawing, but fees already paid remain non-refundable and non-transferable, except where required by law.
Where an instalment plan applies, any remaining liability will be determined having regard to AABC’s reasonable costs already incurred or committed, the capacity reserved for the entrant and applicable law. AABC will not recover more than its legitimate committed costs and unavoidable loss.
Eligible injury, illness or medical incapacity is considered separately under section 5.3 and is not treated as a change of mind.
5.3 Withdrawal due to injury or medical circumstances
If an entrant becomes medically unable to participate because of an injury, illness or other medical condition, they may apply for a medical withdrawal.
To apply for a medical withdrawal, the entrant must:
a. notify AABC in writing at contact@adultballetcentre.com as soon as reasonably practicable; and
b. provide a medical certificate from a registered medical practitioner or appropriately qualified allied-health practitioner confirming that the entrant is medically unable to participate safely in the relevant AABC activity or activities.
The supporting document does not need to disclose a detailed diagnosis. It must identify the entrant, confirm that participation is medically inadvisable or not reasonably possible, and indicate the relevant period of incapacity.
Where a complete and eligible medical-withdrawal request is received on or before 1 August 2027, AABC will refund 60% of the fees paid for the activities the entrant is medically unable to attend. AABC will retain 40% toward reasonable administration, production and other costs already incurred or committed, and the capacity reserved for the entrant.
Where a complete and eligible medical-withdrawal request is received from 2 August 2027 but before the commencement of the entrant’s first booked AABC activity, AABC will refund 40% of the fees paid for the activities the entrant is medically unable to attend. AABC will retain 60% toward reasonable administration, production and other costs already incurred or committed, and the capacity reserved for the entrant.
A medical withdrawal applies only to the affected entrant. It does not automatically create a refund entitlement for another soloist, partner, pas de deux, duo, trio or group member, coach, teacher, supporter or accompanying person.
If the withdrawal of an entrant affects a pas de deux, duo, trio or group entry, the remaining dancers must contact AABC promptly. Any replacement dancer or change to the entry requires AABC’s prior written approval and remains subject to section 6.
Merchandise that has already been ordered, personalised or supplied, and any activity or service already attended, commenced or provided, is excluded from the medical refund calculation.
AABC may request reasonable clarification or verification where supporting documentation is incomplete or unclear. Entrants should not provide detailed medical records unless specifically requested.
AABC will assess a properly documented medical-withdrawal request reasonably and in good faith.
5.4 Withdrawal after participation commences and non-attendance
No refund, credit or transfer is ordinarily available for an activity that the entrant has already attended, commenced or substantially received.
No refund, credit or transfer is available where an entrant:
a. does not attend without providing an eligible medical-withdrawal request;
b. arrives after the required call time;
c. misses a booked activity or performance;
d. does not bring required costumes, music, footwear, props or other items; or
e. is not ready or eligible to participate because they have not met the published entry or performance requirements.
A retrospective medical-withdrawal request submitted after the Event will not ordinarily be accepted unless the entrant was reasonably unable to notify AABC or obtain supporting documentation earlier.
5.5 Exceptional circumstances
In an exceptional medical or personal emergency that does not fall precisely within section 5.3, AABC may consider a credit, transfer, partial refund or alternative arrangement in good faith.
A discretionary decision will take into account the individual circumstances, supporting information, timing of the request, costs already incurred or committed, and whether the reserved place can reasonably be reallocated.
A discretionary decision does not create a precedent or guarantee the same outcome in another case.
5.6 Statutory rights and refund processing
This voluntary-withdrawal policy does not apply where AABC cancels a purchased service, makes a major change, fails to meet an applicable consumer guarantee, or the entrant otherwise has a non-excludable right to a remedy.
Nothing in this section excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified under the Australian Consumer Law or another applicable law.
Any amount retained by AABC must be reasonably connected with its legitimate committed costs and unavoidable loss. AABC will not recover the same loss twice and will comply with applicable law.
Approved refunds will normally be returned to the original payment method within 10 business days. Payment-provider processing times are outside AABC’s control.
6. Transfers, substitutions and entry changes
1. Individual registration fees and solo entries are personal and cannot be sold or transferred to another person.
2. A replacement in a pas de deux, duo, trio or group requires prior written approval and must be requested by the published Change Deadline. The replacement dancer must separately meet all eligibility, registration, payment and risk-acceptance requirements.
3. The withdrawal of one ensemble member does not automatically cancel or create a refund right for other members. Remaining dancers are responsible for confirming whether the work can proceed in an approved section or with an approved replacement.
4. A change is confirmed only when AABC confirms it in writing. AABC may decline a change that affects eligibility, safety, capacity, programming or theatre operations.
5. If a change alters the number of performers, AABC may reclassify the section and adjust the applicable fee. Additional amounts must be paid by the stated deadline. Any refund is governed by section 5.
Cancellation, postponement or change by AABC
1. If AABC chooses to cancel a purchased service and does not provide an acceptable replacement, AABC will refund the AABC fees paid for that cancelled service.
2. If AABC makes a major change, the entrant will receive the remedy required by Australian Consumer Law. Depending on the circumstances, this may include accepting the changed service, transferring to a reasonable replacement or receiving a refund for the affected service.
3. A major change may include one that substantially alters the nature, date or location of the purchased service. Its practical effect on the entrant will be considered.
7.2 Reasonable operational changes
AABC may make reasonable operational changes that do not substantially alter the purchased service, including changes to the running order, session time, adjudicator, teacher, staff member, class allocation, backstage procedure or the combination or separation of sections according to entry numbers. A refund is not available solely because of a minor operational change where the purchased service is still substantially provided.
7.3 Circumstances outside AABC's reasonable control
1. If the Event is prevented, made unsafe or materially affected by government action, emergency, natural disaster, dangerous weather, epidemic, venue closure, industrial action, utility or infrastructure failure, or another circumstance AABC could not reasonably prevent, AABC may postpone, relocate, reschedule or offer a reasonable alternative where lawful and practicable.
2. If the contracted service cannot be provided and no reasonable alternative is accepted, the entrant's remedies and any permitted deduction for reasonable unrecoverable costs will be determined by applicable law.
3. AABC will communicate a material change as soon as reasonably practicable using the contact information supplied at registration.
7.4 External expenses
AABC is not responsible for an entrant's travel, accommodation, meals, costume, coaching or other external costs, except to the extent liability cannot lawfully be excluded. Entrants should use flexible bookings and consider appropriate travel and cancellation insurance.
8. Recreational activity warning and assumption of risk
8.1 Prescribed warning before purchase
The competition, onstage warm-up, ballet and contemporary classes, repertoire coaching, pointe work, partnering, rehearsals, performance and related physical activities are recreational services involving physical exertion and physical risk.
Before payment, each entrant will be shown and asked to separately accept the current Victorian prescribed recreational-services warning. That warning explains how certain statutory guarantees may be excluded, restricted or modified in relation to death or personal injury, except where death or injury results from gross negligence. The warning and the entrant's recorded acceptance form part of the booking.
Official warning: Consumer Affairs Victoria recreational-services warning
8.2 Acknowledgement of risk
1. Dance training and performance involve inherent risks, including slips, trips, falls, collisions, fatigue, dehydration, loss of balance, overuse, strains, sprains, bruising, fractures, joint or soft-tissue injury, aggravation or recurrence of an existing condition, and injury associated with pointe work, turns, jumps, lifts, partnering, costumes, props, stage surfaces, physical contact or corrections.
2. Some injuries may be serious. This list is illustrative and not exhaustive.
3. The entrant confirms that they understand the nature and physical demands of the activities selected and choose to participate voluntarily within their present capacity.
4. Subject to AABC's legal obligations, the entrant participates at their own risk and is responsible for monitoring their condition, using suitable technique and equipment, following safety directions and stopping if they experience pain, dizziness, illness or another warning sign.
5. Participation is not medical advice, and AABC does not assess or certify an entrant's medical fitness.
9. Fitness, health information, safety and emergency assistance
1. The entrant is responsible for deciding whether they are fit to participate and for obtaining medical or allied-health advice or clearance where appropriate.
2. The entrant must disclose an injury, health condition, medication effect or restriction reasonably relevant to safe participation or a requested adjustment. Disclosure does not transfer responsibility for fitness to AABC.
3. The entrant must promptly advise AABC if relevant circumstances change before or during the Event.
4. AABC may stop or modify participation where there is a reasonable and immediate safety concern. Where practicable, AABC will discuss the concern with the entrant.
5. In an emergency, the entrant authorises AABC and venue personnel to provide or arrange first aid, ambulance assistance or another response reasonably considered necessary. The entrant is responsible for ambulance, medical and related costs unless the law provides otherwise.
6. Entrants must arrive by the published call time, warm up appropriately, use safely prepared shoes, costumes, props and equipment, follow reasonable safety and venue directions, avoid unprepared technical elements, and immediately report a hazard, injury or incident.
7. Entrants must not participate while impaired by alcohol, illicit drugs or another substance that makes participation unsafe.
10. Conduct, removal and disqualification
1. Entrants must treat other dancers, staff, volunteers, teachers, adjudicators, audience members and venue personnel respectfully.
2. Harassment, intimidation, discrimination, abusive conduct, deliberate disruption, unsafe behaviour, dishonesty, serious privacy breaches or refusal to follow a reasonable safety direction may result in removal or disqualification.
3. Where reasonably practicable, AABC will explain the concern and allow the entrant an opportunity to respond or correct it. Immediate action may be taken where necessary for safety, welfare or venue security.
4. If removal or disqualification results from the entrant's material breach of these Terms or the Competition Rules, no refund is payable to the extent permitted by law.
11. Competition decisions, feedback and awards
1. Entrants accept the published AABC Scoring and Awards Framework.
2. Adjudicators' artistic assessments and competition decisions are final. AABC may correct a verified administrative, transcription or calculation error.
3. Entrants, teachers and supporters must not approach an adjudicator during the Event to challenge a result.
4. AABC does not guarantee a score, placement, benchmark award, professional opportunity or improvement in dance performance.
5. AABC may combine or separate sections where reasonably required by entry numbers while continuing to assess dancers within their appropriate division and published framework.
12. Music, choreography and intellectual property
1. The entrant must comply with music submission requirements and provide a lawful, final and performance-ready file by the deadline. AABC does not provide music-editing services.
2. The entrant is responsible for obtaining any permission required to perform choreography or repertoire that is not original, in the public domain or otherwise authorised for their use.
3. By submitting music and performance information, the entrant grants AABC a limited, non-exclusive licence to store, copy and use those materials only as reasonably necessary to administer, rehearse, stage, adjudicate, record and archive the entrant's Event participation, subject to applicable licences and law.
4. AABC may request evidence of permission or decline material where there is a reasonable concern about infringement, legality, safety or suitability.
5. The entrant retains ownership of their original choreography and other original material. Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership to AABC.
12a. Audience tickets and participant priority access
Festival Registration and competition-entry fees do not include an audience ticket to the Sunday Competition Day unless expressly stated in the entrant’s booking confirmation.
The morning and afternoon competition sessions at Shirley Burke Theatre will be separately ticketed.
Registered AABC 2027 participants will receive priority access to the first release of audience tickets before remaining tickets are made available to the general public.
AABC will provide registered participants with the applicable priority-booking dates, ticket prices, purchase limits and booking instructions using the contact details supplied during registration.
Priority access provides an opportunity to purchase tickets during the nominated booking period. It does not reserve a seat, include a complimentary ticket or guarantee ticket availability.
Audience tickets remain subject to venue capacity, applicable purchase limits, completion of payment and any ticketing or venue conditions disclosed at the time of purchase.
Tickets that are not purchased during the participant priority-booking period may be released for general sale without further notice.
Admission to one session does not include admission to the other session unless the ticket purchased expressly states otherwise.
13. Photography, filming, names and results
1. AABC may publish the entrant's name, division, performance title, programmed section, result and award as part of the event program, announcements, results and historical competition record.
2. Official photography and filming may occur. Audience recording may also be permitted from designated areas under venue rules. AABC cannot guarantee that an entrant will never appear incidentally in a crowd or wide event image.
3. AABC will seek separate, optional consent before using identifiable close-up photography or video for advertising, social media or future promotional campaigns.
4. Declining promotional consent will not affect eligibility, scoring or participation.
5. An entrant may withdraw promotional consent for future use by contacting AABC. Withdrawal does not require AABC to recall material already lawfully printed, published or supplied before the request was received.
6. Photography and recording in dressing rooms and restricted backstage areas are prohibited.
14. Privacy and health information
1. AABC will collect, use, store and disclose personal information in accordance with the Adult Ballet Centre Privacy Policy and applicable privacy and health-records law.
2. Information may be used to administer registration, payment, eligibility, programming, safety, accessibility, emergency response, results, event communications and legal or insurance requirements.
3. Relevant information may be disclosed only as reasonably necessary to authorised AABC personnel, teachers, adjudicators, venue or technical personnel, first-aid providers, emergency services, insurers, professional advisers and service providers involved in delivering the Event.
4. Health and accessibility information will not be published or used for marketing.
5. The entrant authorises AABC to contact their nominated emergency contact where reasonably necessary and confirms that they have informed that person that their details have been supplied.
6. Essential booking and event emails are part of the service. Promotional communications unrelated to the booking require separate consent and will include an unsubscribe method.
7. Requests to access or correct personal or health information may be made using the contact details in the Privacy Policy.
Privacy Policy: Adult Ballet Centre Privacy Policy
15. Accessibility and reasonable adjustments
1. AABC welcomes requests for reasonable accessibility adjustments and will consider each request in good faith.
2. The entrant should provide enough notice and information for AABC to assess and arrange an adjustment. AABC may discuss practical alternatives where a requested adjustment is unavailable, unsafe, incompatible with venue requirements or would impose unjustifiable hardship.
3. An accessibility request or disability will not affect adjudication except where a published assessment adjustment has been agreed in advance.
16. Personal property and third-party arrangements
1. Entrants remain responsible for their costumes, shoes, music backup, valuables and other personal property.
2. To the extent permitted by law, AABC is not responsible for loss, theft or damage not caused by AABC's failure to take reasonable care.
3. Lost property will be handled under AABC or venue procedures and may be disposed of after a reasonable collection period.
4. Coaching, travel, accommodation, insurance and other services purchased from third parties are separate contracts between the entrant and those providers.
17. Complaints and disputes
1. A concern should first be raised with the AABC Festival team at contact@adultballetcentre.com, with enough detail for it to be assessed.
2. AABC will acknowledge the concern and seek to respond within a reasonable time.
3. Nothing in this section prevents an entrant from exercising a statutory right or contacting Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner, VCAT or another appropriate body.
4. Artistic disagreement with an adjudicator's assessment is not, by itself, grounds for a refund or legal review of the result. A verified administrative or calculation error may be corrected under section 11.
18. Changes to these Terms
1. The dated version accepted at registration applies to the booking.
2. AABC may make a change required by law, safety, insurance or venue requirements, correct an obvious error, or make a minor administrative clarification that does not reduce an entrant's substantive rights.
3. A material change will be communicated to affected entrants. Where it materially alters the purchased service, AABC will provide any remedy required by law.
4. AABC will retain a dated copy of each published version and a record of the version accepted by each entrant.
19. Notices
1. Entrants must provide current contact information and promptly notify AABC of a change.
2. AABC may send booking, payment, schedule, safety and event notices to the email address or mobile number supplied at registration.
3. A notice is taken to be received when it reaches the recipient's electronic system unless the sender receives a delivery-failure notice.
20. General legal terms
1. These Terms are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. The parties submit to courts and tribunals with jurisdiction in Victoria, subject to any law providing otherwise.
2. If a provision is invalid or unenforceable, it will be read down to the minimum extent necessary or severed, and the remaining provisions will continue to operate.
3. A failure or delay by AABC in enforcing a provision on one occasion is not a waiver of that provision on another occasion.
4. These Terms do not create an employment, partnership, agency or joint-venture relationship between AABC and an entrant, teacher, coach or studio.
5. Headings are for convenience and do not limit interpretation.
21. Acceptance
By completing paid registration, the entrant confirms that they:
• are at least 18 years old and meet the eligibility requirements;
• have provided accurate and complete information;
• understand the 40% voluntary-withdrawal refund and 60% cancellation-charge policy and the Withdrawal Deadline disclosed before payment;
• have read and accepted these Terms, the Competition Rules and the Scoring and Awards Framework;
• have separately read and accepted the prescribed Victorian recreational-services warning presented before payment;
• understand the physical demands and inherent risks of dance training and performance and choose to participate voluntarily within their current capacity;
• consent to the necessary handling of health, injury, accessibility and emergency-contact information in accordance with the Privacy Policy; and
• agree to follow reasonable AABC and venue directions.
• understand that change-of-mind withdrawals are non-refundable and non-transferable, and understand the separate medical-withdrawal refund policy, documentation requirements and applicable deadlines
Promotional photography and marketing consent will be requested separately and will remain optional.
Questions about these Terms?
Please contact the AABC Festival team before registering if you need clarification about refunds, eligibility, health information, accessibility or another entry condition.
Email: contact@adultballetcentre.com
Telephone: 0422 070 674
Presented by Adult Ballet Centre Pty Ltd.
ABN 33 656 867 033