AABC Adult Ballet Competition & Festival 2027 Melbourne

These Competition Rules apply to dancers entering one or more performances in the Sunday AABC Adult Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition.

Festival participants attending only the Friday or Saturday experiences are not required to enter the competition, although they remain bound by the applicable Festival Terms and Conditions.

These Rules explain competitor eligibility, divisions, performance requirements, music submission, adjudication, conduct, safety, scoring and awards. Every competitor must read and accept these Rules and the separate AABC 2027 Terms and Conditions before completing registration.

Please refer to the Competition Entry Guide for application and division-selection information.

AABC 2027 at a glance

Friday 13 August 2027
Repertoire Masterclasses and Competitor Mock Performance & Feedback Sessions
Adult Ballet Centre, Cheltenham

Saturday 14 August 2027
ABC Training Experience
Adult Ballet Centre, Cheltenham

Sunday 15 August 2027
AABC Adult Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition
Shirley Burke Theatre, Parkdale

Minimum age: 18 years
Competition entries close: 1 July 2027, or earlier if capacity is reached
Competition entries: Solos, pas de deux, duos, trios and groups

Music deadline: To be advised directly to registered competitors

Performance sections: Classical ballet, contemporary dance, pas de deux, duos, trios and groups

Registration is now open. Places are limited and individual divisions or performance sections may close once capacity is reached.

Do I Have to Enter the Competition?

No. You do not need to compete on Sunday to participate in AABC 2027.

Every dancer/participant begins by completing the compulsory $195 + 10%gst Festival Registration. Once registered, you can create the experience that suits you by selecting:

• Friday Repertoire Masterclasses

• Friday Competitor Mock Performance

• Feedback Sessions, if competing

• Saturday ABC Training Experience

• Sunday competition performance entries

• Or a combination of activities across the three days

• Pre order your AABC T-shirt

• Participants receive a 50 % discounted Theatre ticket for the Sunday competition performance either morning or afternoon sessions

• Paying the Festival Registration Fee does not automatically enter you into the Sunday competition. A competition entry is created only when you select and pay for at least one solo, pas de deux, duo, trio or group performance.

Dancers who wish to attend only the Friday and or Saturday festival experiences are welcome and do not need to enter the competition.

Festival Registration and Competition Entry Fees

AABC uses a two-part registration structure:

1. Every dancer completes the compulsory Festival Registration once.

2. Dancers then add the festival experiences and competition performances they wish to enter.

Festival participants are not required to enter the Sunday competition. Dancers who choose to compete pay an additional performance-entry fee for each solo, pas de deux, duo, trio or group performance entered.

Soloists pay for individual stage and adjudication time, while dancers sharing a pas de deux, duo, trio or group performance pay a reduced fee per dancer..

Festival Registration Fee – $195 Per Dancer

Every dancer participating in AABC 2027 must complete an individual Festival Registration, whether they attend one festival activity or join the complete three-day weekend.

The Festival Registration Fee includes:

• Individual AABC 2027 participant registration

• Festival participant accreditation

• Participant administration and communications

• Access to select and book eligible festival experiences

• Level-placement guidance where required

• Program and scheduling administration

• Participant certificate

• Priority access to Sunday theatre tickets, including one ticket at 50% of the standard price for the session in which the participant is not competing

• Compulsory platform and payment-processing charges

The Festival Registration Fee does not include Friday masterclasses, feedback sessions, Saturday classes, competition performance entries, merchandise or audience tickets. These are selected and paid for separately.

Festival participants are not required to compete. Dancers who choose to enter the Sunday competition must add at least one eligible performance entry.

All prices are in Australian dollars and 10% GST will be added at the check out.

Performance entry fees

Performance type Fee

• Classical ballet or contemporary solo $185 per dancer

• Pas de deux or duo $120 per dancer

• Trio $100 per dancer

• Group of 4–8 dancers $75 per dancer

Each performance-entry fee includes:

• Competition stage time

• Participation in the included onstage warm-up for the dancer’s allocated competition session

• Professional adjudication

• Feedback for the entered performance

• Placement within the appropriate competition section

Every performer in a pas de deux, duo, trio or group must complete an individual dancer registration and pay the applicable performance fee.

All prices are in Australian dollars and 10% GST will be added at the check out.

What will my competition entry cost?

All prices are in Australian dollars and 10% GST will be added at the check out.

Example Dancer’s entries

• One group performance — $270

• One trio performance — $295

• One pas de deux or duo — $315

• One solo — $380

• One solo and one group performance — $455

• One solo and one trio — $480

• One solo and one pas de deux or duo — $500

• The $195 Dancer Registration Fee is paid once.

Dancers entering more than one performance then pay the applicable fee for each piece.

Audience tickets are purchased separately. Registered participants receive seven days of priority access, including one ticket at 50% of the standard price for the session in which they are not competing.

All prices are in Australian dollars and 10% GST will be added at the check out.

ELIGIBILITY

AABC is open to adult dancers who will be 18 years or older on the competition date. There is no upper age limit.

Eligible entrants include:

• Recreational adult dancers

• First-time competitors

• Independent dancers

• Dancers returning after a break

• Experienced adult performers

• Full-time or vocational dance students aged 18 or over

• Dancers with previous pre-professional or professional experience

• Dancers who train at any dance school or with any teacher

Full-time or vocational dance students aged 18 or over who are not currently employed as full-time professional company dancers

AABC reserves the right to request further information before confirming eligibility or division placement.

Choose your competition division

Division placement is based on current training and experience rather than age alone. An optional short dance video may be submitted during registration where placement guidance is requested.

Consider:

• Your current and recent training

• The frequency of your weekly classes

• Your confidence with centre work

• The technical complexity of your choreography

• Your performance and competition experience

• Any previous vocational, pre-professional or professional training

We recommend discussing your division with your teacher or coach.

If you remain uncertain, you may upload an optional short dance video during registration and request AABC placement guidance. AABC may recommend a different division before the final program is issued to support fair and appropriate placement.

Foundation Division

The Foundation Division is designed for adult dancers generally completing their first one to three years of consistent training and beginning to develop performance confidence.

Foundation dancers will usually:

• Understand fundamental ballet or contemporary vocabulary

• Participate confidently in a structured class

• Be developing control in centre work and linking steps

• Be beginning to explore basic turns and allegro

• Have limited competition or performance experience

Foundation performance requirements:

• Foundation performance requirements:

• Classical ballet entrants perform devised choreography suited to their current ability.

• Entrants may enter classical ballet or contemporary dance.

• Classical ballet must be performed in flat ballet shoes.

• Foundation dancers may not perform a traditional classical repertoire variation.

• Maximum solo duration: 2.30 minutes.

• Choreography should highlight the dancer’s musicality, artistry and current technical strengths.

Development Division

The Development Division is designed for recreational adult dancers with approximately four to eight years of training or an equivalent level of technical development.

Development dancers will usually:

• Have an established understanding of ballet or contemporary technique

• Be confident at the barre and increasingly secure in centre work

• Be developing pirouettes, adage, allegro and longer combinations

• Train consistently

• Have some performance experience

Development performance requirements:

Classical ballet entrants perform a suitable traditional classical ballet variation.

• Contemporary entrants may perform appropriate original choreography or contemporary repertoire.

• Classical ballet must be performed in flat ballet shoes.

• Maximum solo duration: 2.30 minutes.

• The selected work must be appropriate to the dancer’s current ability and experience.

  Advanced/Open Division

  The Advanced/Open Division is designed for highly experienced adult dancers with advanced recreational training or previous vocational, pre-professional or professional experience.

Advanced/Open dancers will usually:

• Demonstrate strong technical understanding and musicality

• Be confident with complex centre work and extended choreography

• Have substantial training or performance experience

• Demonstrate mature artistry and performance quality

• May perform en pointe where appropriate

Advanced/Open performance requirements:

• Classical ballet entrants must perform a suitable traditional classical ballet variation.

• Contemporary entrants may perform original choreography or suitable contemporary repertoire.

• Classical ballet may be performed in flat shoes or en pointe where appropriate.

• Entrants must disclose relevant previous vocational, pre-professional or professional experience.

• Maximum solo duration: 2.30 minutes.

A separate Former Vocational/Professional section may be created where entry numbers support it.

Where necessary, AABC may contact the dancer or their teacher and recommend a different division before the final program is issued.

Adult dancer age categories

A dancer’s age will be recorded as at the competition date:

• 18–25 years

• 26–35 years

• 36–45 years

• 46–59 years

• 60 years and overAABC

Dancers aged 60 and over will also be recognised within the AABC Masters 60+ category.

Age categories may be combined where entry numbers are low. Any combined section will retain the dancers’ nominated experience division and support equitable adjudication.

Final competition sections will be confirmed after entries close.

Competition performance sections

Classical Ballet

Classical ballet repertoire requirements vary according to division:

• Foundation entrants perform devised classical choreography appropriate to their current ability.

• Development and Open Advanced entrants perform a suitable traditional classical ballet variation.

Footwear must comply with the requirements of the entrant’s division.

Time allocation:

• Foundation: maximum 2.30 minutes

• Development: maximum 2.30 minutes

• Open Advanced: maximum 2.30 minutes

  Contemporary Dance

Contemporary entries may include:

• Original choreography

• Contemporary repertoire appropriate to the dancer

• Interpretive or narrative works

• Approved music, sound design or voice-over

Adjudication will consider movement quality, musicality, interpretation and individual artistry.

Time allocation:

• Foundation: maximum 2.30 minutes

• Development: maximum 2.30 minutes

• Open Advanced: maximum 2.30 minutes

Pas de Deux and Duos

Pas de deux and duo entries may be classical or contemporary and must involve two registered adult dancers.

Adjudication will consider:

• Partnership and coordination

• Musicality and interpretation

• Safe and appropriate partnering

• Performance quality

Both dancers must meet the AABC eligibility requirements. Partnering must be safely prepared, appropriate to both dancers’ current training and rehearsed with an appropriately qualified teacher or coach.

Time allocation:

Maximum 4 minutes

Trios and Groups

Trios and groups may perform classical ballet, contemporary dance or another dance style.

• A trio consists of three dancers

• A group consists of four to eight dancers

• Maximum performance duration is 5 minutes

• Every performer must be aged 18 or over

• Every performer must complete an individual registration

Where performers have different levels of experience, the entry should be placed in the division of the most experienced dancer.

Time Allocation:

Maximum duration: 5 minutes

Adult-specific adjudication

Performances will be assessed in relation to the dancer’s nominated experience division.

The adjudicators will consider:

• Technical understanding and quality of movement

• Musicality

• Artistry and interpretation

• Choreographic suitability

• Performance and presentation

• Individual development

AABC adjudication has been designed specifically for adult dancers. Entrants will be recognised for their artistry, commitment and development within the appropriate experience division, not assessed against the physical or vocational expectations applied to children or full-time students.

Final awards and competition sections will be confirmed after entries close and all performances have been programmed.

Complete the AABC festival weekend

Friday and Saturday festival experiences may be added to a competition registration or selected by registered festival participants who are not competing on Sunday. The Friday and Saturday spaces are limited and will accept registrations until capacity is reached.

Friday Repertoire Masterclass

Join an allocated repertoire masterclass appropriate to your current training level. Sessions will be offered for Foundation, Development and Open Advanced dancers, subject to registrations.

Location: Adult Ballet Centre, Cheltenham
Faculty and times: Full details will be announced to registered participants.
Fee: $71.50 per dancer, including GST.

Date: Friday 13 August 2027
Location: Adult Ballet Centre, Cheltenham
Guest artist and times: To be announced

Places will be limited to preserve the quality of the coaching experience.

Once you are registered, we will allocate you into your Masterclass at your selected level and your place will be confirmed.

Competitor Mock Performance & Feedback Sessions

Dancers registered to compete on Sunday may also book an optional private 15-minute Mock Performance & Feedback Session.

Present your competition piece to two professional coaches, receive constructive artistic feedback and revisit key sections to apply the guidance before performing at the theatre on Sunday.

Date: Friday 13 August 2027
Location: Studio 6, Adult Ballet Centre, Cheltenham
Session length: 15 minutes
Fee: $33 per session, including GST
Eligibility: Available only to dancers registered to compete on Sunday

Feedback sessions will be scheduled around the Friday masterclasses so the two bookings do not clash. Session times will be confirmed after registration.

Saturday ABC Training Experience

Visiting dancers can experience Adult Ballet Centre by selecting two eligible classes from the Saturday Festival timetable.

Date: Saturday 14 August 2027
Location: Adult Ballet Centre, Factory 6, 3–5 Arnold Street, Cheltenham
Included: Two eligible Adult Ballet Centre classes
Fee: $71.50 per dancer, including GST

Class selection will be based on experience, suitability and availability. Dancers can request level-placement guidance when registering.

Once you are registered, we will allocate you into your ABC training class at your selected level and your place will be confirmed.

What to prepare before registering

Please have the following information ready FOR WHEN ENTRIES OPEN: If you have pre registered your intrest you will recieve notification as soon as we open the portal for enrolment and participation.

• Full name and contact details

• Date of birth

• Current dance school, teacher or coach, if applicable

• Current training level and weekly training pattern

• Approximate years of ballet or contemporary training

• Previous vocational, pre-professional or professional experience

• Selected competition division

• Performance type, title and duration

• Choreographer or repertoire details

• Names of pas de deux, duo, trio or group performers

• Emergency-contact information

• Relevant accessibility requirements

• Friday and Saturday selections, if attending

• Headshot for your registration profile

• Optional short dance video upload for Level allocation questions if you are unsure

Music will be submitted separately. The submission deadline, required file format and naming instructions will be provided to registered competitors.

How to enter the adult ballet competition

Step 1 – Complete Your Festival Registration

Provide your individual contact, training and participant information.

Step 2 – Decide Whether You Are Competing

If you wish to compete on Sunday, select your division and first eligible performance. If you are attending only the Friday or Saturday festival experiences, you do not need to add a competition entry.

Step 3 – Add Further Performances

Competitors may add further solos, pas de deux, duos, trios or group performances and pay the applicable fee for each additional piece

Step 4 - Add Festival Experiences

Select any Friday Repertoire Masterclass, Competitor Mock Performance & Feedback Session or Saturday ABC Training Experience you wish to attend.

STEP 5 - ADD YOUR AABC BRANDED T-SHIRT

Select your preferred size and pre-order your AABC 2027 Festival T-shirt.

Step 5 - Review and pay

Review your festival selections, competition division and performance entries, where applicable, together with your participant information before completing payment.

Your place is confirmed only after payment has been successfully processed and you have received an AABC confirmation email.

Registered participants will receive the digital AABC Festival Welcome Booklet by June 2027, or earlier if registrations reach capacity and close.

Important competition conditions

By registering, each entrant confirms that:

• They have read and accepted the AABC 2027 Competition Rules, Scoring and Awards Framework, and Terms and Conditions.

• They will be at least 18 years old on the competition date

• Any pointe or partnering work is appropriate to their current training and has been prepared with an appropriately qualified teacher or coach.

• Their choreography is appropriate to their technical ability

• They understand that sections may be combined according to entry numbers

• They will follow all music, costume, backstage and theatre requirements

• They understand the published cancellation, refund and transfer conditions

• They will participate within their own physical capacity

AABC may contact an entrant or their teacher where clarification is required and may recommend a more appropriate division before the final program is issued.

Email: contact@adultballetcentre.com
Within Australia: 0422 070 674
International: +61 422 070 674

We look forward to welcoming adult ballet and contemporary dancers from Melbourne, regional Victoria, interstate Australia and across Australasia to AABC 2027.

Train. Perform. Connect. Be recognised.

Presented by Adult Ballet Centre Melbourne and Kingston Arts

Supported by Australian Institute of Classical Dance

Frequently asked questioNS

Questions about entering?