A Day in the Life
The McDonald College
1. What does an average day timetable look like at the mcdonald college?
An average day looks like a regular day at school starting at 8.25am and finishing at either 3.10pm or 4.10pm (depending on the year the student is in) with academic subjects and up to 2 hours of performing arts classes. The students then can join one of our After Hours dance classes or have private coaching on site.
2. Do students have academic subjects as well as artistic ones? Or are there different artistic pathways to choose from?
Yes, The McDonald College integrates performing arts into the normal school day. Students have their academic subjects the same way they would have them at a regular school. Which performing arts classes students have depends on their chosen stream – classical ballet, dance, musical theatre, music or acting. They also can have an elective performing arts subject once a week.
3. What do your students say about you?
"“(A) small, nurturing school where kids can pursue their passions but still not give up their education. (We) love that it’s a fully functional school.”
“This school has helped me grow as a person and has shaped me into who I am today. The school’s environment is so perfect for me as an individual and makes the academics of school less stressful.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am today as an individual and performer without the guidance of my teachers at The McDonald College.”
4. Who are your dance teachers and what styles do they teach?
Our highly experienced staff are professional, personable, and passionate. Many of our staff have been at the top of their career, are still active in their chosen field on a professional basis and stay current via professional development.
Our styles include classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, hip-hop, tap and many others.
5. Do you offer any performance opportunities throughout the year?
Our Classical Ballet students enjoy many performance opportunities. They include:
One full-length ballet production each year (previous productions have included Swan Lake, The Nutcracker
An Evening of Classical Ballet
High Performance Week concerts
Premier State Ballet Re/IMAGINED
After Hours eisteddfod groups in ballet, contemporary and lyrical styles
Open Days, formal functions, and assemblies
Extra opportunities with The Australian Ballet Sydney season on special occasions
Coaching and support for national and international competitions such as the Alana Haines Awards (New Zealand), Youth America Grand Prix (New York), and the Prix de Lausanne (Switzerland)
Our Dance and Senior Contemporary Dance (in partnership with the Sydney Dance company) students enjoy:
High Performance Season concerts
Eisteddfod groups in commercial, contemporary and lyrical jazz styles
Open Days, formal functions, and assemblies
Local community performances.
6. what do you look for in a dancer who might audition for your course?
Our auditions are designed to determine a student’s interest, passion, and talent for performing arts and to decide if they are likely to thrive in a performance-rich environment.
On top of technical proficiency, which is required for entry, we are especially looking for a desire to learn and a passion for dance.